Targeting Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his refusal to step down on “moral grounds” following a court’s decision to send him to judicial custody in an alleged money laundering case related to the Delhi excise policy, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sudhanshu Trivedi referenced the instance of former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav resigning before his incarceration.
“Lalu Prasad Yadav had at least resigned when he was about to go to jail, but he has not resigned yet,” Trivedi remarked during a press conference today. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is part of the INDIA bloc, in which Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) is also a partner.
Criticizing opposition parties that have labeled Kejriwal’s arrest as a political conspiracy by the BJP, Trivedi remarked, “Those who try to portray the bogey of victimhood, I would like to underline that today’s judgement of the court is based on concrete evidence of which neither we nor anyone else is privy.”
“It is the jurisprudence of the court that has decided to extend this judicial custody for 15 days. Now it raises certain moral and constitutional questions,” the senior BJP MP said as the Rouse Avenue Court sent Kejriwal to judicial custody till April 15 today.
Referring to Kejriwal’s mentor, Anna Hazare, Trivedi said, “His guru had vowed not to enter into politics. But the student not only entered politics but also became the Chief Minister.”
“Yesterday, there was another rally where he changed his ‘Guru’. His guru became Lalu Prasad Yadav,” Trivedi said, taking a dig at the INDIA bloc meeting held on Sunday.
The senior BJP MP further said, “There are media reports that Arvind Kejriwal has mentioned that the prime accused Vijay Nair used to report to Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj.”
Trivedi noted that the AAP involvement in the liquor policy case is becoming apparent, and it remains to be seen what course of action he takes regarding his Chief Ministership.
“The Delhi Government’s situation over liquor policy is becoming clearer and clearer. It has to be seen if Kejriwal resigns or heads towards a new politics,” the BJP leader said.
The AAP has reiterated that Kejriwal will continue to govern Delhi, maintaining his position even during his time in jail.