Embarrassment for AAP as Succha Singh calls Kejriwal 'anti-Punjabi'

Chandigarh [India], Aug. 26 (ANI): Crying foul over the corruption charges being levelled against him, AAP's Punjab chief Succha Singh Chhotepur on Friday took on party supremo Arvind Kejriwal and accused his co-workers of falsely implicating him in a bid to tarnish his image and stated that he was ready for a CBI probe against him. Amid sharp criticism following accusations of taking bribe for assigning constituencies to party candidates for the assembly elections to be held early next year, an extremely disappointed Chhotepur said that Kejriwal does not trust Punjabis. Holding AAP leader Durgesh Pathak for the "conspiracy", Chhotepur claimed that the opponents were defending him while his own party was conspiring against him. "I don't want to damage the party. Let volunteers decide if I am a thief or an honest person," he told the media here. The AAP leader said that he was ready for even death sentence if the charges levelled against him are proved true. "I am the Aam Aadmi Party's convener from the last two and a half years. I served day and night to bring this party to this level. Initially, the people used to take this party casually...I have worked really hard to bring the party to this position and even boosted the morale of the volunteers to work for this party," Chottepur said. "My own friends have conspired against me," he added. Stating that he has worked for 18-19 hours every day to boost his party's chances in Punjab, Chottepur said, "Make the video (showing me accepting money) public. For over two years, AAP has not given me any money or fund. How are we running the party? It is through volunteers' money. It is public money and is used for public. Hang me if you can prove the money was for helping me get a ticket or for personal use. I have paid from my pocket to Dalit crime victims." "I have served the people with sincerity in the last 40 years and I expected that my party would present with an award. Moreover, if there were any allegations on the party, we were the ones who used to defend them. And now, this party is trying to falsely implicate me," he added. Kejriwal had earlier on Thursday refused to meet Chottepur and asked him to file his clarification before the party's Punjab state committee. (ANI)