"They have only evolved in corruption, used phones worth lakhs": Delhi minister Ashish Sood slams AAP

New Delhi [India], July 17 (ANI): As the debate over government spending heats up, Delhi Minister Ashish Sood slammed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), accusing its top leaders of double standards and squandering public money during their tenure in the national capital.
Speaking to ANI, Ashish Sood presented a list of high-end smartphones allegedly bought by AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal and other senior party leaders between 2017 and 2022. He argued that while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government was being unfairly criticised, AAP itself had a history of lavish spending.
"We don't want to dig into these matters, but when someone tries to defame our government by grabbing us by the neck, we will expose their misdeeds. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Arvind Kejriwal - the same man who used to say he and his team left good jobs to serve the nation - purchased phones worth Rs 1.8 lakh each. Such expensive phones! And now they are trying to tarnish our government's image", said Sood.
Referring to official records and sanction orders, Sood claimed that AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal bought four high-end smartphones during his tenure as Chief Minister, including an iPhone 13 Pro Max in 2022 for Rs 1.63 lakh and an iPhone 12 Pro Max in 2020 for Rs 1.39 lakh, along with other Apple models in previous years. He also named Manish Sisodia, Atishi, and Saurabh Bhardwaj for purchasing iPhones almost every year.
The minister also shared data for the AAP leaders and presented the sanction orders for each one of them.
Former deputy CM Manish Sisodia purchased an iPhone XS in 2019 worth Rs 1.12 lakh, and in the year 2021, he purchased an iPhone 12 Pro Max for Rs 1.66 lakh, and in the following year, he bought an iPhone 13 Pro Max for Rs 1.37 lakh.
He further alleged that former Delhi CM Atishi also bought iPhone 14 Pro Max, reportedly split over two payments - Rs 1.28 lakh and Rs 82,999. He added, AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj purchased an iPhone 13 in 2023.
The minister further alleged, "The permissible limit for phones was Rs 50,000 for the CM and Rs 45,000 for ministers, yet they kept asking for post-facto approvals and an increase in spending limits every year. Where are all those phones now? Ask Manish Sisodia."
He further spoke to ANI and said, "Phones are essential tools for governance. We get emails, WhatsApp complaints, and citizens reach out directly. It's not a luxury; it's a necessity, but AAP's repeated device upgrades were extravagant. They commit the act, and then play victim. They evolved in only one thing--corruption."
His remarks come days after a memo issued by the Delhi General Administration Department on July 9 revised mobile phone spending limits for officials for the first time in 12 years. According to the updated policy, the Chief Minister may now spend up to Rs 1.5 lakh, while ministers are allowed to spend up to Rs 1.25 lakh on mobile phones. The guidelines also stipulate that devices should not be replaced within two years unless repair costs exceed 50 per cent of the original price. (ANI)