“They all said Kejriwal is…”: Sambit Patra accuses INDIA allies of making ‘U-turn’ in standing with Delhi CM

New Delhi [India], March 23 (ANI): Taking a swipe at INDIA parties for going back on their previous statements critical of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and rallying around Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal following his arrest in the excise policy case, BJP national spokesperson Samit Patra said many leaders in the Opposition bloc, who called him a ‘corrupt leader’ were now standing with him.

Addressing media persons on Saturday, Patra said, “It’s unfortunate for a corrupt leader to demand immunity (from arrest) in the name of a ‘level playing field’. Is that democracy? You will indulge in corruption and then expect agencies not to carry out investigations against you, just because you belong to a political party that is going into elections. This is beyond the boundaries of the law.”

He further reminded the Congress of press conferences earlier where it roundly criticised the AAP and Kejriwal over the now-scrapped liquor policy in the national capital.

“Senior leaders of the Congress organised press conferences where they called Kejriwal names and flayed him and his government over the excise policy. They all said Arvind Kejriwal is neck-deep in corruption. However, the same parties in the INDI alliance have now taken a U-turn. What is their version of the truth then? They never raised the arrest of K Kavitha before the EC, as the Congress and the BRS do not see -eye-to-eye. They do not want a level playing field there (in Telangana),” Patra added.

Earlier, Union Minister Smriti Irani came down heavily on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of ‘double standards’, saying while the Wayand MP showed solidarity with Kejriwal’s family in Delhi, he called ‘corrupt’ down in Telangana.

“I would like to give a proof of how Rahul Gandhi rolls the dice on the same subject in diverse ways. On July 2, 2023 in Telangana, he said KCR is also corrupt…there has been a liquor scam and all the agencies know about it. Ajay Maken said the AAP used corruption money to defeat the Congress party in the Goa elections. So who was telling the truth?” Patra questioned.

Earlier, on Friday, Chief Minister Kejriwal was on Friday remanded to the custody of the Enforcement Directorate for seven days i.e., till March 28, a day after he was arrested by the probe agency in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case linked to a money laundering case.

Special CBI judge Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Court passed the order after Kejriwal was produced on Friday following his arrest on Thursday night by the central probe agency.

The case pertains to alleged irregularities and money laundering in framing and implementing the Delhi excise policy case 2022, which was later scrapped.

The arrest by the central agency has drawn severe criticism for the BJP-led centre from the opposition leaders.

The AAP will “gherao” the prime minister’s residence on March 26 to register its protest against Kejriwal’s arrest by the ED, the party’s leader Gopal Rai said on Friday.

The case pertains to alleged irregularities and money laundering in framing and implementing the Delhi excise policy case 2022, which was later scrapped.

Two senior AAP leaders, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, are in judicial custody in the excise policy case. Sisodia, who was the then Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, was arrested by the CBI on February 26 following several rounds of questioning. On October 5, ED arrested Sanjay Singh, who is a Rajya Sabha member.

Kejriwal’s arrest came days after the ED arrested Bharat Rashta Samithi (BRS) leader and daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao K Kavitha, in connection with its investigation into money laundering charges linked to the now-scrapped excise policy. Kavitha is in ED custody till March 23.