New Delhi [India], March 28 (ANI): After the custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was extended till April 1 by the local court, the Aam Admi Party on Thursday questioned the investigation being carried out by the Enforcement Directorate in the excise policy case, while the Bharatiya Janata Party slammed the INDIA bloc and said that their modus operandi is “When caught, start playing the victimhood card” after looting the public’s money.
Calling the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal “illegal” in the excise policy case, Aam Aadmi Party national spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar on Thursday said that the Enforcement Directorate should have completed its investigation before arresting the AAP supremo, adding that the central agency itself is “unaware” of why it has arrested Kejriwal.
Speaking to ANI, Priyanka Kakkar said, “CM Arvind Kejriwal had said to give as many days of remand. ED asked for 7 days and the court granted a 4-day remand. The CM has exposed something big today that the real liquor scam started after the agencies started their investigation… ED is not even aware of why it has arrested him. What type of law is this where an arrest has been made without thorough investigation? The arrest of the CM is illegal, we have challenged it and the High Court will hear it on April 3.”
In this regard, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said that INDIA bloc has a four-point modus operandi, which consists of “playing victimhood card”.
“In the INDI alliance, the Congress Party which is the oldest party, the AAP, which is the most newly formed party and all the ‘Pariwaarwadi’ parties, their character has become to loot, lie, get caught and then become victims and put pressure on the institutions. This has become their four-point modus operandi: we will keep looting, we will keep lying, and when caught, we will start playing the victimhood card. If that victimhood card does not work, then we will keep on attacking the institutions,” he said.
Meanwhile, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has only included those statements that were against CM Arvind Kejriwal and removed those that were not against him.
Bharadwaj said that the ED initially objected to Arvind Kejriwal speaking in court on Friday but later he was allowed to speak.
Kejriwal said in court that the case has been going on for two years, and no allegations have been proven.
Kejriwal said that out of 162 witnesses the ED has examined, his name appears in only four places.
“The first statement is from C Arvind, who said that excise documents were handed over to him. Is this statement enough to arrest the Chief Minister?” Bharadwaj said.
C Arvind was the secretary of former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
Bharadwaj also said that Arvind Kejriwal asked in court if a sitting Chief Minister can be arrested based on these four statements.
Asserting that there is anger in the country against the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Congress MP Deepender Hooda said, “We condemn his arrest. INDIA Alliance will hold a rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on March 31. Today the Constitution has come in danger, constitutional rights have come in danger, today there is a need to save the Constitution, democracy…”
Also, senior AAP leader Gopal Rai said that the leadership of all political parties are coming to Delhi on March 31.
“We are in constant conversation with all parties of the INDIA alliance. The leadership of all political parties are coming to Delhi on March 31. Today, around 2,500 teams of AAP have been formed to invite people to join us for ‘Chalo Ramlila Maidan’ on 31st March. I have the confidence that people will reach Ramlila Maidan to protest against Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest. We are in contact with various political parties and their schedule will be finalised soon…” Gopal Rai said.
As the Delhi court extends the ED remand of CM Arvind Kejriwal till April 1 in the excise policy case, BJP Delhi President Virendraa Sachdeva welcomed the decision.
“The investigative agency is doing its work, I think we should let them do their work; everything is going to be apparent when things come to court,” Sachdeva said while adding that if Arvind Kejriwal had ethics, then he would have resigned by now.”
Bharadwaj also said that Arvind Kejriwal asked in court if a sitting Chief Minister can be arrested based on these four statements.
The Aam Aadmi Party observed a fast in Odisha’s Bhubaneswar on Thursday in protest against the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate.
Meanwhile, a protest will be held by the INDIA bloc outside the BJP headquarters in the national capital tomorrow against the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Congress, AAP, and the Left parties will participate in the demonstration.
The INDIA bloc will also hold a joint rally at the Ram Leela Maidan on March 31 in protest against the arrest. (ANI)
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