AAP LD-CHHOTEPUR 2 LAST

On the purported sting operation against him, Chhotepur On the purported sting operation against him, Chhotepurclaimed it was a "conspiracy" hatched by "my own friendswithin the party." 21 AAP leaders from Punjab had yesterday shot off aletter to party’s national convenor Kejriwal asking him toimmediately sack Chhotepur from the party after a controversyerupted over a video clip allegedly showing him taking money. Chhotepur said that it was "unfortunate" that when aparty convenor meets Deputy Chief Minister (Manish Sisodia)the entire thing is recorded. "He is a spy," Chhotepuralleged. He said that he would not leave the AAP. "Rather I willstrive hard for the party," he said. Mann rejected the allegations saying Sisodia is too busywith the "good work" in Delhi. Chhotepur, 65, a time MLA who was a minister in SurjitSingh Barnala government in 1980s. He had joined the AAP aheadof 2014 Lok Sabha polls. After the party won four Lok Sabha seats from Punjab,Chhotepur, known for his oratory skills, was made the stateconvenor. "I have 40 years of political career. I am honest and asimple farmer. I am ready for CBI probe (on allegations ofbribe). If found guilty they (AAP leadership) can hang me,"Chhotepur said. He said that he fought elections for the seat of MLA, MPand SGPC general House, but it was always his well wishers whogave him funds. "I never asked for money from anyone," he said. Hitting out at AAP leadership, he said that he raisedthe party in Punjab by toiling hard, but he was never givenfunds for the work. "There is no state committee in Punjab, no treasurer, Iam a state convenor but AAP leader Durgesh Pathak alwaysignored me," he said. "For the past one month Durgesh is not talking to me," hesaid while claiming that this happened when he once told himin Amritsar that party volunteers are of the opinion thattickets will be sold. Citing a Delhi meeting, he said that he had openly saidin the meeting that the power centre is Durgesh. "He isdistributing tickets," he said. Chhotepur, who had shown dissent on first list of 21 AAPcandidates, said that he was in favour of honest persongetting the party ticket. Rejecting that he was a candidate for the CM post, hesaid, "I was never a candidate for the CM post. I am a simpleand honest man." On his next course of action, he said that it would bedecided by the volunteers. "It is the volunteers who will decide whether I am athief or a honest person. I don’t need certificate from them(AAP leadership)," he said. PTI PR VJ AKA ARK ZMNRG