ND Gupta sent to Rajya Sabha at BJP's behest, alleges Maken

NEW DELHI: Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajay Maken on Friday said the Aam Aadmi Party "the party with a difference, has nominated chartered accountant ND Gupta, who was close to Union Minister Arun Jaitley, for Rajya Sabha elections".

Addressing a press conference here, Maken said ever since AAP named its three Rajya Sabha candidates, turmoil has been brewing in the party.

Maken said Gupta had met him on November 28, 2017, to submit his resignation from Congress, as AAP had promised him a Rajya Sabha seat from Delhi. "Though I had my doubts and told him so, Gupta said that everything has been fixed," Maken claimed.

Maken added that during its formation five years ago, AAP had promised that his party would have transparency, internal democracy and no corruption.

"But these ideals are not seen in the party now, and have become history," the Congress leader said.

He further said that AAP had now become the "B team of the BJP", and was acting at the directions of the BJP.

Maken also showcased a power-point slide presentation to prove Gupta's proximity to the BJP

He said Gupta's association with BJP was evident from the fact that a meeting of the chartered accountants was organised by Gupta's son Navin at the Indira Gandhi indoor stadium on July 2017 to extend support to the Goods and Services Tax, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Arun Jaitley were guests.

"Navin Gupta is the president-elect of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and will take charge of the body in March this year," Maken added.

Maken further said that The BJP Government at the Centre had appointed ND Gupta as chairman of the Rs 1,20,000-crore National Pension System Trust (NPS) on September 18, 2015.