AAP leaders including Arvind Kejriwal apologize to Arun Jaitley

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Ashutosh, Raghav Chadha and Sanjay Singh have reportedly apologised to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for making unverified accusations against him.

News agency ANI reported that the four leaders have apologised to Jaitley in letter and requested him to take back a defamation case filed in a Delhi court. "I have made certain statements about you in December 2015 and thereafter in connection with your tenure as the President of the Delhi and District Cricket Association. These allegations also form a part of the subject matter of proceedings currently pending adjudication before the Hon'ble Delhi High Court and Ld. CMM, Patiala House Court, New Delhi," reads the letter signed by Kejriwal. "These allegations were made by me were based on information and papers furnished to me by certain individuals who represented to have first-hand insight into the affairs of DDCA. However, I have recently discovered that the information and the imputations contained therein are unfounded and unwarranted and I was clearly misinformed into the making of these allegations."

Sources, however, have said Jaitley is unlikely to take back the defamation case filed.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, AAP leaders Sanjay Singh,Ashutosh and Raghav Chadha apologize to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the defamation case he had filed against them pic.twitter.com/CJFqxVD738 — ANI (@ANI) April 2, 2018

Kejriwal in recent weeks has issued a number of apologies to political rivals. Early March, he had apologised to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia for accusing him of trafficking drug money in Punjab. He then apologised to Union minister Nitin Gadkari for unverified allegations made against him. "I have nothing personal against you. I regret the same. Let us put the incident behind us and bring the court proceedings to a closure," he had written in a letter addressed to Gadkari.

While the party has said that it does not have the financial resources to fight legal battles in the aftermath of defamation cases filed, not many are too pleased with the long list of apologies. For instance, several AAP members in Punjab had openly expressed their displeasure at Kejriwal's apology to Majithia and had said it would demoralise the party workers. AAP however attempted at a justification and said it is focused on development-related work.