'Crackdown On Oppn', 'Tide Of Troubles': How Foreign Media Covered CM Arvind Kejriwal's Arrest By ED

Arvind Kejriwal Arrest: The arrest came after CM Kejriwal skipped multiple summons by the probe agency, nine in total, calling them “illegal”.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday night was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the national capital's excise policy scam. The arrest followed a series of questioning sessions and searches that were conducted by the central probe agency at his official residence. Following the arrest, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) called for a nationwide protests against the ruling BJP government and the agency, in which it invited opposition bloc leaders to participate. 

The arrest came after CM Kejriwal skipped multiple summons by the probe agency, nine in total, calling them “illegal”. The Supreme Court, approached by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) late on Thursday night, is expected to hear the case regarding the Chief Minister's arrest today. 

Globally, the news made headlines on every prominent international platform.

United States based news organisation The Washington Post, in an article with the headline: "India arrests Delhi chief minister as crackdown on opposition spreads," cited AAP supporters claiming that the charges against CM Arvind Kejriwal has been trumped up by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led administration. "While Kejriwal’s role and culpability in the affair remains unclear — Kejriwal has denied wrongdoing — opposition parties in recent months have increasingly accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP of unfairly using federal investigative agencies to systematically pressure political rivals — or jail them outright ahead of crucial national elections that begin April 19," the article reads. 

British public service broadcaster BBC, which carried out the artice with the headline "Arvind Kejriwal: Delhi's chief minister arrested over corruption claims," quoted AAP leader and chief whip in the Delhi assembly Dilip Pandey asserting that arrest highlights that PM Modi "is scared of Kejriwal". "They can arrest Kejriwal but not his thoughts. We will continue to fight his arrest and the unjust policies of Mr Modi's government," Pandey told BBC. 

US based news organisation, The New York Times (NYT), in a report titled "Indian Opposition Parties Say They Face Tide of Troubles as Vote Nears", claimed that critics called CM Arvind Kejriwal's arrest, a push by the Modi government in order to put the opposition at a disadvantage ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.