AAP used to be a courageous party, has lost focus: Captain Gopinath

The resignation of Captain Gopinath on Saturday came as a severe blow to the Aam Aadmi Party. “The party has lost its focus and I did not feel the need to continue,” said the Air Deccan founder, who had joined the party in January this year.    

“I have been following the developments over the past few days and the manner in which Arvind Kejriwal handled the defamation case left me disgruntled,” he told rediff.com in a phone call from Toulouse in France 

“It is not correct for a leader to refuse paying bail bond and defy a court order.‎ I thought he would change, but I did not see that happening. I expected more but I saw that the focus was being lost,” he added.

The AAP chief is currently lodged in Tihar Jail in connection to a case of defamation filed against him by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Nitin Gadkari.

“I found Kejriwal to be a courageous leader and wanted to change Indian politics. That, however, did not happen and I started finding it difficult to continue my association with the party,” Captain Gopinath admitted. “I wish them well and must add that it used to be a courageous party.”

He said that he resigned from the membership of the party because of increasing differences with the leadership and its ways.

Shortly after Captain Gopinath announced his resignation AAP founder member Shazia Ilmi also quit from all party posts.

Image: Captain Gopinath had joined the AAP in January this year