New Delhi: Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal today sacked Food Minister Asim Ahmed Khan for allegedly demanding Rs.6 lakh in bribe from a builder.
Kejriwal announced this at a press conference where he played an audio tape of a conversation purportedly involving the builder, Khan and a middleman. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said the case was being referred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
“We won’t tolerate any corruption, even if it is by our ministers or legislators,” said Kejriwal, flanked by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and official spokesman Nagendar Sharma.
“I’ll not spare any minister, any legislator, even my son or even Manish. Strict action will be taken against anyone involved in corruption.”
“I am sad to take this decision,” he said. “Till the CBI completes the investigation, he (Khan) will not be a minister.” AAP legislator Imran Hussain will replace Khan in the Delhi cabinet.
“Prima facie it seems the matter is serious…We cannot tolerate this.” He underlined that this was a decision of the AAP government, and that the media did not unearth this episode.
Kejriwal went on to demand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should similarly sack Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who is linked to a recruitment scandal.
Khan is the second minister to bow out of the AAP government in disgrace. Then law minister Jitender Singh Tomar resigned under pressure in June after being arrested for allegedly faking his educational degree.