Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the Indian government is orchestrating a campaign to eliminate the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) through the deployment of agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against its leaders.
The accusations come on the heels of a raid conducted by the ED at the residence of AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, a move that has drawn considerable attention. In response to the raid, MLA Khan met with Kejriwal, and during the meeting, Kejriwal said, "This is not the only incident where PM Modi has directed the raids on the residence of AAP leaders. Since the AAP government was formed in Delhi, PM Modi is trying to eliminate AAP with all his might."
Kejriwal cited previous instances where AAP MLAs were "framed" in what he termed as "fabricated cases." According to him, a total of 170 cases have been filed against AAP MLAs, with 140 of these cases resulting in judgments that vindicated the central government's failure to substantiate the charges.
The Delhi Chief Minister also alleged that senior AAP leaders and ministers had been arrested in the past two years. He specifically mentioned former ministers Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain, and Sanjay Singh.
The leader of the AAP went on to accuse the BJP-led government of selectively targeting opposition leaders, claiming that no ED or CBI inquiries were conducted in states governed by the BJP. Kejriwal argued that the BJP's intent was not to curb corruption but to create difficulties for opposition figures.
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva responded to Kejriwal's accusations, asserting, "Delhi has seen governments of both the BJP and the Congress, but none of the governments engaged in corruption and nepotism as the Kejriwal government is doing. It seems Kejriwal now does not even trust the courts," news agency PTI reported.
Kejriwal expressed concern over the current "atmosphere in the country," citing a deteriorating situation in India. He emphasized that people have started renouncing Indian citizenship while taking up citizenship in other countries. He also noted that business and trade have been adversely affected, and individuals in various sectors have experienced intimidation, the report said.
Despite these challenges, Kejriwal declared his party's unwavering commitment to continue the fight. He stated, "The AAP is still fighting its battle. It's a party of honest and patriotic individuals, no matter what Modiji does, we are not going to bow down," it said.