This aam aadmi rues backing AAP

Mohd. Abdul Wasim, who agreed to ply his auto-rickshaw for the AAP’s campaign, has ended up losing his vehicle and thereby his means of livelihood

Mohd. Abdul Wasim is one aam aadmi who is thoroughly disgruntled with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The party, he claims, has robbed him of his livelihood and forced him into uncertain wait.

This Dabeerpura resident is now ruing the day he agreed to ply his auto-rickshaw as a campaign vehicle for the party. The vehicle has been in the custody of Saidabad Police for 18 days now. Mr. Wasim has been running from pillar to post to get it released. Worse, the auto-rickshaw is unlikely to be released for another three weeks.

After being offered Rs.1,000 a day from the AAP, Wasim drove the vehicle for campaign work on April 19 and 20.

Documents missing

On April 21, the third day, the rickshaw was seized by revenue officials as it lacked documents permitting it to ply as a campaign vehicle.

With the campaign handbills also not displaying the printer’s details – mandatory under rules – cases were slapped against Mr. Wasim, the party’s Yakutpura MLA candidate Asma Shehnaz and Hyderabad MP contender Lubna Sarwath.

The rickshaw was not released even after Ms. Shehnaz managed to produce permits by evening.

“The inspector repeatedly asked Lubna madam to come and sign some papers, but in vain. I had to run after her to get her to sign the personal bond for bail and documents of arrest,” Wasim recounts.

He made repeated rounds of Nampally Court producing various documents required.

“I spent a lot of money running around. My livelihood is lost and I owe the auto’s rent of Rs.250 per day. I’m being verbally abused by its owner every day,” he complains.

As things stand, he can get the auto-rickshaw back only after the court issues a release order on May 25, when the hearing is scheduled. While Ms. Shehnaz disbursed Rs.6, 500, nothing has come from Ms. Sarwath, he alleged.

MP candidate looks away

“I tried to convince Lubna madam to help this poor man, but she shooed us off. I myself have spent about Rs.1 lakh for campaign, for which I submitted bills, and am awaiting reimbursement from the party,” Ms. Shehnaz said. Ms. Sarwath was not available for comment.