The u-turn: Binny cancels fast, serves 10-day ultimatum to AAP

Amidst high drama at Jantar Mantar, expelled Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Vinod Kumar Binny took a u-turn by serving a 10-day ultimatum to the AAP-government to fulfill the pre-election promises the party had made to Delhiites. Binny, who had threatened to start an indefinite fast on Monday claimed to kick-off a nation-wide struggle against the government from February 7 in case his demands aren’t met.

Flanked by supporters from India Against Corruption (IAC) and AAP’s splinter group Bharatiya Aam Aadmi Parivaar (BAAP), Binny claimed to have met Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung to apprise him about his plans, who according to him, advised him otherwise. He further said he had also spoken to social activist Anna Hazare about his decision and claimed that Hazare shared Jung’s views.

“Advising me against my decision, Jung told me, ‘I am not saying this as the L-G but as someone who’s elder to you. You are going to sit on an indefinite fast for 10-15 days, what are you going to get?’” said Binny while addressing his supporters.

Binny accused the party of having cheated the voters. He further pressed that he was giving “10 more days to the government” to fulfill all the promises made to the people of Delhi prior to the assembly elections including the Jan Lokpal Bill, women’s security, availability of water, etc.

 He also denied having received any letter regarding his expulsion from the party and demanded a referendum on the issue. “I have not received any letter regarding my expulsion from the party. You claim to consult the people on every issue. It would have been better if you had consulted the people on my expulsion as well”, said Binny as he continued targeting the AAP.

He was also supported by members of the All Guest Teachers Association (AGTA) sitting on a dharna outside the Delhi Secretariat for more than two weeks. “We will stand besides anybody who supports our cause. Binny has promised to support our demand for permanent posts in government schools and hence we are here to support him”, said Aarti Rana, one of the members of the AGTA.

Delhi Secretariat witnesses ‘AAP-style’ protest by Kejriwal’s former colleague

After the controversial Janta Durbar last week, the Delhi Secretariat witnessed yet another action-packed Saturday when around 30 members of the India Against Corruption (IAC) stormed at Gate No:6 of the building and protested against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his ministers.

Led by his one-time colleague and president of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), Akhil Gogoi, the protesters were locked into a heated argument with the police after they dared Kejriwal to come out and accept their memorandum. Despite repeated assurances from the police that the chief minister had left the premises, they continued shouting-“Arvind tum bahar aao” (come out Arvind!) until receiving their memorandum back signed by Kejriwal.

“Arvind was one of us till yesterday but he has cheated us. He had promised to bring the Jan Lokpal Bill within 15 days of coming into power but nothing has been done till now. No action has been taken against former chief minister Sheila Dixit. We demand allegations against her to be made public and her arrest within a week’s time”, said Manoj Jain, one of the IAC members.

The memorandum also demanded the removal of Somnath Bharti from the post of Delhi’s Law Minister on accounts that he had been indicted by a court of law for tampering of evidence and allegations that he had broken the law by revealing the name of the Danish woman who was allegedly gang-raped by eight men last Tuesday. Constitution of a woman commando force, security assurance to north-eastern originals and providing electricity, water, education, health and housing free of cost were other demands.

The protesters also threatened to sit on a fast-until-death from the first week of February if their demands were not met.

“We will begin a fast-until-death in case the government doesn’t heed our demands. It is Arvind who taught us all this and we will follow his teachings if needed”, said one of the protesters.

'Stung' in AAP-style himself, Sisodia booed down by protesters

‘Stung’ in a style propagated by his government, Delhi’s Education and Urban Development Minister Manish Sisodia had to face boos and sloganeering from members of All Guest Teachers’ Association sitting on a dharna outside the Delhi Secretariat for the last four days. After one of the protesters played a recorded sting that he had carried out on Sisodia where he allegedly backtracked from his promise of giving permanent posts to the teachers, a crowd of around 500 people started shouting slogans against him. The boos got louder after the crowd noticed that he had come out at the top of the Secretariat to view the situation. Embarrassed, Sisodia chose to return inside.