The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) organized a ‘Jail ka Jawab Vote se’ walkathon event in Delhi on Sunday to garner support for Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently incarcerated in Tihar Jail due to the Delhi excise policy case. Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 as part of a money laundering investigation related to alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy of 2021-22, which has since been revoked. Notable AAP figures such as MP Sanjay Singh, Minister Gopal Rai, and Saurabh Bharadwaj led the event, which saw significant participation from party members and supporters.
As they marched through Delhi’s streets, participants could be heard chanting slogans like “Jail ka Jawab Vote Se,” “Arvind Kejriwal Zindabad,” “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” and “Vande Mataram.” AAP leaders and supporters expressed their frustration over Kejriwal’s detention.
In an interview with ANI, Delhi Minister and AAP leader Gopal Rai strongly criticized the ruling BJP-led NDA at the Centre, denouncing the arrest of the AAP’s national convenor as unjust and politically motivated.
“People are furious over the way the BJP government (at the Centre) arrested and jailed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was elected democratically with a huge majority, without any evidence and FIR, just ahead of the elections. Whether it is the youth of Delhi, the elderly, or the women, every segment of society is upset that instead of seeking votes on their work, the BJP government threw a hardworking chief minister in jail,” Rai said.
“Today, from every corner of Delhi, there are calls that this authoritarian regime must be removed, and, that this time, we must elect hard-working representatives and send them to Parliament. AAP workers and youth are protesting against this (Kejriwal’s arrest) in different ways and are ready to give ‘Jail ka Jawab Vote Se’ (befitting reply to Kejriwal’s arrest with votes) on May 25,” he added.
AAP leader Sanjay Singh, recently granted bail in connection with the liquor policy case, emphasized Kejriwal’s dedication to serving the people of Delhi.
“The chief minister has been working day and night for your children’s education, health, electricity, water, senior citizens’ pilgrimages, and free bus travel for women. He was arrested by Modi-ji and not only jailed but treated like a criminal, terrorist, and an outlaw. The person who was providing free medicines to the people of Delhi was denied insulin for 23 days in jail. So, I request the people with folded hands to come out in support of our slogan ‘Jail ka Jawab Vote Se’,” he said.
Both AAP leaders urged voters to reflect on the ‘injustice’ faced by the party’s leader as they cast their votes on April 25. All seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capital will go to polls in the sixth phase on May 25. These constituencies include New Delhi, South Delhi, East Delhi, West Delhi, Chandni Chowk, North West, and North East Delhi. Vote counting is slated for June 4.