New Delhi: A day after being sacked by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Sandeep Kumar on Thursday alleged that the "objectionable" CD on him is nothing but a conspiracy and it needs to be investigated.
Sources said the CD purportedly showed Aam Aadmi Party's Kumar, who held Social Welfare Ministry and Women and Child Development Ministry, in a compromising position with a woman.
In his first reaction after his sacking, the 36-year-old Kumar today said the veracity of the CD needs to be authenticated. He further insisted that he resigned on moral grounds.
Kumar, who represented Sultanpur Majra constituency and was the only Dalit face in the Delhi Cabinet, said some people are conspiring against him and his party.
"This is a conspiracy against me as I belong to Valmiki Samaj. There should be a probe into this matter. I am very hurt by watching the video on television. There is no authenticity of this CD. Authenticity should be checked," he told reporters at his residence here.
Asked if he was the one featured in the CD, Kumar said that it is a matter of investigation and the truth should prevail.
"I am the only Dalit face of the party. I have been popular among Dalit community, that's why a conspiracy has been hatched against me. Other political parties are after us as we do not have a political background," he added.
Kumar, however, insisted that he had resigned on moral grounds.
"Someone is saying the video is two months old and others are saying it is three months old. There is no authentication Dalits have been exploited always. I belong to a poor family, so I know the facts are distorted. I have been framed because I am a Dalit," he said.
He also lashed out at the media.
"Without knowing my side, the media is showing things. My family is with me. I am not afraid of such controversies. I am a loyal person and can sacrifice anything for my community.”
"It is the history of this country that whenever we have tried to rise, we have been suppressed. It is entirely a conspiracy against me and there should be an inquiry in it," he said.
"I have resigned on basis of morality. If media is trying to twist it then it is wrong. I was a soldier of AAP earlier and now also I won't let the party be defamed," he said.
In a series of tweets later, Kumar said:
मैं दलित हूँ इसका मुझे खामियाजा भुगतना पड़ रहा है, मेरे खिलाफ साजिश की जा रही है 1/3
— Sandeep Kumar (@SandeepKumar) September 1, 2016
पैसे और ताकत के दम पर मुझ जैसे आदमी पर आरोप लगाना और साबित करना भी बड़ी बात नहीं 2/3
— Sandeep Kumar (@SandeepKumar) September 1, 2016
मैंने बाबा साहब भीम राव आंबेडकर की प्रतिमा अपने घर पे लगाई और दलितों की बात करता हूँ , इसलिए मुझे फसाया जा रहा है 3/3
— Sandeep Kumar (@SandeepKumar) September 1, 2016
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had on Wednesday said he had received an "objectionable" CD on him and there cannot be any compromise with propriety in public life.
Soon after the action against the legislator over the alleged sex tape, Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said the Aam Aadmi Party government has "zero tolerance" towards any such act and action was taken within half-an-hour of receiving the CD.
The BJP and Congress mounted an attack on the Kejriwal government over the purported "sex CD" involving Kumar.
Kumar is the third minister who has been removed or forced out of the cabinet by Kejriwal since the formation of the government in February 2015.
Jitender Tomar was asked to resign as Law Minister in June 2015 after he was accused of forging his college degree. In October last year, Asim Ahmed Khan was removed as Minister for Food and Environment following allegations of taking bribe from a builder.
