NEW DELHI:
The Aam Aadmi Party has decided to fight out against the arrest of its national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal from the streets to the court. Following the illegal and unconstitutional arrest of its leader by the Enforcement Directorate at the behest of the BJP-ruled Centre on Thursday night, senior party leaders decided to hold a protest outside the BJP headquarters on Friday as well as move the Supreme Court.
A late-night press conference was held here on the issue. It was addressed by AAP senior leaders Shri Gopal Rai, Dr Sandeep Pathak and Atishi.
Addressing the media, AAP Delhi Convenor and Cabinet Minister Shri Gopal Rai said today the whole country is shocked by the fact that despite the matter being pending in the court, the way Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Bharatiya Janata Party government, sent agencies and got arrested the Chief Minister of the country’s capital, who has been elected with an overwhelming majority. He was arrested in a hurry, in the dark of the night. “This is a disgrace to the country today. Democracy has been openly murdered today and it has been announced in the country that if anyone dares to speak against the Bharatiya Janata Party and its government, he will not be spared at any cost, he will be arrested,” he said.
Shri Gopal Rai said today, the Bharatiya Janata Party has insulted crores of people of Delhi in this country by killing democracy. “Today Arvind Kejriwal was not arrested alone, Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest is the arrest of two crore people of Delhi. Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest is the arrest of crores of people in this country who cherish the dream that our country is the world’s largest democracy. Those who love the Constitution of this country, people who love democracy in this country have been arrested,” he said.
Cautioning the BJP of the ramifications of Shri Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest, the AAP Delhi Convenor said, “But if the Bharatiya Janata Party thinks that by arresting Arvind Kejriwal we will destroy the Aam Aadmi Party, by arresting Arvind Kejriwal we will scare the entire opposition, by arresting Arvind Kejriwal we will rule this country, they are under wrong impression. Today, the fight has started for every person of this country who loves the Constitution, loves democracy, the people of Delhi who love Arvind Kejriwal. The whole country will fight this battle together.”
Shri Gopal Rai said after holding a discussion with the top leadership of the Aam Aadmi Party today, it has been decided that a protest will start at 10 am on Friday at the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters which will eventually spread across the country. Simultaneously, the party will fight it out in the court, he added.
Addressing the media persons, AAP National General Secretary (Organisation) Dr Sandeep Pathak said how the BJP and the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi are responsible for the murder of democracy in India and how they are using constitutional bodies like ED for their own political motives.
“I want to say this to the BJP that if you have courage, then fight fairly in the upcoming elections. Why do you (BJP) have to fight on the backfoot like a coward by getting the opposition leaders arrested in fabricated cases?” he questioned.
Dr. Sandeep Pathak articulated how Shri Arvind Kejriwal is not alone today, he is supported and loved by thousands and millions of Indians, by families that support honest politics. He is someone who wants the country to develop, he wants to bring positive politics in India. “There is one Arvind Kejriwal in every family. This fight is not just for the Aam Aadmi Party, this is a fight of every citizen that wants to give positive and honest politics to the citizens of India,” he said.
The AAP National General Secretary (Organisation) said his party members are new in politics and do not participate in such dirty politics and conspiracy. “We only know one thing, that we are willing to sacrifice anything and everything for the welfare of the nation. This fight is no longer between the BJP and the AAP, it is the fight between the BJP and the citizens of India,” he continued.
Dr Sandeep Pathak announced nationwide protests against the arrest of Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal. The Aam Aadmi Party, along with the citizens, will take to the streets across the nation, he added.
“I request the citizens to show support to the honest politics of Shri Arvind Kejriwal by joining the protests in large numbers tomorrow. The citizens of India need to tell the BJP that Shri Arvind Kejriwal is not alone anymore, he is a part of our homes and our families”, he concluded.
Addressing media persons, senior AAP leader and Delhi cabinet minister Atishi said, “Today we all witnessed an attempt to murder democracy. After the announcement of Lok Sabha elections, popular Chief Minister of Delhi and key opposition leader Shri Arvind Kejriwal has been arrested. This investigation has been going on for two years. But in these two years of investigation, neither the CBI nor the ED recovered a single penny.”
“But as soon as the elections are announced, Shri Arvind Kejriwal ji is arrested. Because PM Narendra Modi ji knows that if there is any one leader who can challenge him, it is Shri Arvind Kejriwal,” said the senior AAP leader.
Atishi said, “Today, the BJP is murdering democracy. Two chief ministers from the opposition have been arrested. The bank account of a party has been frozen. Does the BJP want to win elections in this manner? If the BJP wants to fight, then let them come forward and fight. Fight in the political arena, fight in the electoral arena. Stop using the ED as your political weapon.”
She said the Aam Aadmi Party has been fighting against the BJP to save the constitution of this country and will continue to fight. “Our fight will go from the streets to the courts. We have filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the illegal arrest of Shri Arvind Kejriwal. This will be mentioned in the Supreme Court tomorrow morning. We hope that the Supreme Court of this country will protect the democracy of this country. The Supreme Court will see how the central government is murdering democracy by misusing the agencies of this country.”
Atishi said the Congress will also join them in tomorrow’s protest at the BJP headquarters.
