Arvind Kejriwal, out on interim bail, shares reasons for defying BJP pressure to resign

PTC News Desk: One day after the Supreme Court granted him 21 days of interim release, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal attended roadshows and his first press conference for the Lok Sabha election campaign on Saturday.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) detained Kejriwal, the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), in connection with a money-laundering investigation that was connected to the now-closed Delhi liquor policy case.

आज दक्षिणी दिल्ली के महरौली में और पूर्वी दिल्ली के कृष्णा नगर में हुए रोड-शो में दिल्ली की जनता से मिला, भगवंत मान जी भी साथ रहे। दोनों ही जगह रोड-शो में लोगों का ये सैलाब और उत्साह बता रहा है कि लोकतंत्र को बचाने की इस लड़ाई में 140 करोड़ भारतवासी हमारे साथ हैं और हम इस लड़ाई… pic.twitter.com/uYjfeCgYxU — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 11, 2024

Speaking at a press conference held in the national capital office of the AAP, he explained his decision not to quit, which has been a demand of the Bharatiya Janata Party ever since he was arrested on March 21.

"I don't think the position of chief minister is important." "I did not resign as chief minister because there was a plot to have me resign on the pretext of a fabricated case," Kejriwal stated.

The Delhi Chief Minister has come under fire from the BJP for refusing to resign from office after spending 50 days in detention. "The prime minister should take a cue from Arvind Kejriwal in combating corruption. Even our own ministers were sent to jail by us, the AAP chief declared.

AAP not just a party, it is a thought

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to Arvind Kejriwal, "left no stone unturned to crush the AAP by sending its four top leaders to prison".

He was the fourth top AAP politician to be imprisoned, following Sanjay Singh, Manish Sisodia, and Satyendar Jain.

आप सब लोगों के बीच वापस लौट कर मुझे बेहद ख़ुशी हो रही है। हमें मिलकर अपने देश को तानाशाही से बचाना है, मैं अपनी पूरी ताक़त से लड़ूँगा, मुझे देश के 140 करोड़ लोगों का समर्थन चाहिए। https://t.co/QbUWA5dBHF — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 11, 2024

"They believed the celebration would come to an end. However, Mr. Kejriwal argued, "AAP is not just a party; it is a thought. The more they destroy, the more our party will advance."

He informed the AAP faithful that nobody had anticipated his ability to emerge in the midst of the Lok Sabha Elections. "But because of your prayers and blessings of Lord Hanuman I am among you all," he continued.

Kejriwal has battled against unethical behavior. Even our ministers have not been exempt from prosecution for corruption. He claimed that neither the opposition nor the media were informed that they had been put to jail.

'Missed people of Delhi a lot'

At his first roadshow for the Lok Sabha campaign, Arvind Kejriwal stated that he "missed the people of Delhi a lot" when speaking to supporters in the South Delhi constituency.

तानाशाही के ख़िलाफ़ पूरा देश एकजुट होकर लड़ने को तैयार है। लोकसभा चुनाव प्रचार के दौरान दक्षिण दिल्ली के महरौली में विशाल रोड-शो। https://t.co/1uOBAc65Af — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 11, 2024

"After being released from prison, I came straight to you. I really missed the folks of Delhi. He remarked, "I want to thank the millions of people who have prayed for me and sent blessings."

Recalling his 50 days in Tihar jail, Kejriwal mentioned that he used to have visits from his ministers, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, and his wife, Sunita Kejriwal.

"I used to question my pastors about inmates' well-being. I used to question whether my arrest was my fault while I was there. It was my fault for giving people access to quality hospitals and schools. I offered folks access to medical facilities. "They (BJP) took away my insulin and put me in jail for 15 days," he stated.

"They want to shut everything to paralyse the Delhi government," he said.  

Arvind Kejriwal has been given temporary bail by the Supreme Court to participate in the current Lok Sabha elections as a candidate. On June 2, however, the day following the conclusion of the final round of the seven-phase poll, he must turn himself in.

- With inputs from agencies