Will file graft plaints against PM in soon to be constituted Lokpal, says AAP; BJP hits back

NEW DELHI: The AAP will file complaints of corruption on the Rafale fighter jet deal and Sahara-Birla papers case against Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the soon to be constituted Lokpal, AAP Delhi convenor Gopal Rai said on Monday. The Delhi BJP hit back to the AAP and said that the party would raise the case of non-declaration of assets by the AAP-MLAs.

Rai said that Lokpal's appointment marks the culmination of the most intense peoples' struggle in India and said Prime Minister Modi was scared of putting himself under its scrutiny. "The Aam Aadmi Party will file complaints of corruption against the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Rafale fighter jets case and Sahara Birla diaries with the soon to be appointed India's first Lokpal. "There are questions that why it took five years for the 'chowkidaar' to appoint a Lokpal. It is a matter of shame for the prime minister that it took him this long for its appointment," Rai said.

He added that the Lokpal movement saw many BJP leaders on the stage, who promised a strong Lokpal, but after their government was formed at the Centre in May 2014, the BJP forgot about its promise to the country. Rai asked why it took five years for the government to appoint the Lokpal.

"With big proclamations of 'Na Khaunga Na Khaane Doonga' why did it take the Modi government five years to appoint a Lokpal, which they had promised before 2014 elections," he said.

Meanwhile, Delhi BJP's Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta said that Rai falsely blamed the Centre for bringing up the Bill so late. "The fact remains that Congress used every trick to delay the appointment of the Lokpal due to its vested interests. It continued to ensure delay for one technical or the other reason," said Gupta. He added that Rai mislead on the delay of Jan Lokpal Bill in Delhi. "It is false to say that the Central Government is sitting over the Bill for the last many years. The fact remains that the Bill introduced in Delhi

Assembly on 4th December 2015 has not seen the light of the day due to the inefficiency of the Delhi Government.

RTI has revealed that it is still lying with Delhi Government and shunting from one department to another. Delhi Government is fully responsible for its non-implementation," Gupta said.