Security measures outside the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) headquarters in Delhi have been significantly strengthened in anticipation of a planned protest against the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, according to reports. Delhi Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj criticized the coordinated efforts between national agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), suggesting it reflects the central government’s intent to keep Kejriwal in jail.
“The coordination between ED and CBI shows that the Central Government wants to ensure that Arvind Kejriwal stays in jail…We will raise our voice against it in the whole nation,” Bhardwaj stated.
AAP had earlier announced a nationwide protest against Kejriwal’s arrest, following a decision made during a meeting at the party headquarters led by AAP’s National General Secretary (Organisation) Sandeep Pathak. The gathering, attended by top AAP leaders including MPs, MLAs, and councillors, focused on condemning what they allege is the BJP government’s misuse of investigative agencies to target Kejriwal.
Pathak accused the BJP-led central government of orchestrating a political vendetta, stating, “The BJP’s central government is misusing all the central investigation agencies for its political vendetta…Their aim is not to investigate any case nor do they have anything to do with the law.”
He added, “All AAP leaders expressed confidence that the entire public of Delhi is with CM Arvind Kejriwal and we all will fight this battle against injustice along with the people of Delhi.”
AAP contends that Kejriwal was granted bail by a trial court in the liquor case but the ED subsequently obtained a stay on his bail from the High Court. The party alleges that Kejriwal’s arrest by the CBI, after two years of inactivity, was timed to prevent him from securing bail from the Supreme Court.
Previously, Kejriwal was called in by the CBI as a witness in April 2023 and was not implicated as an accused for over a year. AAP claims the CBI’s actions lack evidence and are politically motivated, aimed at undermining Kejriwal and the AAP.