Jalandhar, May 30, 2024: Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, addressing a gathering on Wednesday, declared his readiness to face imprisonment multiple times to protect the nation. The AAP leader, who must surrender on June 2 after the expiration of his interim bail in the Delhi excise policy case, likened himself to the freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.
“I am a follower of Bhagat Singh. If I have to go to jail 100 times to save the country, I will go,” Kejriwal asserted. His interim bail, granted by the Supreme Court, will end on June 1, following his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate on money laundering charges linked to the alleged excise policy scam in March.
Kejriwal confidently predicted that the BJP would secure fewer than 200 seats in the upcoming general elections, while the opposition INDIA bloc would surpass 300 seats. He has been actively campaigning in Punjab in recent days.
Criticizing the BJP, Kejriwal stated, “They claim I am corrupt but have no proof. People are saying if Kejriwal is corrupt, then no one is honest in this world.” He challenged the accusations, highlighting that despite extensive raids, authorities found no evidence of the alleged Rs 100 crore theft.
He recounted an interview where Prime Minister Narendra Modi admitted the lack of proof against him, calling the case against him baseless. “If PM accepts before the entire nation that they don’t have any proof, then it means the entire case is fake,” Kejriwal argued.
The Delhi CM accused the BJP of targeting him because of his successful policies in Delhi and Punjab, such as free electricity and quality healthcare. “The work Kejriwal is doing, Modi cannot do,” he claimed, attributing his arrests to political vendetta.
Kejriwal condemned the BJP-led government’s alleged authoritarian tactics, asserting, “They want to silence me, break me, muzzle my voice. But no force in the world can break me.” He expressed pride in going back to jail on June 2, viewing it as a sacrifice for the country’s welfare.
Responding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s prediction of the AAP government’s downfall in Punjab, Kejriwal accused Shah of threatening the state’s three crore citizens. He reassured that the AAP, which holds an overwhelming majority in the Punjab assembly, would stand firm against any attempts by the BJP to destabilize it.
On the BJP’s slogan of securing 400 seats, Kejriwal speculated that it was aimed at ending reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and OBCs. He emphasized the public’s frustration with inflation and unemployment and criticized Modi for focusing on attacking the opposition instead of addressing these issues.
Referring to his health after his jail stint, Kejriwal mentioned significant weight loss and high ketone levels, indicating the need for medical examination and care. Polling for Punjab’s 13 Lok Sabha seats is scheduled for June 1, with the AAP and Congress contesting separately despite being part of the INDIA bloc.
