Indian minister caught on sex tape, expelled from party
WION
New Delhi, Delhi, IndiaUpdated: Sep 03, 2016, 08:20 AM IST
Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Najib Jung (L) administers oath to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sandeep Kumar during the Delhi state swearing-in ceremony in New Delhi on February 14, 2015. Photograph:(AFP)
India's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today suspended Sandeep Kumar from the party, following his sacking from the post of women and child development minister over an "objectionable" CD showing him in a compromising position with a woman.
"Party is taking action. Whatever Sandeep Kumar has done is wrong. He has been suspended from the primary membership. The matter has been sent to the disciplinary committee and whatever recommendations will come from it, the party will follow it. But, the PAC has suspended him from primary membership after discussing the issue this morning," Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia told PTI.
The 36-year-old minister was sacked from the council of ministers by Delhi's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday after receiving the 'objectionable' CD.
"Sandeep Kumar's action cannot be defended. No such behaviour will be tolerated. I have said this on the very first day that in the matter of character, corruption and crime, no one will be spared. And, if tomorrow, even if it comes to me, then the same action will be taken against me as well," he said.
Responding to party leader Ashutosh's stand on the issue, the deputy chief minister today said, "Ashutosh's opinion could be his own, but the whole party is very clear on it."
Ashutosh in a blog had said that the legislator's "consensual act" was not wrong and his sacking from the cabinet was aimed at "perception management".
In the blog, he had also said the row over Kumar's "objectionable" video exposes the "hypocrisy of the society and hollowness of the media" and wondered why the seemingly obvious "consensual act" should create ripples in the media and politics.
Kumar, meanwhile, alleged that he was targeted under a conspiracy as he was a Dalit.
(WION with inputs from agencies)
"Party is taking action. Whatever Sandeep Kumar has done is wrong. He has been suspended from the primary membership. The matter has been sent to the disciplinary committee and whatever recommendations will come from it, the party will follow it. But, the PAC has suspended him from primary membership after discussing the issue this morning," Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia told PTI.
The 36-year-old minister was sacked from the council of ministers by Delhi's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday after receiving the 'objectionable' CD.
"Sandeep Kumar's action cannot be defended. No such behaviour will be tolerated. I have said this on the very first day that in the matter of character, corruption and crime, no one will be spared. And, if tomorrow, even if it comes to me, then the same action will be taken against me as well," he said.
Responding to party leader Ashutosh's stand on the issue, the deputy chief minister today said, "Ashutosh's opinion could be his own, but the whole party is very clear on it."
Ashutosh in a blog had said that the legislator's "consensual act" was not wrong and his sacking from the cabinet was aimed at "perception management".
In the blog, he had also said the row over Kumar's "objectionable" video exposes the "hypocrisy of the society and hollowness of the media" and wondered why the seemingly obvious "consensual act" should create ripples in the media and politics.
Kumar, meanwhile, alleged that he was targeted under a conspiracy as he was a Dalit.
(WION with inputs from agencies)