New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday reacted to the allegations regarding the renovation of his residence and asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi would resign from his post if the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cannot find anything in its investigation.


Kejriwal's remark came after the Union Home Ministry on Wednesday ordered a CBI enquiry into the allegations that the Delhi government spent Rs 45 crore on the renovation of his residence. Later, the probe agency registered a preliminary enquiry to look into alleged "irregularities and misconduct" by unidentified public servants of the Delhi government.


"What can we expect from a 'Fourth pass Raja'? They want me to bow down before them. They want to break me. But I will not bow down", Kejriwal said while speaking to reporters in Delhi.


"The enquiry against me is nothing new. So far, enquiries have been conducted against me in more than 50 cases in the last 8 years," he added.






Taking potshots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kejriwal said, "Today, I am presenting a challenge before the 'fourth pass Raja', if you find nothing in this investigation, are you ready to resign from your post having had conducted false enquiries"?

 

Meanwhile, reacting to the CBI enquiry, Union Minister Anurag Thakur said, "From CM to the ministers under him - all of their names appeared in different scams. CM Arvind Kejriwal used to issue a Certificate of Honesty to Satyendar Jain who has been in jail for months now. He used to issue a Certificate of Honesty to his Deputy CM who did not leave anything in liquor scam - he too has been behind bars for months now. But the kingpin is still out - be it the liquor scam or Sheeshmahal. The noise of 'sh' will keep coming up - be it sharaab or sheeshmahal."

 

Congress leader PL Punia also reacted to the development, saying "It's not about Delhi alone, but it's happening all across the country where opposition is in rule...If somebody is raising any issue against PM Modi's government, they are being targeted. Political targeting is happening...I believe the renovation must have been done as per the rules and nothing will be found against it."

 

However, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said that nothing substantial would come out of this investigation. The AAP also accused the BJP of making concerted efforts to target Kejriwal and tarnish his reputation.

"We welcome the enquiry. As with all earlier enquiries in all other matters so far, nothing will come out in this. It is a desperate attempt of the BJP to malign the AAP. The BJP has put in all its efforts to eliminate the Aam Aadmi Party. Today, in the entire country, only the AAP is seeking votes by doing excellent work in the fields of education and healthcare. However, the BJP does not want the poor to have access to good education and better healthcare facilities," the AAP had said on Wednesday.


The renovation of Chief Minister Kejriwal's residence, which took place during the Covid-19 pandemic and involved a significant sum of money, faced allegations of flouting rules and corruption.