New Delhi, Feb 27 (.) AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Friday addressed a press conference at the party headquarters after being discharged in the Delhi excise policy case, saying he had remained silent to prove his innocence. He targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging that they only want to remain in power and misuse investigative agencies for political purposes.
“When someone calls me dishonest, I always object. When someone says anything about my family, I mind it. Therefore, I decided to keep mum until I proved my innocence in the matter. And today, I have been discharged,” he said.
Kejriwal said that the party’s top five leaders were sent to jail, alleging that nothing could be proven against him. “You unleashed the ED, CBI, IT and police, but you couldn’t do anything. Now you will have to murder me,” he remarked, addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He further said there was another way to stop him. “I built 500 schools, you build 5,000. I made roads in Delhi, you repair roads across India, and nobody will enquire about Kejriwal. I built 200 Mohalla Clinics, you build 20,000 Mohalla Clinics,” he said.
Targeting Prime Minister Modi and union Home Minister Amit Shah, Kejriwal alleged that they only want to remain in power and misuse investigative agencies for political purposes. “My entire family has suffered because of this case. I was sent to jail. My mother, who is unwell, had to be hospitalised and she cried a lot. Manish Sisodia’s wife is suffering from multiple illnesses; her lower body is paralysed. She also had to suffer,” he said.
He alleged that beyond his family and party, the people of Delhi were also suffering. “The BJP has made Delhi a hell. There are no basic facilities, no medicines in hospitals, schools are in bad condition, pollution is severe, and the Yamuna is highly contaminated,” he alleged.
Kejriwal challenged Modi to re-hold the Delhi Assembly elections. “I will quit politics if you can win even 10 seats,” he said.
Referring to foreign policy, he said, “The US is daily hurling abuses at us and the Prime Minister is not doing anything. Why is he scared? We gave you the opportunity to run the country, but you only wanted to target Kejriwal.”
He said the ED case was based on the CBI’s case and claimed that the matter was now closed. He added that next week they would move court seeking closure of the related case as well.
Responding to allegations by the Congress that the BJP intentionally helped the AAP to damage Congress’ prospects in the upcoming Punjab elections, Kejriwal said that no Congress leaders, including Robert Vadra, Rahul Gandhi or Sonia Gandhi, were sent to jail, while he was imprisoned.
“There should be some shame,” he said. Claiming vindication, Kejriwal said the court had ordered a departmental inquiry against the CBI’s investigating officer. “It means it was a big fake case,” he added.
. ATK RSA