NEW DELHI:
The INDIA Alliance has taken a bold stance in solidarity with AAP National Convenor and Delhi’s Chief Minister, Shri Arvind Kejriwal, by declaring a monumental rally scheduled for March 31st at Delhi’s iconic Ramleela Maidan. With an aim to galvanize the nation, the INDIA Alliance calls upon citizens to unite and amplify their voices in defense of democracy. Notable leaders from various constituent parties of the INDIA Alliance are set to partake in this historic event, underscoring the collective resolve to safeguard democratic principles. Amidst growing concerns over authoritarian tactics, INDIA urges patriots to converge in large numbers, signaling a robust commitment to uphold democratic values. The recent arrest of CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal has ignited widespread public outrage, prompting leaders from the INDIA Alliance to convene and address the press, emphasizing the significance of this pivotal decision.
AAP Delhi State Convenor Shri Gopal Rai said, “The way the Prime Minister of the country, employing full authoritarianism, has killed democracy in this country, by arresting Delhi CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal, the anger within all the people who love the Constitution, love democracy, who love the constitutional institutions of this country, is palpable. It’s not just about Shri Arvind Kejriwal. The way the Prime Minister is misusing agencies, conspiring, trading MLAs, intimidating people, either buying off or threatening the entire opposition with money or by threatening them with the ED and the CBI to join their party, is enraging everyone. Against all those opposition leaders who are neither ready to be sold nor ready to bow down, nor stop, there is a conspiracy to arrest them by fabricating false cases.”
“Before the arrest of Delhi’s CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal, we have seen how the Chief Minister of Jharkhand was arrested there. We have seen whether it is the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Smt. Mamata Banerjee, or Shri Tejashwi Yadav in Bihar, or leaders of INDIA Alliance in various regions of the country, fake cases are being filed against all of them, either attempting to silence them or imprisoning them,” the AAP Delhi State Convenor added.
Shri Gopal Rai further said since the arrest of Shri Arvind Kejriwal, not only the common people but the entire opposition has united against this authoritarianism. Continuous protests are happening on the streets of Delhi, in the capitals of other states, and in various parts of the country, and this movement will intensify in the coming days. On one hand, the Chief Minister has been arrested in Delhi, and on the other hand, they (BJP-led Central Government) have converted the entire Delhi into a police barracks. The night the Chief Minister was arrested, any MLA who reached his residence was picked up. In the morning, MLAs, ministers, and people from the Chief Minister’s family arrived at his house to meet him, but his immediate family was under house arrest, and no one was allowed entry.
“During the protest, they converted the Aam Aadmi Party’s office into a police barracks. The Election Commission’s Code of Conduct is in effect, and during such times, a national party’s office was sealed. I am the state president and was not allowed to go there. None of our ministers, nor any MLA, was allowed to enter there. Anyone who attempted to go there was arrested at the ITO Chowk. They kept making arrests throughout the day by barricading the area,” he mentioned.
The AAP Delhi State Convenor conveyed, “On Saturday, the ‘Balidan Diwas’ of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev. We had to go through a lot of trouble to pay homage to them in Shaheedi Park. Along with Punjab CM Sardar Bhagwant Mann, all our ministers, MLAs, and leaders of the INDIA Bloc were present there. We were treated as if we were criminals. It felt like we were not there to pay homage to those bravehearts, but rather to commit a crime. These people have committed theft, and now they are putting up a strong front.”
Shri Gopal Rai said that the BJP keeps saying that they are arresting Shri Arvind Kejriwal and opposition leaders because they have committed corruption. However, these allegations of corruption by the BJP have been emphatically blown away by the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Electoral Bonds. The revelation of Electoral Bond has exposed the black money of corruption. These people have been investigating the alleged liquor scandal for the past two years. When the court asks for evidence, they say we are still looking for the money trail. The CBI, ED, and IT couldn’t find any evidence.
“Finally, after the Supreme Court’s decision, when the details of the Electoral Bonds were uploaded on the Election Commission’s website and the money trail came to light, it was revealed that the allegations of corruption were being leveled against the AAP, and around ₹60 crores of the money trail were found in the BJP’s account. The same Sarath Chandra Reddy, whom they arrested earlier, later granted bail and then he deposited ₹60 crore in BJP’s account in the name of Electoral Bonds. The money trail has come out, but now will the CBI, ED, and Income Tax say anything? BJP leaders are also sitting quietly. If they have the courage, they should explain why they committed this corruption,” He reasoned.
Shri Gopal Rai shared, “The BJP has received more than ₹8,000s through Electoral Bonds. Meanwhile, they have frozen Congress’s account so that Congress cannot carry out its election campaign. The BJP has extorted nearly ₹8,000 crores by conducting raids through the ED and the CBI. What kind of democracy is being established here? Today, the entire opposition is coming together because there is a danger in front of this country. This is not just about the opposition leaders and chief ministers. This is not about the Aam Aadmi Party, Congress, or the INDIA Alliance either, but about the democracy of this country.
“If this country remains silent, then today if a chief minister can be arrested publicly, who will raise their voice after the elections? If the account of such an old party like Congress can be frozen, then every business person who does not donate to them (BJP) will have their accounts seized forcibly. They (BJP) will seize the account of every citizen of this country. Anyone who dares to speak against them will be thrown into jail. There will be no place for any protest or speaking up in this country. It is necessary to raise voice against this dictatorship,” he affirmed.
Shri Gopal Rai said that they (BJP) have turned Delhi into a police barracks. To fight this battle more fiercely and on a broader scale, the INDIA Alliance has decided that the entire Delhi will gather at Ramleela Maidan at 10 AM on 31st March. Under the mega rally of the INDIA Alliance in Delhi, the slogan “Let’s go to Ramleela Maidan at 10 am on 31st” will resonate. “I appeal not only to the people of Delhi but to the entire country, that all those who believe in the Constitution and democracy, whether they belong to any political organization, social organization, or business organization, whoever loves this country, should gather at Ramleela Maidan at 10 am on 31st March. We will raise our voice from there to end the authoritarianism of this country and collectively take this fight forward,” he concluded.
Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev sacrificed themselves and Gandhiji gave the slogan of “Do or Die” so that we can breathe in the open air of democracy: Arvinder Singh Lovely
During this congregation, Delhi Congress President Shri Arvinder Singh Lovely said that today democracy is in danger in the entire country. When such a big attack is being made on democracy, the Congress won’t stand behind. Congress stands with all the allies of INDIA Alliance in the fight to save the country’s democracy with strength. This subject of sorrow and concern is not only for the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, and INDIA Alliance but for all Indians. Therefore, I want to appeal especially to the youth of the country to join in this fight for democracy. Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev sacrificed themselves at a young age and Mahatma Gandhi gave the slogan of “Do or Die” to the people of the country so that we can breathe in the open air of democracy. We can feel freedom. But the environment today, Mahatma Gandhi and Bhagat Singh including other freedom fighters would not have imagined. The BJP-led central government does not even want to give the opposition a “level playing field” in the elections and is not shying away from adopting any means for that. You arrest elected Chief Ministers like Shri Hemant Soren, Shri Arvind Kejriwal just before the elections. What kind of democracy do you want to bring in the country? This democracy reminds us of the Rowlatt Act, in which there was no appeal, no lawyer, and no argument. Today, such an environment has been created in the country.
The Delhi rally will be a call to raise voice against the tyranny of this government : Arvinder Singh Lovely
The Delhi Congress President asked, In which direction do we want to take this country? I also want to say to my media colleagues that looking at the current situation, it seems that even your cameras will be banned. So, this is not just a matter of concern for us. This is the time for all citizens of the country to think. To save democracy, a big rally is going to be held in Delhi on March 31. This rally will be addressed by the leaders of all constituent parties of the INDIA bloc. This will not just be a political rally, but a rally to save democracy in Hindustan. This rally will be a call to raise voice against the tyranny of this government. This rally will send a message to the people of the entire country that our ancestors fought for freedom by sacrificing. We will not let go of their sacrifices in vain, by letting their (BJP’s) whims to be successful. On one hand, you call India the “Mother of Democracy” in the world. But when democracy in Hindustan is in danger, it puts a stain on India’s reputation in the world. We will not let these conspiracies put a stain on India’s reputation in the world. I appeal to the Congress workers to participate in the rally with the people of Delhi. People from all organizations in Delhi, people from social organizations, should come forward and contribute to this fight.
Top leaders of Left parties will stand in solidarity with Arvind Kejriwal and the people of Delhi joining mega rally: Rajiv Kunwar
During this time, CPI(M)’s Rajiv Kunwar said that as soon as Shri Arvind Kejriwal was arrested, we immediately condemned it. This condemnation is not just about the arrest of a chief minister, but also an attack on democracy, rule of law, and people’s voice. Therefore, our party will stand against the arrest of Shri Arvind Kejriwal, and lNDIA Bloc’s any party of this country. Elections have been announced and such actions are being taken after that. Electoral Bond has been exposed, hence such actions are being taken. This sends a clear message that this authoritarian government is not willing to give an inch of space to any opposition. They do not want to leave room for parties that believe in democracy and rule of law. We will continue to fight for this. On Saturday, we went to various areas of Delhi to raise our voices against the arrest of Shri Arvind Kejriwal. All Left parties will gather in the rally to be held on March 31. Our top leaders will also come to the stage that day and stand with Shri Arvind Kejriwal’s family, Aam Aadmi Party, and the people of Delhi. We appeal to the people to come and show their support in the mega rally on March 31.
Weakening of strong pillars of democracy, judiciary, legislature, executive, and media, will not be able to save the country and democracy: Subhash Chopra
Former President of Delhi Congress Shri Subhash Chopra said that the way the atmosphere is being created within the country. The weakening of the strong pillars of democracy, judiciary, legislature, executive, and media, will not be able to save the country and democracy. This rally will tell the arrogant government at the center that the citizens of the country are not weak. Today, there is a fight against inflation in the country, and voices are being raised in every corner of the country. But those voices are being crushed. To amplify that voice, to awaken this country, and to protect the Constitution of Baba Saheb Ambedkar, this rally is being organized. This rally is to save the country’s Constitution. This rally is for the welfare of every section of society. This rally is against unemployment.
He said that the timing of the arrest of Delhi CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal needs to be noted. On one hand, there is the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct, and on the other hand, the Chief Minister of Delhi has been arrested. Today, there is a discussion in the world that democracy is being trampled in India. This rally will show the central government that the people of Hindustan are not weak. The people of Hindustan know how to assert their rights. The people of India know how to protect Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s Constitution.
