"Stop Doing Politics Hiding Behind ED," Atishi To BJP
New Delhi [India]: Pointing to the arrests of two opposition chief ministers and the freezing of a bank account of the Congress party, Delhi Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi on Thursday asked the BJP to stop doing politics behind Enforcement Directorate.
She accused the BJP of attempting to win elections through undemocratic means and urged them to engage in fair political competition rather than using the ED as a tool or weapon for their political agenda.
"Today, the BJP is murdering democracy. They have arrested two opposition chief ministers (One chief minister Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren was put in jail and now another Kejriwal) and frozen a party's bank account. Is this how the BJP wants to win the election? I want to tell the BJP that if you want to fight, then come forward and fight in the political arena, in the election field. Stop doing politics hiding behind the ED, stop using the ED as your weapon," she said.
Informing the media about the action plan the party has taken after the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Atishi said that the party has filed an application in the Supreme Court against the illegal arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.
"We have filed an application in the Supreme Court against the illegal arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. It will be mentioned in the Supreme Court tomorrow morning. We hope that the Supreme Court will protect democracy," she said.
Atishi also questioned the timing of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's arrest, saying that for two years, neither the CBI nor the ED has found a single penny in two years of investigation.
Describing the arrest of Kejriwal as an assault on democracy, Atishi said that BJP is aware that Kejriwal is the most popular leader who has the potential to challenge PM Modi in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.
"Today, we all have seen an attempt to murder democracy. After the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections, Arvind Kejriwal, a popular CM of Delhi and a prominent leader of the opposition, has been arrested on false charges. This investigation has been going on for two years, but neither the CBI nor the ED has found a single penny in two years of investigation. But as soon as the election is announced, Arvind Kejriwal is arrested. Why? Because PM Narendra Modi knows that if there is one leader who can challenge him, it is Arvind Kejriwal," she said.
A team from the Enforcement Directorate arrived at Kejriwal's residence to interrogate him regarding the liquor policy case. During a search operation conducted at his home, Kejriwal was arrested amidst dramatic circumstances, as the AAP convener failed to obtain interim protection from arrest in the liquor policy case from the Delhi High Court.The Enforcement Directorate took him to the agency's headquarters later. A medical team also arrived at the ED office.
AAP workers and leaders rallied behind Kejriwal following his arrest while leaders of the INDIA bloc also extended their support for the AAP leader. BJP leaders endorsed the ED's actions against the Delhi Chief Minister, emphasizing "truth had to prevail".
AAP leader and Delhi Minister Atishi said they had moved the Supreme Court to quash Kejriwal's arrest and have sought an urgent hearing.
"We have moved the Supreme Court for quashing the arrest of Delhi CM @ArvindKejriwal by ED. We have asked for an urgent hearing by the Supreme Court tonight itself," Atishi said in a post on X.
We have moved the Supreme Court for quashing the arrest of Delhi CM @ArvindKejriwal, by ED. We have asked for an urgent hearing by the Supreme Court tonight itself.
— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) March 21, 2024
She had earlier said that Kejriwal will run the government from jail.
However, Kejriwal did not get any special hearing on the late night.
According to sources, there was no special bench set up on Thursday night to hear Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea against arrest by the Enforcement Directorate.
