Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said that he will be happy if former Aam Aadmi Party leaders Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav, who were thrown out of the party, return to AAP.
“Agar aisa hua to bahut achcha hoga (If it happens, it will be very good). Their return will be good for the party,” Kejriwal told a TV channel.
In the interview, Kejriwal denied allegations that his dictatorial attitude had prevented Bhushan and Yadav’s return.
Bhushan later hit out at Kejriwal on Twitter, accusing him of orchestrating a physical attack through MLA’s when the bitter stand-off happened earlier this year and calling him a hypocrite.
After abusing ‘Sale, Kamine’ and orchestrating a physical attack by his MLAs in the NC meeting, Kejriwal wants us back! Hypocrite Shameless!
— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) July 17, 2015
After the interview, Yadav also slammed Kejriwal by saying Bhushan had informed the Chief Minister about the duplicity of erstwhile Delhi Law Minister Jitendra Singh Tomar, who is currently in jail for allegedly faking his educational degrees.
Kejriwal also defended Delhi government’s recent decision to increase VAT (Value Added Tax) as a measure taken to ensure uniform tax in the country. The Delhi CM questioned why nobody had objected to VAT being increased also across Punjab and Haryana on the same day.
“In 2-3 years, VAT will be lowest in Delhi,” Kejriwal promised in the interview.
Kejriwal also defended the recent appointment of Swati Maliwal as new Delhi Commission for Women chief, saying he had no family relations with the AAP leader and that her selection was made only on the basis of merit.
On the subject of Delhi statehood, Kejriwal said that AAP is keen to hold a referendum in the capital to know that the public thinks. He said there was nothing wrong in listening to the opinion of the people of Delhi in this regard. Kejriwal also accused the Centre of not letting the Delhi government function properly.
Kejriwal also announced AAP’s plans to contest state elections in Punjab. In the last Lok Sabha elections, AAP had won four seats only in this northern state.
The Delhi Chief Minister also hailed the work done by his state government ever since it came into power and expressed confidence that if the elections were to be held again today, 70 out of 70 seats would be won by AAP.