Swaraj Abhiyan forms its national team, announces ‘Jai Kisan Yatra’

AAP’s expelled leaders Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan, Professor Anand Kumar and others at the first meeting of National Steering Committee in flagship of Swaraj Abhiyan in Gurgaon on Wednesday. (Source: PTI)

Swaraj Abhiyan, a group formed by ousted AAP leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan, on Thursday formed its national team of 29 members and announced “Jai kisan Abhiyan Swaraj Yatra” to kickstart its movement for farmers.

Yadav, leader of Swaraj Abhiyan — formed after his expulsion from AAP — said the group has prepared its constitution which talks of RTI, autonomy to state bodies, advisory council, freedom of expression, associate membership for other organisation and the Lokpal.

He, however, denied forming a party on immediate basis. “Right from the first day, we are saying that we are a political organisation. But to form a political party, we need to gather strength and energy,” Yadav said.

“Even if a political party is floated, volunteers have options to work for social issues through Swaraj Abhiyan movement. It will always remain a non-electoral organisation,” Bhushan said.

A majority of the members of the National Working Committee include former AAP members, who were either expelled or quit. Yadav, who was earlier handling Haryana, while in AAP, continues to hold the charge of the state in the newly formed outfit.

Similarly, expelled AAP leader and National Executive members Ajit Jha, Prashant Bhushan and Anand Kumar will look after Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana respectively. Former AAP’s NE members Vishal Sharma Lathe, Rakesh Sinha will also look after Uttar Pradesh, Maruti Bhapkar after Maharashtra and Christina Samy after Tamil Nadu.

For Delhi, the group has also given responsibility of Delhi to Saman Qureshi, who was earlier a part of AVAM, a breakaway group of AAP and AAP’s Timarpur MLA Pankaj Pushkar.

“We have drafted a constitution, which is ad hoc constitution for now, as many suggestions are coming in and
during the next meeting of NSC we will finally adopt it,” Bhushan said.

“The constitution talks of bringing the organisation under the ambit of RTI, autonomy to state bodies, advisory council, freedom of expression, associate membership for other organization and the lokpal. We will practice pro-active transparency. Our members, office bearers, decisions, resolutions and expenses will be uploaded on the website,” Bhushan said.

In the constitution, all the members will have members to vote and executive body will be elected by voting. There will be provisions of referendum and right to call, he added. Yadav said Swaraj Abhiyan resolved to focus on issues of farming and land.

Source:: Indian Express