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Journalism of Courage
The AAP Wednesday hit out at Amit Shah’s appointment as BJP president, saying the saffron party had lowered the “minimum moral qualification” required for leaders who head national parties. The AAP said the BJP had set the wrong precedent by appointing Shah who faces charges in encounter cases.
A statement issued by the AAP said, “It is difficult to recall any other example in which a leader who faced serious criminal charges, including murder, extortion and kidnapping was anointed as chief of a national political party. The AAP views the development as a sad day for democracy.”
“The argument that the appointment of Mr Shah as BJP president is an internal matter of that party does not hold ground since this development will have multiple implications on the political system of the country. In his first major speech in Parliament as PM, Narendra Modi had stressed on deciding cases of MPs facing criminal charges within a year to free this important institution of democracy from criminals. Now by appointing an individual who is facing trial in cases…as party president are Mr Modi and the BJP indicating that office-bearers of political parties enjoy immunity from criminalisation of politics?” the party said.
