Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Accuses ED of Summons for Sensationalism in 2024 Election Season
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has raised concerns regarding the fresh summons issued by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Thursday, alleging that they are a tactic to create sensational news in the final months leading up to the 2024 parliamentary elections.
The summons from the ED are in relation to the Delhi excise policy case, with Kejriwal being asked to appear before the agency for questioning on December 21. However, Kejriwal questioned the timing of the summons, suggesting that they are intended to mislead the public and gain media attention during the crucial election period.
The timing of your summons leaves much to desire and strengthens my belief that the summons being sent to me are not based upon any objective or rational yardstick but purely as propaganda as well as to create sensational news in the final few months of much-awaited parliamentary elections in the country, stated Kejriwal.
Kejriwal also expressed his frustration with the ED’s lack of responsiveness to his earlier inquiries. He claimed that the agency failed to provide him with details about the case, including the specific allegations against him or any supporting evidence. He accused the summons of being a broad and unfocused inquiry.
Furthermore, Kejriwal expressed confusion over the capacity in which he has been summoned. He demanded clarification on whether he is being called as a witness, suspect, Delhi’s Chief Minister, or as the convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party.
In a show of solidarity, Atishi, a fellow leader of the Aam Aadmi Party and Delhi Minister, criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre for using central probe agencies to intimidate opposition leaders. Atishi stated that the Aam Aadmi Party will not succumb to such threats and that the central agencies are targeting their party members because they fear Kejriwal’s successful model of governance.
It is clear the BJP are scared of the Aam Aadmi Party and the model of governance of our leader Arvind Kejriwal, which is why the leaders of our party are being thrown in jail one by one. The BJP are using agencies at their disposal to scare us, Atishi commented.
It is worth noting that while the CBI had previously summoned Kejriwal in April this year for the same case, he was not named as an accused in the FIR filed by the agency in August last year.
In February 2023, Kejriwal’s Deputy, Manish Sisodia, was arrested by the CBI on charges related to alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of Delhi’s new excise policy, which was subsequently scrapped following allegations of foul play by the opposition.
The escalating tensions between the Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP-led Centre highlight the highly contentious nature of Indian politics as the nation gears up for the eagerly anticipated parliamentary elections in 2024. As the situation unfolds, all eyes will be on the actions of both parties and their leaders.
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