Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who resigned from his post , wrote a long resignation letter stating the reason behind his decision. Sisodia’s resignation comes as a big setback for Arvind Kejriwal as he was second-in-command of the Delhi Chief Minister.
Manish Sisodia wrote a three-page resignation letter saying there could be more cases against him. Further he added that he would like to stay away from his post till the allegations against him are proved false.
“No one can force me to be corrupt… India’s freedom fighters are my source of strength,” he wrote, expressing faith that their “fight for truth will give us political strength… the blessings of lakhs of Delhi government school children, their parents and teachers are with me”.
He said that several FIRs have been registered against him and more are in the offing. Sisodia claimed that the BJP left no stone unturned to ensure that he leaves Kejriwal.
“I was threatened and even offered bribe, but I did not relent. As a result, they arrested me for not bowing before them”, Sisodia wrote.
“I am not scared of their jails and am not the first person to be arrested for following the path of truth,” he wrote adding that he has read countless stories of people who fought against the British and were jailed on false charges.
Along with Manish Sisodia, another AAP minister Satyendra Jain, in Delhi’s Tihar Jail in connection with a money laundering case, also stepped down from his post today. Kejriwal has accepted the resignation of both the ministers.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court dismissed Manish Sisodia’s plea challenging his arrest and directed him to approach the Delhi High Court. The apex court refused to interfere with the remand order. “Petitioner has efficacious alternate remedies under CRPC. We are not inclined to entertain at this stage,” the court said.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will approach the Delhi High Court, as directed by the apex court. Manish Sisodia, who was arrested on Sunday after a 8-hour-long questioning by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), had moved the Supreme Court challenging his arrest. He was arrested under sections 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 477 A (intent to defraud) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
