Aam Aadmi Party rules out action against Somnath Bharti

NEW DELHI: Brushing aside criticism and mounting demands for his removal, Aam Aadmi Party tonight backed controversial Law Minister Somnath Bharti in the midnight raid episode and decided to await the findings of the judicial inquiry before any action can be taken against him.

However, the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the party chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal disapproved of the language used by Bharti against senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley and noted lawyer Harish Salve and asked him not to use foul language in public discourse.

The meeting took place against the backdrop of growing demands for the sacking of Bharti after an Ugandan woman identified Bharti as the one who led a group of AAP workers in attacking their house and misbehaving with them on the pretext of a raid on an alleged drug and prostitution ring in South Delhi last week.

"The party has not found any evidence against Bharti on three counts. First he did not do anything which was unbecoming of a minister. The preliminary probe by the party has not found him misbehaving or assaulting Ugandan women. He was also not found using any racial slur," party leader Yogendra Yadav told reporters here.

The senior AAP leader said appropriate action will be taken against Bharti if the judicial probe finds him guilty of any wrongdoing.

Yadav said the party felt that drug and prostitution rackets are being run for a long time in the Khirki Extension area of South Delhi and it was a "serious problem" being faced by the residents in the area.

"Several complaints have been lodged with the police, but even after that no action was taken. Bharti did no wrong and in fact he should lauded for his efforts to address people's grivances," Yadav said.

Earlier in the day, Kejriwal had a meeting with Lt Governor Najeeb Jung. But when asked whether the Bharti issue figured in the meeting, he answered in the negative and said it was a routine meeting.