'If Not Today, Then Tomorrow': BJP As Kejriwal Skips ED Summons In Delhi Liquor Policy Case

Arvind Kejriwal skipped the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the Delhi excise policy case.

BJP leader Harsh Vardhan. ( Image Source :PTI )

After Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal skipped the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the Delhi excise policy case, Bharatiya Janata Party said that Kejriwal will have to appear before the probe agency "if not today, then tomorrow" and tell the truth.   

Speaking on the matter, BJP leader Harsh Vardhan said, "If not today, then tomorrow, he (Arvind Kejriwal) will have to appear (before the ED) and tell the truth. Truth always prevails. I personally request him to speak the truth all at once".

VIDEO | "If not today, then tomorrow, he (Arvind Kejriwal) will have to appear (before the ED) and tell the truth. Truth always prevails. I personally request him to speak the truth all at once," says BJP leader Harsh Vardhan at the party's protest against Delhi CM at Rajghat. pic.twitter.com/jWsjsE1Zaw

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 2, 2023

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate are probing the Delhi excise policy for 2021–22, which has now been scrapped. The policy allegedly favoured certain liquor dealers, a charge strongly denied by the AAP. On Thursday, Delhi BJP staged a protest, demanding Kejriwal's resignation over the alleged excise policy case.

Visuals from Rajghat where Delhi BJP is staging a protest, demanding Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's resignation over the alleged excise policy scam case. pic.twitter.com/IvLFFXvj6b

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 2, 2023

Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Legislative Assembly, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said, "Arvind Kejriwal has mercilessly looted Delhi. The liquor scam is merely of 50-100 crores, it's worth thousands of crores". 

VIDEO | "Arvind Kejriwal has mercilessly looted Delhi. The liquor scam is merely of 50-100 crores, it's worth thousands of crores," says Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Legislative Assembly, on reports of Delhi CM skipping ED summons in connection with… pic.twitter.com/kggrZWn515

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 2, 2023

On ED summon to Arvind Kejriwal, BJP national general secretary Dushyant Gautam said that when constitutional agencies call you, you should go. He further said that the AAP leaders who are inside the jail must have given the documents and there must be some evidence.  

"When constitutional agencies call you, you should go and clear that why did ED summon you. The reason is that the leaders who are inside (the jail) must have given the documents, there must be some evidence. If there isn't any, deny it there. But the country will function as per the Constitution. Not going there, I think, is unfortunate. He has gone to Madhya Pradesh for campaigning, it is good. He has also taken his driver, pilot with him. They don't have to govern Punjab or provide relief to the people there, so he has kept him as the pilot - both Punjab and Delhi get affected. It is the misfortune of democracy," Dushyant Gautam said, as quoted by ANI.

#WATCH | On ED summon to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, BJP national general secretary Dushyant Gautam says, "When constitutional agencies call you, you should go and clear that why did ED summon you. The reason is that the leaders who are inside (the jail) must have given the… pic.twitter.com/F9IjWOzVtI

— ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2023

On Arvind Kejriwal skipping ED summons, BJP leader Sambit Patra said, "Today you don't want to appear before the Enforcement Directorate and ask how in what capacity have you been called?...You have been called by ED as you are the ocean of corruption, as the source of corruption from where corruption emerges in Delhi."

#WATCH | On Arvind Kejriwal skipping appearing in before ED in Delhi liquor policy case, BJP leader Sambit Patra says, "Today you don't want to appear before the Enforcement Directorate and ask how in what capacity have you been called?...You have been called by ED as you are the… pic.twitter.com/9fIXSPbSJf

— ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2023

Kejriwal wrote a letter to the ED and sought withdrawal of the notice, summoning him for questioning in the liquor policy case.  Bharatiya Janata Party reacted to Kejriwal's letter and said that the Delhi CM was called to connect the loose ends in the excise policy case. BJP leader RP Singh said that Kejriwal will have to give answers and the probe agency will take an order from court if he continues to avoid the summon.   

VIDEO | "He (Arvind Kejriwal) was called (by ED) to connect the loose ends in the excise policy case. The ED will take an order from court if he continues to avoid the summon, and he will have to give answers," says BJP leader @rpsinghkhalsa on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's letter… pic.twitter.com/GWxjToQe9F

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 2, 2023

"He (Arvind Kejriwal) was called (by ED) to connect the loose ends in the excise policy case. The ED will take an order from court if he continues to avoid the summon, and he will have to give answers," RP Singh told news agency PTI. In the letter to the probe agency, Kejriwal said that the summons are "politically motivated and issued for extraneous considerations".

केजरीवाल का ED को जवाब ‼️

👉 ED का नोटिस राजनीति से प्रेरित है, BJP ने नोटिस भिजवाया है

👉 केजरीवाल को चार राज्यों में चुनाव प्रचार करने से रोकने की मंशा से भेजा गया है गैरकानूनी नोटिस

👉 ED तुरंत BJP द्वारा भिजवाया गया यह नोटिस वापस ले pic.twitter.com/hYDeIxAGdW

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) November 2, 2023

Kejriwal did not appear before the ED today in connection with the liquor policy case. He will hold a road show, along with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, in Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh, today. After Kejriwal skipped deposition, the probe agency is likely to issue fresh summons to him, PTI reported, citing official sources.

While the Centre has alleged his involvement in the irregularities in connection with the policies, the AAP has maintained that this was the BJP's ploy to 'finish' the party and opposition leaders also joined in the chorus claiming that the saffron party was misusing central agencies against opposition parties ahead of the elections.