Kejriwal ED Appearance LIVE: ED Can Arrest My Body, But How Will They Arrest My Thoughts, Says Delhi CM
Arvind Kejriwal News Live: Please follow this space for Live Updates on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's questioning by the Enforcement Directorate in the Liquor Policy case.
In a post on platform X, Arvind Kejriwal said, "Today, we witnessed tremendous support from the people in Singrauli. The enthusiasm among the people was remarkable. The more these people try to crush the Aam Aadmi Party, the stronger the public's resolve will become.
These people are threatening to arrest Kejriwal. I want to tell them - you may arrest Kejriwal's body, but how will you arrest his thoughts?"
TMC leader Kunal Ghosh has come out in support of Arvind Kejriwal. He says, "...Just like in Bengal BJP is misusing ED and CBI against TMC leader similarly a plot is going on there (in Delhi). It is a part of the agency torture on Non-BJP leadership all across the country."
AAP leader Priyanka Kakkar says, "From October 29, (BJP MP) Manoj Tiwari has been regularly saying that AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal will soon be arrested. Earlier, Sambit Patra claimed that Manish Sisodia destroyed 150 phones. However, no such argument was given in court. At a press conference today, he repeatedly asked why Sisodia was denied a bail. Why didn't he ask why Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is out (of jail) and why Sisodia is inside (jail)."
Delhi minister Gopal Rai says that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal responded to the ED summons, but instead of the probe agency, a "BJP spokesperson replied to it. How a BJP spokesperson is related to the ED summon and Kejriwal's reply to it?" he added.
On Arvind Kejriwal skipping appearing 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 ocean of corruption, as the source of corruption from where corruption emerges in Delhi."
On ED summon to Delhi CM-AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut says, "They had once summoned Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi too. I too was jailed. Several of Maharashtra's leaders were jailed. Two West Bengal ministers have been nabbed by ED. Two Tamil Nadu ministers are in jail. Wherever the Opposition is strong and the INDIA leaders who are strong - their sword will be unleashed on them (Opposition). Mamata Banerjee said - arrest everyone, empty the entire country and hold elections. This is what the BJP wants - to jail the entire Opposition and hold elections."
BJP leader RP Singhkhalsa on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's letter to ED demanding withdrawal of its notice: "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."
Delhi BJP stages protest against CM Arvind Kejriwal at Rajghat over the alleged excise policy scam case.
Congress national secretary Abhishek Dutt on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal not appearing before the ED today: "If the ED has summoned you, and you know you are right, then join the investigation. Rahul and Sonia Gandhi have done it in the past. Have the courage to fight BJP."
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal leaves from his residence for the airport. He will be holding a road show, along with Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, in Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh as part of the party's election campaign there.
Samajwadi Party leader Sunil Singh Sajan on ED summon to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal: "The BJP knows that it won't return (to power) in 2024 (Lok Sabha polls) and that's why they are doing this. Whosoever is raising their voices against the BJP, they are sending the ED, CBI and Income Tax Department after them."
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal will not appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) today. As per ANI, the CM will hold a road show, along with Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, in Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh.
Ahead of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's appearance before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the excise policy case, the security outside the ED office and around Rajghan was heightened. Heavy security and paramilitary deployment could be seen outside the office of the federal agency in Delhi.
Ahead of facing the ED, Delhi CM Kejriwal said, "The summon notice is illegal and politically motivated. The notice was sent at the behest of the BJP. Notice was sent to ensure that I am unable to go for election campaigning in four states. ED should withdraw the notice immediately."
Background
Arvind Kejriwal News Live: Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal will be facing the Enforcement Directorate for questioning in connection with the Delhi Liquor Policy case today in which former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and senior party leader Sanjay Singh have already been arrested. Kejriwal is all set to appear before the probe agency amid a strong buzz, as claimed by ministers of the party, about his arrest in the case.
Security has been beefed up with the deployment of extra police forces outside the office of the Enforcement Directorate in Delhi ahead of the much-anticipated appearance of the Delhi Chief Minister.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate are probing 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. According to a report of the chief secretary of the Delhi government, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena called for a CBI probe into the irregularities in July last year.
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.
Speaking at a press conference, party leader Raghav Chadha claimed that since 2014, ninety-five per cent of cases registered by the investigative agencies have been against opposition leaders.
"Now after the formation of the INDIA alliance, the BJP is rattled. We have learnt from sources that they have hatched a plan to target top leaders from the INDIA alliance. The first arrest in this plan will be of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal," he said.
"The BJP knows it is losing all the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi. It is planning to get Kejriwal arrested so that AAP is not able to contest the polls," Chadha added.
The AAP leader also shared a list of those who could be targeted by the probe agencies after Kejriwal.
"After Kejriwal, they will arrest Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and then Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Tejashwi Yadav and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee. After these leaders, they will target Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and then top leaders of the Shiv Sena and the NCP in Maharashtra," he alleged.
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