Arvind Kejriwal, national convener of the AAP, called the Narendra Modi government's campaign against corruption "nautanki," or theatrics, on Sunday, claiming that people accused of wrongdoing by the BJP are rewarded with cabinet positions upon joining the party, news agency PTI reported. Addressing a party event in Haryana's Rohtak, the Delhi chief minister further stated that if someone committed a "huge sin or a crime" and joined the BJP, authorities from the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate, or the Income Tax Department would not dare to approach that person.
"Who are the corrupt? The corrupt are not those who have been nabbed by the ED and sent behind bars. The corrupt are those who joined the BJP due to ED's scare. Those who have been nabbed by the ED but did not join the BJP are fiercely honest. Because they know today or tomorrow they will come out," he said.
"But those who indulge in dishonesty, know that if they are arrested they will have to go to jail for life and immediately join the BJP. So, understand who is corrupt and who is honest," the AAP leader was quoted by PTI in its report.
The prime minister claims to be battling corruption and the corrupt, but if that were true, Kejriwal would have been the first to endorse you, he continued.
Modi paid a visit to a state and identified a few politicians, claiming they were corrupt and would be imprisoned. Those politicians eventually joined the BJP, Kejriwal alleged, without naming them.
"Is this your fight against corruption? This is a 'nautanki' (theatrics)," he added.
The ED recently summoned Kejriwal for interrogation in connection with the suspected Delhi excise policy issue, as well as to record his testimony under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Kejriwal did not attend in court on Thursday and instead wrote to the ED, requesting that it "recall" its summons to him, calling it "vague, motivated, and unsustainable in law."
People are also talking about a buddy of the prime minister who is ruling the country, according to the Delhi CM.
"It is said that the PM only works for that friend. And it is also said that this friend is running the country and not the PM. Laws are made from his office and passed, it is he who makes the decisions. This is a dangerous situation," he said.
Hitting out at the BJP during the event attended by several thousands of party office bearers of village and ward level, he said: "They say they will arrest Kejriwal, I want to tell them you may arrest me, but how will you suppress my voice".
"They say I speak a lot against Modi ji. I want to tell Modi ji, I will support you, the entire AAP will support you if you start working for 140 crore people of this country and not for one friend," he said.
He further said that the BJP compiles a list of persons who criticise the PM and then directs the CBI and other agencies to attack them in "fake" cases.
People are also talking about a buddy of the prime minister who is ruling the country, according to the Delhi CM.
"What was (AAP leader) Sanjay Singh's fault, his fault was that he raised his voice against the PM in parliament".
The people of the country have shown such much support for the AAP that it now governs in two states, Delhi and Punjab, according to Kejriwal.
"We are the third largest party after BJP and Congress in the country. And Modi ji is scared of this... the speed at which the AAP is growing. Modi ji is not scared of Kejriwal, he is scared of your power, the people's power," he said.
Without naming anyone, Kejriwal stated that in Haryana, one party talks about Jats and another about non-Jats, but neither does anything for either of these populations after gaining power.
Only AAP brings all communities onboard and talks about developing schools and hospitals. If elected in Haryana, the AAP would assure growth along the lines of Punjab, while simultaneously giving people unfettered authority in Delhi.
According to Kejriwal, winds of change are blowing across Haryana, and the AAP will take power in the state in the 2024 Assembly elections.