New Delhi: Former chief of naval staff Admiral (retired) Laxminarayan Ramdas has expressed disappointment over the leadership of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for not informing him before shunting him out from the internal Lokpal.
The AAP on Sunday removed Prashant Bhushan from the National Disciplinary Committee and Admiral Ramdas as internal Lokpal.
The decision was announced by the party after AAP's national executive meeting was held at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence.
"It is with great surprise and sadness that I heard today from a reporter that the Aam Aadmi Party no longer requires my services as its internal Lokpal. Various media reports have subsequently confirmed this news. I am disappointed that the leadership of the party did not accord me the courtesy of informing me first before making this decision public. I still await their phone-call," said Ramdas.
"I am surprised because less than two weeks ago the party publicly reaffirmed its confidence in me. At no point in my tenure did the party express to me any dissatisfaction with my service. Neither did its leaders question my neutrality or my objectivity in this position. As recently as January 2015, I was asked to investigate complaints against potential electoral candidates," he said.
New Lokpal would now include three members - former IPS officer M Dileep Kumar, Rakesh Sinha, former DIG, and educationist Dr SP Verma.
Earlier, a miffed Ramdas had written to the Political Affairs Committee criticising the leadership after he was sent an SMS asking him not to attend the National Council meeting held on Saturday to avoid "confrontation".
Ramdas said he had come from his village in Maharashtra to attend the meet. However, he said he would not attend the meet to "honour" the party's request.
