The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) summoned the AAP chief in connection with the excise policy scam on the same day that opposition leaders like Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and JD(U) supremo and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar expressed solidarity with Kejriwal and renewed calls to speed up opposition unity efforts to take on the BJP. The CBI is set to question Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday, escalating the AAP-Centre feud and serving as a new rallying point for opposition unity ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22, which grants licences to liquor traders, is said to have favoured certain dealers who allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge strongly denied by the AAP. The policy was later abandoned.
Here are the key developments you should be aware of before the central investigating agency questions Delhi's chief minister:
Kejriwal Alleges Centre Of Using Agencies To Extract False Confessions:
The Delhi chief minister has been summoned as a witness but is not a defendant in the excise policy case in which his former deputy Manish Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26. Sisodia was arrested last month by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and is currently in judicial custody. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), according to the chief minister, has emerged as a ray of hope for the country, which is why efforts are being made to trample it.
The CBI served Kejriwal with a summons to appear before it at 11 am on Sunday, and he stated that he will appear before the investigation agency. He also claimed that the agencies tortured people in order to extract false confessions.
Delhi CM Says He Will Sue Central Agencies For Prejury:
Asserting that if he was "corrupt," no one in the world could be "honest," Arvind Kejriwal also claimed that BJP leaders were demanding his arrest and that if the saffron party had "ordered" the probe agency to arrest him, the agency could not refuse. Kejriwal has stated that he will sue CBI and ED officials in court for alleged perjury and filing false affidavits.
Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju slammed Kejriwal for threatening to sue the CBI and ED, saying the AAP leader will sue the court if convicted.
'Democracy Under Attack': Delhi CM Writes To Tamil Nadu Counterpart
Kejriwal also wrote to his Tamil Nadu counterpart, M K Stalin, saying that democracy in India is under attack every day and that the country's federal structure is in jeopardy. "It is a foregone conclusion that democracy in India suffers blows on a daily basis."
In his response to a letter from Stalin, Kejriwal stated that "every tenet" of India's Constitution is under threat, including liberty, equality, secularism, and fraternity.
The DMK supremo recently made a strong case for opposition unity ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, stating that there should be a collective effort to ensure federalism, equality, and social justice.
Opposition In Solidarity With Kejriwal?
According to a PTI report, Kharge called Kejriwal and emphasised the importance of opposition parties uniting against the BJP ahead of the 2024 general elections. Kharge is said to have expressed solidarity with Kejriwal. Nitish Kumar stated that Kejriwal will respond to "all actions" taken against him at an "appropriate time."
"Everyone is aware of what is going on against him (Kejriwal)." He is a well-liked individual who has contributed significantly to the development of his state. He will respond to all actions taken against him at the appropriate time," Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar told reporters in Patna.
Centre Planning To Arrest Kejriwal: AAP
The AAP claimed that the government was "misusing" investigation agencies to "harass" its leaders and was planning to arrest Kejriwal. It was also claimed that the Centre was "scared" of the AAP and that their goal was to demolish the party.
At a press conference, senior AAP leader and Delhi cabinet minister Atishi claimed that Kejriwal was the only politician speaking out against corruption and that efforts were being made to silence him.
'Time For Accountability, Not Rhetoric': BJP Responds To Allegations
As the political scuffle heated up, the BJP claimed that Kejriwal was terrified after the CBI summons and that he should take a lie detector test if he had nothing to be afraid of. At a press conference, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia slammed the AAP leader for attacking the central government over the summons, saying it was time for accountability, not rhetoric.
Delhi Police To Beef Up Security To Ensure Kejriwal's Safety:
The Delhi Police will deploy over 1,000 security personnel, including paramilitary forces, outside the CBI headquarters to ensure Kejriwal's safety, news agency PTI reported citing officials. As per the reports, security will be increased outside the AAP office on Rouse Avenue.
A sufficient number of barricades will also be placed on the streets in both of these locations to ensure that AAP workers and supporters do not cause trouble, it said.
CBI Can Ask Kejriwal Questions On...
The CBI can question Kejriwal about the statements of other accused, who have indicated how policy was allegedly influenced to favour some liquor businessmen and the "South liquor lobby," PTI reported citing officials.
Furthermore, the agency may seek his involvement in the formulation of excise policy as well as his knowledge of alleged influence wielded by traders and 'South lobby' members, according to officials.
They said Kejriwal might be asked if he was involved in the policy's formulation before it was approved.