BJP veteran Shanta Kumar defends AAP's Sisodia, blames system
Shimla (PTI): Veteran BJP leader and former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Shanta Kumar on Wednesday lauded AAP leader Manish Sisodia for his "clean image" but suggested that he might be "collecting money" for his party to fight elections.
Sisodia was arrested Sunday over alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.
In remarks that could embarrass his own party, Shanta Kumar said the AAP formed its government in the national capital "right under the nose of the BJP government at the Centre", after badly defeating the ruling party.
He said the AAP government worked for five years and then came back to power, calling it a "big achievement."
Sisodia became well known as a deputy chief minister with a clean image who did "commendable work", and is now in jail, the BJP leader said, according to a statement posted on Facebook.
Shanta Kumar said there have been charges and counter charges from both sides. It is also difficult to imagine that Sisodia may have been put in jail by the CBI without having committed any crime, he added.
He said the AAP leader is being accused of framing a liquor policy that brought profits to traders.
The Himachal leader said it appeared that "Sisodia is totally honest as an individual but might have done all this to collect money for the party and the elections".
"In my opinion this is the truth, and if this is the truth, the country very seriously needs to take some new decisions," he said in Hindi.
He argued that political parties take money from big business people, who make up for the amount through corruption with the help of the government that come to power.
After elections, the winning candidates file false expenditure accounts with the Election Commission, he charged. "How can everything be well in a country where democracy begins with black money and lies," he said.
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Sonam, Kamilini guide India to win over Pakistan in U19 Women's T20 Asia Cup
Kuala Lumpur, Dec 19: Riding on a brilliant four-wicket haul by 17-year-old spinner Sonam Yadav and an entertaining batting by G Kamilini, India thrashed Pakistan by nine wickets in a Group A match of the U19 Women's T20 Asia Cup here on Sunday.
Left-arm spinner Sonam delivered her best international bowling figures of 4 for 6, helping India restrict the arch-rivals to just 67/7 in 20 overs. The total was then overhauled in 7.5 overs, with Kamilini playing a stroke-filled, unbeaten knock of 44 runs off just 29 deliveries.
Electing to bat after winning the toss, only two Pakistan players, opener Komal Khan (24) and Fatima Khan (11) managed double-digit scores, with Sonam slaying the entire middle-order to send them reeling at 43 for six.
In reply, India lost opener Trisha Gongadi for a duck before Kamilini and Sanika Chalke (19 not out) were involved in an unbeaten match-winning 67-run partnership.
Wicketkeeper-batter Kamilini, 16, smashed four boundaries and three sixes to decimate the feeble Pakistan attack.
India will next play Nepal in their last Group A outing on Tuesday before the teams for the Super Four stage are decided.
Pakistan U19: 67 for 7 in 20 overs (Komal Khan 24, Sonam Yadav 4/6) lost to
India U19: 68 for 1 in 7.5 overs (G Kamilini 44 not out) by 9 wickets.
