Arvind Kejriwal News Highlights: AAP leaders burn effigies in protest against CM's arrest

Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday questioned the protests surrounding the arrest of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the alleged excise policy case. “If someone has committed corruption, shouldn't that person be arrested? If someone has done a liquor scam and looted crores of money, isn't action required against them? Why is ED for? The protest is staged by the AAP and Congress,” Rijiju said.

The Enforcement Directorate has taken cognisance of Delhi minister Atishi's statement that chief minister Arvind Kejriwal sent her directions from the agency's custody to initiate public welfare works related to water and sewerage, reported news agency PTI citing sources.

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday accused the BJP government at the Centre of "misusing" federal probe agencies and said the public will give a befitting reply to it in the Lok Sabha polls.

After holding a meeting with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs here, he said everyone in the party's Punjab unit has been standing like a rock with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate last Thursday in connection with an excise policy-linked money-laundering case.

At the meeting with the legislators, Mann, who is also the AAP's Punjab unit chief, discussed a host of issues including Kejriwal's arrest, strategy for the Lok Sabha polls and the INDIA bloc's 'maha' rally on March 31.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s wife Sunita Kejriwal arrives at the ED office to meet him.

AAP national general secretary Pankaj Gupta on Sunday wrote a letter to JP Nadda, requesting clarification on the alleged ₹60 crore money trail found between BJP and Sarath Chandra Reddy, “kingpin” of alleged Delhi liquor scam, the Kejriwal-led party said.

AAP workers burn effigies in New Delhi’s Govindpuri area to protest against the arrest of CM Arvind Kejriwal.

AAP leader Sandeep Pathak on Sunday slammed the BJP over Kejriwal's arrest saying they have done a “huge mistake”. “There are lakhs of Kejriwal in Delhi and they will come out on roads... People have doubts about how the party will run. The party has been and will keep running on the orders of Arvind Kejriwal. He is much stronger inside the jail than he was outside. The BJP has made a huge blunder. Their political strategy has failed.”

On Kejriwal issuing directions from the ED custody, AAP leader Sandeep Pathak said, “He is an elected Chief Minister. His first responsibility is to serve the public. Therefore, he has passed the orders from jail. The government will run from the jail. There are no difficulties.”

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: "Morality is also a thing. Kejriwal has lost all morality. Under the garb of morality, he had agitated with Anna Hazare. And he is saying that the law does not prohibit him from running a government behind bars," union minister Giriraj Singh told ANI on Sunday.

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha said, "Arvind Kejriwal received 9 summonses. No one is exempt from the law. Upon receiving the summonses, he should have cooperated with the agency, presenting his case and viewpoints. I understand that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal withdrew his petition against his arrest in the Supreme Court. If he believes he's been treated unfairly, he should address it in court rather than avoiding it."

ANI

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Delhi unit workers held a protest on Sunday, where they burned an effigy of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, currently in ED custody over the liquor scam allegations.

During the demonstration, BJP workers raised slogans against the AAP government and urged for Kejriwal's immediate resignation. The protest was organised at Santnagar Chowk, Ranibagh in Delhi, under BJP leader Praveen Khandelwal.

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: In a series of dramatic events on the evening of March 21, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) arrested AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal after questioning him at his residence regarding the excise policy case.

The arrest followed the rejection of Kejriwal's petition by the Delhi High Court earlier in the day, seeking to restrain the ED from taking any coercive action against him.

The case under investigation involves alleged irregularities and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the Delhi excise policy for 2021-22, which was subsequently annulled due to allegations of irregularities.

Several leaders from the INDIA bloc voiced support for Kejriwal while accusing the BJP and the Central government of exerting pressure on the opposition.

The ED, granted custody of the Delhi CM until March 28 by the lower court, alleges that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) benefited significantly from the proceeds of crime in the alleged liquor scam.

Additionally, two AAP leaders, Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, are currently in judicial custody in connection with the excise policy case.

Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said on Sunday, "Ramlila Maidan is a historical place. The biggest revolutions in the country started from Ramlila Maidan. AAP also rose from the Ramlila Maidan... Senior leaders of all INDIA parties will take part in the rally and address the nation..."

"In a press conference earlier today, Atishi said that Arvind Kejriwal has asked her to solve the water-related issues in Delhi, adding that the Delhi government will now operate from the ED custody. This is a forged letter, and the CM's office has been hijacked and being operated in an unconstitutional way," says BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa.

"All members of the INDIA alliance will attend (the 'maha rally') at 10 am on March 31 at the Ramlila Maidan (in Delhi). We will give a message to the entire world on how the central government is trying to end the democracy and the freedom to ask questions," says Delhi Minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj.

Congress Delhi chief Arvinder Singh Lovely said, “Opposition not being given level playing field; Cong's accounts frozen, CMs being arrested.”

He added, “March 31 'maha rally' will not be 'political' but a call to save country's democracy, raise voice against Centre.”

“Democracy is in danger. Our leader (Congress MP) Rahul Gandhi is fighting to save democracy. We are standing strong with the partners of INDIA alliance.”

AAP leader Gopal Rai during a press conference by INDIA alliance in Delhi, said, “By adopting dictatorship and ending the democracy in the country, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has been arrested. There is anger in every person who loves and respects the Constitution and democracy. One by one, PM Modi is misusing the agencies to file fake cases against every opposition leader.”

The INDIA bloc plans to organise a 'mega rally' at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on March 31 to protect the nation, according to AAP's Gopal Rai.

The AAP will hold a meeting of its leaders, MLAs and councillors on Sunday to decide its future strategy following the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, party sources said.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak will preside over the meeting.

"This is the first big meeting after the arrest of the party supremo. There is likely to be discussions on the party's future strategy," a source said.

PTI

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari hits out at Kejriwal, saying,""A script was made today in reference to a criminal in the custody of ED. It was done after no one showed support (to Arvind Kejriwal). If you want to see the condition of delhi, go and watch the lanes of Delhi. The drains are full of dirty water, coming into the streets, entering the houses and dirty drinking water in the houses... Now, Delhi will not listen to your script. The people of Delhi have lost trust in you."

AAP leader Priyanka Kakka said during a press conference in Delhi, “If BJP won’t answer the questions that have been raised (on Sharat Chandra Reddy's donation to the party), then it would be obvious that it has been caught red-handed for being involved in corruption.”

Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said during a press conference, “BJP took around ₹60 crore donations from kingpin of excise policy case - Sharat Chandra Reddy. This isn’t an allegation. We have shown the proof. BJP took ₹55 crore of donations from Sharat Chandra Reddy after arresting him (in excise policy case) and, surprisingly, they haven't said a word on this.”

The Aam Admi Party will convene its first significant meeting following the arrest of party's National Convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal at 11:30 am. Organizational General Secretary Sandeep Pathak will preside over the meeting, which will include all party leaders, MLAs, councillors, and office bearers. The agenda will focus on deliberating the party's future strategy.

BJP leader Harish Khurana said to PTI, “Victimhood is not going to work here. (Delhi CM) Arvind Kejriwal has been arrested in a liquor scam case. The people of Delhi and the entire country know how you looted them all.”