After being released from Tihar Jail on interim bail, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said that the country has to be saved from dictatorship. Addressing a gathering of AAP supporters, he began his brief speech by raising slogans of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', Inquilab Zindabad', and 'Vande Mataram'. "I told you I would come out soon and here I am," he remarked and said he was released with the blessings of lord Hanuman. "Crores of people sent their prayers to me. I want to thank the Supreme Court judges because of who I am with you," he said.
The Delhi Chief Minister went on to exhort the crowd to join the fight to "save democracy" as he said, "I have a request, We have to save the country from dictatorship. I am fighting with all my might."
He informed that he would visit the Hanuman Temple at Connaught Place on Saturday at 11 am and later at 1 pm, he will address a press conference at the AAP office.
Speaking to the media, he said, "The people will end tyranny. They will do justice"
"Our country is more than 4,000 years old. But whenever anyone tried to impose dictatorship on this country, people never tolerated it. Today the country is passing through a period of dictatorship. I am fighting against it. But 140 crore people will have to come together and defeat the dictatorship," he further said as he reached his residence.
CM Kejriwal informed that he will also participate in a roadshow in South Delhi with Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann.
ALSO READ | SC Bars Arvind Kejriwal From CM Office While On Bail. These Are His 5 Bail Conditions
Supreme Court Grants Interim Bail To Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal
The Supreme Court has granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a money laundering case. This decision allows Kejriwal a temporary reprieve to engage in election campaigning for the upcoming phases of the Lok Sabha elections. However, the court has imposed certain restrictions, barring him from visiting his office or the Delhi secretariat and signing official files without the necessary approval.
The court's decision has elicited a wave of celebration among the parties within the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, with Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) hailing it as a victory for truth. Sanjay Singh, an AAP Rajya Sabha MP and co-accused in the case, expressed his elation, stating, "Truth can be troubled but not defeated. The decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court is welcome." Kejriwal's wife, Sunita, who has been actively involved in his absence from the political arena, also expressed gratitude to supporters.
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, rejected the argument put forth by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that granting interim bail for election campaigning would set an unprecedented precedent. The bench emphasized that while serious accusations have been made, Kejriwal remains unconvicted, lacks criminal antecedents, and poses no threat to society.
Acknowledging the significance of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, the court underscored the necessity of a holistic and libertarian view, considering the peculiarities surrounding Kejriwal's case. The bench clarified that the grant of interim bail does not imply a stance on the merits of the case or the pending criminal appeal.
The decision has garnered positive responses from various political figures across the country. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her happiness over Kejriwal's interim bail, stating its potential assistance in the current electoral context. Sharad Pawar, the chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), welcomed the decision, affirming India's commitment to democracy. Similarly, Aaditya Thackeray of the Shiv Sena lauded the relief granted to Kejriwal as a significant step against perceived authoritarianism.
Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest, which is being heard by the apex court, will continue next week. The court aims to pronounce a judgment on the petition before the commencement of summer vacations on May 20. The case pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering related to the formulation and execution of the Delhi government's now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22.