'Don't hate BJP people for my arrest': Arvind Kejriwal's message from jail
New Delhi/IBNS: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has urged people to continue with their works for the society and refrain from hating Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) "brothers and sisters", in a message from jail two days after he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the excise policy case.
Kejriwal's wife and former IRS officer, Sunita Kejriwal, read out the message from the Chief Minister, who was remanded to ED custody for seven days by Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Friday.
Sunita reads, "I have the blessings of crores of people. This is my strength. I appeal to all Aam Aadmi Party workers to not stop working for the society and refrain from hating BJP people for my arrest. BJP people are also our brothers and sisters. I will be back soon."
"I must have done great deeds in my previous life that I was born in a great country like India. We need to make India great again and the strongest in the world. There are several forces both inside and outside India that are trying to weaken the country. We need to be alert to identify and defeat these forces," Arvind Kejriwal's message reads.
Kejriwal has assured all eligible beneficiary women of Delhi that they won't be deprived of honorarium of Rs. 1,000 per month because the AAP supremo is in jail.
Kejriwal has become the first serving Chief Minister to be arrested and is the third senior leader from the party to be arrested in connection with the Delhi liquor policy scam.
The arrest comes hours after a team from the ED questioned him at his residence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
#WATCH | Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal issues a video statement and reads out the CM's message from jail.
— ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2024
She says, "...There are several forces within and outside India that are weakening the country. We have to be alert, identify these forces and defeat… pic.twitter.com/jqlHpguugP
Atishi, who is at the forefront in briefing the media and taking on the BJP, has confirmed that Kejriwal will continue to remain the chief Minister of the national capital.
According to reports, the AAP will approach the Supreme Court against the arrest on Friday.
Kejriwal had already skipped nine summons issued by the ED in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam.
Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was arrested in connection with the case in February last year, and AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh was taken into custody in October.
Kejriwal's arrest has triggered a slugfest between the country's ruling BJP and opposition parties.
While BJP accuses Kejriwal of corruption, the opposition parties have rallied behind AAP in supporting Kejriwal and questioning the timing of the arrest as the Lok Sabha polls have already been announced.
A delegation of disparate opposition parties including Congress, Trinamool Congress, Left met the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday and accused the BJP of destroying the level-playing field for the upcoming General Elections, where AAP and Congress have already decided to fight together in Delhi.