Arvind Kejriwal’s Arrest Sparks Political Controversy, Accusations of Democracy Under Threat

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot criticized the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday, denouncing it as an assault on democracy and alleging that the probe agency had acted without concrete evidence.

Gehlot condemned the arrest of sitting Chief Ministers, describing it as an attack on the democratic process. He questioned the basis for the arrests, emphasizing that elected officials should not be detained without sufficient proof or evidence of serious wrongdoing.

In contrast, Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra defended the legality of Kejriwal’s arrest, asserting that it was in accordance with the law. Vijayendra emphasized that the actions taken were not motivated by political bias but rather aligned with legal procedures.

The arrest of Kejriwal by a central agency has sparked widespread criticism from opposition leaders, including the Goa Congress, which condemned the arrest as an affront to democracy. Goa Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao raised concerns about the timing of the arrest and accused the BJP-led government and associated agencies of silencing opposition voices.

Congress MLA Carlos Alvares Ferreira described Kejriwal’s arrest as a “black day” for Indian democracy, highlighting the broader implications of the incident.

Kejriwal was remanded to Enforcement Directorate custody until March 28, following his arrest in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case, which is linked to alleged money laundering. The case revolves around purported irregularities in the framing and implementation of the 2022 Delhi excise policy, which was subsequently scrapped.

The Aam Aadmi Party announced plans to stage a protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence on March 26 in response to Kejriwal’s arrest. Two senior AAP leaders, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, are also in judicial custody in connection with the same case.

Kejriwal’s arrest coincided with the apprehension of Bharat Rashta Samithi leader K Kavitha, daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, in a related money laundering investigation. Kavitha’s detention extends to March 23.

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