NEW DELHI:
The Aam Aadmi Party held strong protests across the country on Thursday against the unjustified arrest of MP Shri Sanjay Singh. AAP asserted that this arrest is part of extreme vendetta and brazen harassment being plotted against anyone who raises his voice against the corrupt practices of the BJP-led central government. AAP leaders and supporters held demonstrations in various places, raising slogans against the BJP and the Modi government, demanding the release of MP Shri Sanjay Singh. In Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Bhopal, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Mumbai, Telangana and other states, the AAP’s party workers and supporters raised their voices against the authoritarianism of the BJP and the Modi government, pledging to continue this fight.
In Delhi, AAP senior leaders and party volunteers attempted to protest at the BJP headquarters but were stopped by the police, leading them to protest at barricades. They also chanted slogans of the “ED-CBI, BJP ke Bhai (ED-CBI are brothers of the BJP).” Alongside this, they demanded the immediate release of Shri Sanjay Singh. The police used force to end the hours-long protest.
AAP’s National Secretary, Dr. Sandeep Pathak, said that this is the moment of examination. The Aam Aadmi Party will only emerge stronger from this. The BJP has realized that it’s impossible to defeat the Aam Aadmi Party honestly and legally, so they are resorting to unlawful methods. AAP Delhi State Convenor Shri Gopal Rai stated that the BJP is so rattled by the fear of losing in 2024 that they might arrest anyone. Meanwhile, senior AAP leader Ms. Atishi stated that Sanjay Singh’s arrest reflects the BJP’s nervousness about losing in the 2024 elections.
The epicentre of the Aam Aadmi Party’s protest was the national capital, Delhi. Here, AAP MPs, MLAs, councilors, and workers held a vigorous protest in collaboration with the people of Delhi outside the BJP headquarters. Under the leadership of AAP Delhi State Convenor and Cabinet Minister in the Delhi government, Shri Gopal Rai, all workers and supporters gathered and marched towards the BJP headquarters at 11 am. During this, the police, on the signal of the BJP, attempted to forcibly stop the peaceful demonstration of AAP’s party workers, leaders, and supporters. The AAP alleges that the police resorted to violence against the AAP’s party workers and also misbehaved with female party workers.
During this time, AAP workers chanted slogans, saying, ‘Whenever Modi is afraid, he uses the ED; Modi, your dictatorship won’t work; Raise your voice high, Sanjay Singh is a lion; Release Sanjay Singh; BJP Down; ED-CBI Down; In 2024, Modi will have to go; Stop the murder of democracy; ED-CBI are BJP’s brothers; Don’t stop, don’t bend, we are the revolution,’ among other slogans. Meanwhile, the Delhi police forcibly prevented AAP leaders from advancing, leading to the protest ending shortly after.
AAP’s National Secretary Dr. Sandeep Pathak stated, “These are testing times. The AAP will emerge stronger from it. An investigation has been ongoing for the past 15 months. More than a thousand raids have been conducted. Countless people have been harassed by them, but nothing has come out, and nothing will come out in the future. These people are arresting the AAP leaders, which has benefited the Delhi Government. In comparison to the previous excise policy, the current policy has been very beneficial. Modi Ji is doing this for the first time in the country. The question here is, why is Modi Ji doing all this? In reality, before the formation of the AAP, Delhi and Punjab were in the hands of the BJP. After that, the AAP entered Gujarat and other states. They have realized that it is impossible to defeat the AAP honestly and legally. Therefore, the process is to destroy the AAP illegally and defeat it in elections. But we are confident that in the end, we will get justice. All people will come out innocent. The people of the entire country are also watching. We have full faith in God, the people, and the court. Everything will be fine.”
Shri Gopal Rai stated that on Wednesday, the ED conducted searches at the residence of Rajya Sabha MP Shri Sanjay Singh, but nothing was found. When nothing was found, why was he arrested without evidence? BJP is claiming that the arrest was made in connection with a liquor scam. Shri Sanjay Singh’s arrest on Wednesday is not an isolated incident; rather, there has been a spree of authoritarianism over the past 4 days. The entire country has witnessed that journalists who raise their voices against corruption in the Modi government, who question unemployment and inflation, have been arrested. After this, a TMC MP was removed by dragging from the ‘Krishi Bhavan.’
Shri Gopal Rai mentioned that today, raids are being conducted at the homes of DMK party leaders which are affiliated with the INDIA Alliance. The BJP leaders are saying that this is just the beginning and it will go miles ahead. I want to tell PM Modi and the BJP leaders that we also are confident that the BJP is losing in the Lok Sabha elections. Until the guarantee of defeat is not ensured, this series will continue until the 2024 elections. The BJP leaders are saying that they will arrest Shri Arvind Kejriwal. This shows that the BJP is so paranoid about losing that they might arrest anyone.
Ms. Atishi stated that a raid was conducted at Sanjay Singh’s house on Wednesday, but not a single penny of corruption was found. Despite this, he was arrested. This reflects the BJP’s anxiety about losing in the 2024 elections. She mentioned that an undeclared state of emergency has begun in the country. Raids were conducted on senior journalists in Delhi, and they were detained. Their phones and laptops were seized. The TMC leaders and MPs were forcibly removed from the ‘Krishi Bhavan.’ The BJP is trying to silence the opposition’s voice with its authoritarian actions.
The Delhi Police detained several AAP’s party workers, including MLAs, during a protest. Under the leadership of Shri Gopal Rai, all the party workers and AAP’s supporters marched towards the BJP headquarters at around 11 am. During this, the police attempted to forcefully stop the peaceful protest of AAP workers, leaders, and supporters. During the demonstration in Delhi, the police detained about 15 to 20 people, including MLA Jarnail Singh, for about 2-3 hours and kept them at the IP Police Station. Later, the police released them.
Strong protests in Punjab and Chandigarh, ministers among those detained
In opposition to the arrest of MP Shri Sanjay Singh, a joint protest was organized outside the BJP office in Sector 37, Chandigarh. The protest was led by State President Buddhiram. During this time, senior leaders and a large number of party supporters, including Punjab government ministers Harpal Cheema and Dr. Balveer Sidhu, were present. The Party workers protested vigorously against the BJP and the Modi government. During this, the police used force to disperse the protest. Tear gas canisters were fired, and water cannons were used. The police detained several senior leaders, including Cabinet Minister Chetan Singh, Buddhiram, Harbhajan Singh, and MLA Devendra Singh, and released them after an hour. On Friday, the AAP will hold protests in every district of Punjab.
Protest outside the ED Office in Mumbai, Several Detained
After the arrest of MP Shri Sanjay Singh, AAP workers in Mumbai, Maharashtra, also held a strong protest, holding the party’s flags and placards. Party activists protested vigorously against the Modi government outside the ED office. Party workers claimed that Shri Sanjay Singh was arrested falsely, which is unjust. Shri Sanjay Singh has been arrested as part of a conspiracy. There is fear within the Modi government about the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Hence, this action has been taken. During this, the Mumbai Police detained several party leaders, including Preeti Menon, for a while and released them later. Prior to this, the Mumbai Police had detained some party leaders from their homes.
AAP Workers Detained in Telangana Too
In opposition to the arrest of MP Shri Sanjay Singh, AAP workers in Telangana held a strong protest and raised slogans against the BJP-led central government. During this, the police attempted to stop the workers, but they continued to move forward. In response, the police used force and detained several senior party leaders, later releasing them.
BJP Has Now Descended into Dirty Politics – Pankaj Singh
In protest against the arrest of MP Shri Sanjay Singh, AAP workers in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, held a strong demonstration at Roshanpura Square. The party workers carried banners and placards, protesting vigorously against the Modi government. The police briefly detained AAP’s National Joint Secretary Pankaj Singh, later releasing him. Pankaj Singh stated that an investigation has been ongoing for nearly 15 months. Raids have been conducted at more than a thousand locations. Many people have been arrested and harassed, but so far, not a single penny of wrongdoing has been found. Shri Sanjay Singh has not been found guilty. The BJP has now descended into dirty politics. If the BJP state governments couldn’t compete in terms of development work, they are now attempting to break the morale of the AAP through conspiracies.
AAP Raises its Voice in West Bengal Too
In opposition to the arrest of MP Shri Sanjay Singh, AAP party workers also held a protest in Kolkata, West Bengal, and raised slogans against the Modi government. Party activists carried the party’s flag and placards, expressing their opposition, and the police forcibly ended the demonstration.
AAP workers in Rajasthan Submit Memorandum to the President
In Rajasthan, AAP workers submitted a memorandum to the President. Meanwhile, in Jaipur, Rajasthan, AAP workers marched towards the BJP office while protesting against the Modi government at the center. The police attempted to stop them during this protest. A confrontation occurred between AAP workers and the police, and the police detained 22 people and took them to the Vidhyadhar Nagar police station. They were released shortly afterward. After the protest, AAP workers submitted a memorandum to the Additional District Magistrate addressed to the President. During this event, state Joint Secretary Prashant Jayswal, Ramesh Bishnoi, state Secretary Saurabh Choudhary, Joint Devendra Yadav, Lok Sabha in-charge Archit Gupta, Tayab Maharab Khan, District President Kamal Bhargav, Giridhari, Ritu Sanwaria, Rajpal Phogavat, Ramesh Bishnoi, Pawan Dev, Amit Dadhich, and others were present.
