NEW DELHI: An operation of the Enforcement Directorate on the preceding day arrested CM Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, in a case regarding excise policy. Following a two-hour interrogation at his dwelling, Kejriwal faced the arrest by the ED officials.
Kejriwal has now become the second Chief Minister in office to endure arrest recently, following Hemant Soren from Jharkhand. It was affirmed by the AAP leadership on Thursday that notwithstanding his confinement, Kejriwal would retain his position as the Chief Minister, ensuring Delhi’s governance would persist even during his imprisonment. Beforehand, the Delhi High Court had dismissed Kejriwal’s plea to prorogue any coercive actions against him.
Will run govt from jail’, says AAP leader Atishi
“We have been informed about Arvind Kejriwal’s detention by the ED. Our stance from the beginning has been that Arvind Kejriwal will oversee operations from prison. He is set to continue as the CM of Delhi. A suit has been filed in the Supreme Court, and our legal representatives are getting ready for an emergency hearing tonight,” Atishi mentioned.
‘Preparation for autocracy’, says JMM
Mahu Maji, the Rajya Sabha representative and leader from Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, voiced her opinion associating Kejriwal’s arrest with a broader pattern in states not governed by the BJP. She expressed, “In regions where there isn’t BJP rule, such instances only unfold. With upcoming elections, the model code of conduct is in effect, yet the ongoing chain of events, commencing in Jharkhand and unfolding in Delhi, does not align with democracy but tantamount to a precursor of autocracy.” The detention of Kejriwal follows the apprehension of the former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and JMM leader, Hemant Soren.
‘Murder of democracy’, says Congress
Udit Raj from Congress criticized the substantial presence of security personnel encircling Kejriwal’s residence, likening the scenario to a state of war or pursuing a dangerous offender. He declared, “Arvind Kejriwal’s residence has been enveloped by security as if they are in pursuit of a dacoit or amidst conflict with an adversary nation. This is an act against democracy. Should Arvind Kejriwal terminate his alliance with Congress and associate with BJP, all summonses will be eliminated. If the right to free speech is curbed, the consequences extend not only to AAP or Congress but impact all parties.”
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‘Last string of case had to reach CM Kejriwal’, says Bengal BJP president
On the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi CM, by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Sukanta Majumdar, the President of BJP in West Bengal, commented, “In the Liquor Policy Case, just a few days earlier, the BRS leader K Kavitha was also apprehended. This signified the impending major arrest in this case. It was foreseeable that the final piece of this case had to lead to Arvind Kejriwal. The former Deputy CM of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, also confronted arrest concerning this matter. It was merely a matter of time before his detention.”
Whoever opposes BJP, should contest from bars’, says AIADMK
The spokesman of AIADMK, Kovai Sathyan, expressed, “This apprehension validates that the BJP has a three-point agenda in place. Initially, anyone opposing the BJP is compelled to compete from a confinement. Secondly, those at odds with the BJP will exhaust their resources and encounter prohibitions in utilizing party funds. Thirdly, individuals on bail will not dissuade BJP from integrating with them.
‘Politically-motivated arrest’, says NCP
Supriya Sule, the leader and MP of NCP-SCP, conveyed, “I stand in solidarity with Arvind Kejriwal. This incident represents yet another politically-triggered detention by the ED supported by the BJP Government aiming to quash opposition voices and subvert the electorate at large. Our defiance remains resolute and unified in the battle for constitutional democracy.”
