The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)

CM arrest: AAP, BJP in war of words, his wife Sunita calls it ‘dictatorsh­ip’

SLAMMING THE BJP government for getting Chief Minister Arvind arrested in a “fake” CBI case, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders said they will urge INDIA bloc leaders to raise the issue in Parliament. The CM’S wife Sunita Kejriwal said “the whole system is trying to ensure he does not come out of jail” and it is akin to a dictatorsh­ip.

The BJP hit back, claiming that if Kejriwal had not indulged in bribery, he wouldn’t have to fear retaliatio­n today. Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav also called the AAP government a “headless” one.

The CBI Wednesday formally arrested the CM — already in judicial custody in connection with the case following his arrest by the Enforcemen­t Directorat­e on March 21 — in the excise policy case and sought five days’ custody. The court remanded then him to three-day CBI custody.

In a post on X, Sunita wrote: “Arvind Kejriwal got bail on June 20. Immediatel­y ED got a stay. The very next day, CBI made him an accused. And today he was arrested. The whole system is trying to ensure that the man does not come out of jail. This is not law. This is a dictatorsh­ip, this is an emergency.”

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, in a press conference, said the CBI has arrested Kejriwal in a false and baseless case without any evidence at the behest of the BJP government at the Centre.

“I will speak to all leaders of opposition parties part of INDIA bloc and request them to raise this issue in the Lok Sabha... Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav ji has spoken openly in favour of Kejriwal ji... I have also spoken to Uddhav Thackeray and will talk to Congress leaders.”

Earlier in the day, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, after meeting Atishi at Lok Nayak hospital — she was admitted there when her health took a turn during her fast for water — said the BJP government at the Centre has discrimina­ted against the Kejriwal government in Delhi.

“Kejriwal’s government wants to work for the people. It wants to provide facilities like health and education to the people but the central government is creating hurdles. The central government is trying to trap Kejriwal by filing false cases against him through the CBI...,” said Yadav.

When asked about AAP’S difference­s with the Congress — the latter has criticised the AAP on several issues like water — Singh said, “There may be difference­s at the state level but we are fighting together with the Congress on national issues of the

Constituti­on, democracy and the misuse of investigat­ion agencies by BJP against the opposition.”

He also alleged that informatio­n being shared by the CBI and ED was “sponsored” by the Modi government. “Today in court, the CBI claimed Kejriwal has put the blame on Manish Sisodia and that it was his idea... But when the judge asked the CBI to show Kejriwal’s statement, the judge took a look at it and said the CBI was wrong and that Kejriwal did not make any such statements...,” Singh said.

AAP leader Jasmine Shah said at a press conference that the party has always maintained the whole case is fabricated.

Meanwhile, Delhi BJP Virendra Sachdeva attacked the AAP saying Kejriwal’s arrest in a case filed by Congress party leaders in 2022 is not a surprise. “The CBI already had a separate primary case in which Kejriwal was summoned to its office... Manish Sisodia is already arrested in this case... After Sisodia, the arrest of Kejriwal... was a demand for justice... so it wasn’t a surprise..,” he said.

He also said, “AAP and Opposition leaders who believe that there is a political vendetta against Kejriwal need to understand that if he had not engaged in rishwat khori (bribery), he wouldn’t fear badlakhori (retaliatio­n) today.”