Here are three issues over which AAP is battling 'negative media'

Here are three issues over which AAP is battling 'negative media'
Here are three issues over which AAP is battling 'negative media'
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Following a week of intense speculation surrounding the death of farmer Gajendra Singh at its rally, the AAP has found itself facing a triage of problems on Monday morning.   On Sunday, AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called for a “public trial” of the media in light of the AAP Law Minister Jitender Singh Tomar’s “fake degree” issue. Kejriwal had backed Tomar and citing aspersions cast by the press the Delhi CM said that the issue was raked up to “taint his (Tomar’s) image”. A trial of the media notwithstanding, the party has come under the media spotlight this morning regarding three specific instances surrounding the party and its members.  Tussle with the Lt. Governor of Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal’s nitpicking with the Lt. Governor of Delhi Najeeb Jung from the past is well documented with the CM referring to Jung as a “Congress agent” on one instance and a “BJP agent” in another. In a recent controversy, Jung has asked for a withdrawal of the CM’s instructions to “not bother the office of the LG” by sending him files.  A report in The Indian Express says that in his response, Jung has stressed on the fact that the Governor is the final authority to approve all legislations enacted by the state Assembly. His response to Kejriwal reportedly says that the “Lt-Governor has informed the Chief Minister, drawing his attention to the relevant provisions of the Constitution, the GNCTD Act 1991 and the Transaction of Business Rules 1993”. Deputy CM Manish Sisodia had earlier said that the order had been issued to speed up matters of governance. “There is no point in their carrying files from office to office. This should not be seen as a turf war. It is not,” he’s quoted as saying.  The Delhi government and the AAP have refused to comment on the matter so far.  AAP members in Maharashtra abandoning the party : Reports of AAP workers from Maharashtra abandoning the party seem to have come true with 200 members of the party from the state set to tender in their resignations by evening on Monday. After four senior members of the AAP including Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan were ousted from the party in April, an exodus seems to be in the offing. AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal had earlier said that he wanted to concentrate on the capital first and then look to consolidate elsewhere.  After the party had contested the Lok Sabha polls in 2014, there was the seeming presence of a party cadre in states like Haryana and Maharashtra. The recent negative press surrounding the party though seems to have caused disillusionment within its members.  One of the founding members of the party, Maruti Bhapkar spoke to TV channel Headlines Today on Monday saying that party-members in Maharashtra were disenchanted with senior AAP leaders and Arvind Kejriwal style of functioning in particular. “Today these disheartened members of AAP party will assemble at the SM Joshi foundation hall in the afternoon at 2pm. After 3 hours meeting they will announce their resignation from the party,” he’s quoted as saying.  The Kumar Vishwas “Affair” : The story first reared its head in December last year after party officials received an anonymous email which accused Vishwas of having an affair with an AAP volunteer in Amethi. Vishwas was contesting the Lok Sabha polls from the constituency.  Reportedly, a complaint has been filed with the Delhi Commission for Women by the woman in question. The body in turn has asked Vishwas to appear before it on Tuesday.  A report in the Hindustan Times says that Vishwas has denied all the allegations against him and also denies receiving the order. Vishwas also referred to a ploy in place to defame the woman and him.    Accusing the BJP and the Congress of playing “dirty politics”, Vishwas was quoted as saying that “This is only being done to bring us down, but I will keep on fighting against such dirty politics. We are not going to be scared”.  Vishwas also claims that the woman in question has sent him an email. “That woman has emailed me. She has clearly written that 'bhaiya' I have filed a complaint, what should I do next”, clarified Vishwas.  The BJP and the Congress have set their sights on the AAP leader, accusing him of violating a woman’s dignity. Members of the AAP have stuck by Vishwas and said that the allegations were baseless.  

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