AAP holds National Council meet amid dissent

New Delhi, March 28 (IANS) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Council meeting began on Saturday amid high drama with dissident leader Yogendra Yadav alleging that members with valid invitations were not allowed to attend meeting.

Claiming that members of National Council with valid invitation were not allowed to attend, Yadav initially refused to enter the venue. He later went in, saying he will discuss this issue with other party members.

"Many of the members were denied entry inside the venue despite having all documents. Now some of them have been allowed. I am going inside, will try for others to be allowed or register my protest," he said.

The National Council meeting will decide the fate of Yadav and another dissident leader, Prashant Bhushan.

They have accused Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of suppressing democracy within the party that rules Delhi. The AAP has also accused them of having tried to sabotage the party in the run up to the Delhi polls last month which it won handsomely.

Kejriwal and party leader Kumar Vishwas are among others attending the meeting.

The situation outside venue in Kapashera turned chaotic as demonstrators raised slogans against Yadav and Bhushan.

Traffic was affected as party volunteers and onlookers assembled in large numbers. A posse of police personnel tried to keep the traffic running.

Holding placard against Yadav and Bhushan, volunteers said that nobody had called them. They said they were present for the interest of the party.

"Please stay united," read a placard. Another one read: "We are with you Arvind Kejriwal."

Reacting to the protest against him, Yadav said: "Never thought such a day would come, that my own party workers will raise slogans against me."

"A social movement was started for this? Look at these posters, volunteers using words like 'gaddar, murdabad', unfortunate," he added.