NEW DELHI: Rajendra Pal Gautam, former Delhi social welfare minister and sitting MLA from the reserved constituency of Seemapuri, resigned from Aam Aadmi Occasion on Friday and joined Congress. He was inducted into Congress on the AICC headquarters within the presence of basic secretary KC Venugopal, the occasion’s Delhi chief Devender Yadav and media publicity division head Pawan Khera.
Gautam’s resignation has come at a time when meeting polls within the capital are lower than six months away.Gautam was thought of a outstanding Dalit face within the occasion.
After becoming a member of Congress, Gautam posted his photographs with AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and occasion chief Rahul Gandhi. “I joined the @INCIndia occasion influenced by the ideology of Shri @kharge Saheb and Shri @RahulGandhi ji, who raised the voice for caste census, for equality, freedom, fraternity and justice,” Gautam posted on X.
In a letter to Delhi CM and AAP nationwide convener Arvind Kejriwal, Gautam stated the occasion was showing to be “weak and helpless” earlier than BJP in elevating points like caste census, rising the reservation restrict above 50%, making certain population-based participation of “Bahujan Samaj”, and defending secularism. “It is unattainable to think about works of social justice and social equality inside AAP,” Gautam claimed in his three-page resignation letter.
The previous Delhi minister additional claimed that as a real soldier of Babasaheb Ambedkar, social justice was his first and final motto of life, however he wouldn’t be capable to obtain it by remaining in AAP. He alleged that AAP was not giving any particular illustration to SC, ST, OBC and minorities. “The occasion helps upper-caste MLAs or ministers after they face any allegations, however instantly abandons Muslim or Dalit even when the allegations are false. It, in a approach, internally blacklists the Muslim and Dalit and adjustments its behaviour, which is painful,” Gautam, who additionally belongs to the Dalit group.”
Gautam, nonetheless, added that he had nothing towards any functionary of AAP and appreciated Kejriwal govt for its efforts to enhance faculties and the training system within the capital. In his letter, addressed to Kejriwal and his “companions” in AAP, Gautam additionally listed varied measures he took to enhance the lives of the individuals belonging to backward and minority communities.
Gautam had joined AAP in Nov 2014 and went on to develop into a minister in Kejriwal govt. He had resigned from the council of ministers in Oct 2022 after his presence at a conversion ceremony to Buddhism snowballed into an argument forward of the municipal elections within the capital. He had been mendacity low since then.
Gautam is the second Dalit MLA and minister to resign from AAP. Gautam’s successor within the Delhi council of ministers, Raaj Kumar Anand, additionally resigned from govt and the occasion in April this 12 months. Anand had alleged that the occasion, which was born out of a motion towards corruption, had obtained caught within the quicksand of corruption. Anand first joined BSP and contested the parliamentary election on its ticket and misplaced, and later joined BJP.
Whereas inducting Gautam into Congress, Venugopal stated it was a proud second for the occasion. “The Bharat Jodo Yatra and Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra have given a brand new narrative to the nation, and now the nation can also be accepting it with full would possibly. Attracted by the Congress programmes below the management of Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, he has determined to hitch the occasion,” he added.
