Enforcement Directorate Arrests Delhi Chief Minister Arvind KejriwalIn what may come as major political warfare between the ruling BJP and INDIA alliance, enforcement directorate arrested Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. He was arrested after hours long questioning in his Delhi residence in relation with liquor scam. According to The Indian Express, a three-judge Supreme Court bench will soon take up AAP leader’s plea against his arrest by ED.
Meanwhile, Kejriwal’s colleague in Delhi cabinet, Atishi said he will remain as the chief minister, from jail. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has reportedly approached against Mr Kejriwal’s arrest and awaiting the response from the registrar regarding an early hearing.
“We have received news that ED has arrested Arvind Kejriwal… We have always said that Arvind Kejriwal will run the government from jail. He will remain the Chief Minister of Delhi. We have filed a case in the Supreme Court. Our lawyers are reaching Supreme Court. We will demand Supreme Court have an urgent hearing tonight,” Atishi told reporters after the arrest.
Responding to his arrest, Congress’ general secretary in charge of organisation KC Venugopal said the move by ED is politically motivated and anti-democratic. He also added that the BJP in centre is using ED to stop the forward march of INDIA alliance in the national capital by arresting Mr Kejriwal.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi said targeting Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in this manner due to elections is completely wrong and unconstitutional. “Lowering the level of politics in this manner suits neither the Prime Minister nor his government. Fight your critics in the electoral battle, confront them boldly, and of course attack their policies and working style – this is democracy. But in this way, using the power of all the institutions of the country to fulfill one’s political objective and weakening them by exerting pressure is against every principle of democracy,” she added.
“The bank accounts of the country’s largest opposition party Congress have been frozen, all the political parties and their leaders are under pressure day and night from ED, CBI and IT. One Chief Minister has been put in jail, now they are making all the preparations to put another Chief Minister in jail. Preparations are being made to take it. Such a shameful scene is being seen for the first time in the history of independent India,” she added.