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INDIA bloc to rally against Kejriwal’s arrest

Congress leader Subhash Chopra addresses the INDIA alliance press conference on the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s alleged connection with the liquor policy scam. (ANI Photo)

Several leaders of the INDIA bloc have come out in support of Arvind Kejriwal and accused the BJP and the Union government of arm-twisting the opposition…reports Asian Lite News

INDIA or Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance bloc will hold a mega rally at Ramlila Maidan on March 31 to “save democracy” in India, Congress Delhi unit chief Arvinder Singh Lovely said on Sunday.

The announcement was made at a joint press conference by the Congress and AAP, allies in the INDIA bloc.

This comes days after the Enforcement Directorate arrested Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal earlier in the week on charges of corruption in the Delhi excise policy case, which was later scrapped.

Prominent leaders of the anti-BJP front are scheduled to attend the rally to “save the democracy of India,” Singh said.

“On March 31, INDIA India Alliance will hold a big rally in Delhi, and prominent leaders of the Alliance will address the rally, which won’t be just a political rally; it will be a call for the fight to save the democracy of India…,” Singh said.

Senior Aam Admi Party leader and Delhi Minister Gopal Rai appealed to people in Delhi “to join them on that day.”

“To protest against what has been the killing of democracy, the INDIA alliance will hold a rally on March 31 at 10 am in Ramlila Maidan. We appeal to all the people from Delhi and the entire country, party workers, trader associations, and NGOs, to join us that day,” the AAP leader said.

The case pertains to alleged irregularities in formulating and implementing the Delhi excise policy 2021-22, which was later scrapped.

Several leaders of the INDIA bloc have come out in support of Arvind Kejriwal and accused the BJP and the Union government of arm-twisting the opposition.

However, the BJP has denied all the allegations.

INDIA bloc is a coalition of over 20 opposition parties formed last year to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance in the general elections, dates for which were announced earlier in the month.

However, the exit of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was at the forefront of the alliance, dealt a blow to the bloc, which, as of now, is struggling to finalise the seat-sharing agreement for the Lok Sabha elections.

Voting would be held in seven phases for the 543 parliamentary constituencies, starting on April 19 and ending on June 1. The results will be declared on June 4.

BJP intensifies attack

Bharatiya Janata Party Delhi unit workers on Sunday burned the “Holika” (effigy) of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently in ED custody in connection with the liquor scam.

BJP workers also chanted slogans against the AAP government and demanded Kejriwal’s resignation at the earliest

The demonstration was led by BJP leader Praveen Khandelwal, who, was present with a large number of supporters at Santnagar Chowk, Ranibagh in Delhi.

Khandelwal said that BJP workers will continue to protest until Kejriwal resigns from the post. “Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is continuously violating the law. Law is the same for all. ED sent him nine summons even after that he did not consider it necessary to go answer questions. Today, we have gathered here because, after the allegations against Kejriwal, he should resign. Delhi BJP has decided that we will leave no stone unturned to oust Kejriwal until he resigns,” he said.

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) arrested Kejriwal on March 21, hours after the Delhi High Court rejected his petition seeking to restrain the central probe agency from taking any coercive action against him.

The arrest came hours after the Delhi HC rejected his petition seeking to restrain the central probe agency from taking any coercive action against him.

The case in question pertains to alleged irregularities and money laundering in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi excise policy in 2021-22. The policy was later scrapped in the face of allegations of irregularities.

Kejriwal, on Saturday, moved the Delhi High Court, challenging his arrest and the order of remand to the ED granted by the trial court on March 22.

The ED, which was given the custody of Delhi CM till March 28 by the lower court, alleged that the Aam Adami Party (AAP) was the major beneficiary of the proceeds of crime generated in the alleged liquor scam.

Two AAP leaders, Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, are already in judicial custody in the excise policy case. (ANI)

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INDIA bloc slams Centre for Kejriwal’s arrest

Opposition leaders question the timing of Kejriwal’s arrest, with elections just days away and on a day when EC made the comprehensive electoral bond data public…reports Asian Lite News

Several political parties condemned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest by the ED on Thursday, claiming that it shows how “jittery” the ruling BJP at the Centre is with less than a month to go for the Lok Sabha polls.

The opposition parties also accused the BJP of indulging in vendetta politics. Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an excise policy-linked money laundering case on Thursday evening, officials said.

Reacting to the development, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are in “panic” over their impending rejection by people in the Lok Sabha polls.

“Strongly condemn the arrest of Delhi CM, Shri Arvind Kejriwal by the ED. It’s the second sitting CM of the INDIA bloc to be arrested,” Yechury said in a post on X. “Clearly, Modi and the BJP are in panic over people’s rejection in the ongoing elections,” he added. The Left leader said Kejriwal’s arrest will only “cement” people’s desire to defeat the BJP in the parliamentary polls.

“All opposition leaders who defected and joined the BJP are protected and patronised. They are the ‘Satya Harishchandras’! These arrests will only cement people’s desire to defeat BJP, defend democracy and Indian Constitution,” he said.

CPI general secretary D Raja claimed that the BJP’s “desperation” before the general election is on full display.

“They know the hollowness of their claims of 400 seats and that’s why opposition is being targeted by abusing central agencies. The arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and the arrest of then Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren show how jittery the BJP is. This harassment is only intended to intimidate the opposition.

“People will give a befitting answer to this in elections by throwing BJP out of power,” Raja said in a post on X.

The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) questioned the arrest at a time when the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is in place.

“The election process has begun. And now this! Chiefs of political parties, CMs, political leaders, election agents, workers, every opponent being harassed and arrested like this. What will be the fate of our precious democracy,” the TMC’s Parliamentary Party leader in the Rajya Sabha Derek O’Brien said in a post on X.

“Let us all save democracy from impending disaster,” he added.

O’Brien condemned Kejriwal’s arrest and said the Election Commission (EC) and the Supreme Court should take action in the matter.

“We vehemently condemn the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, an elected CM, especially when EC is in charge and MCC is in place. Earlier his administrative powers were snatched through an illegal ordinance,” he said.

“How can we expect fair elections in India if sitting CMs and prominent opposition leaders are arrested weeks before polls? If SC and ECI fail to act now, who will stand with people against BJP’s oppressive politics in future?” the TMC leader asked.

SC to hear Kejriwal’s plea

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear a plea of the Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal against his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case linked to a money laundering case.

A special bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna, MM Sundresh and Bela Trivedi will hear the matter. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi mentioned Kejriwal’s plea before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud for an urgent hearing.

“If this process goes on, before the first vote is cast, a lot of senior leaders will be behind the bars. Please take it up,” Singhvi told the bench.

CJI then asked him to mention his plea before a special three-judge bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna, which was hearing the plea of BRS leader K Kavitha against her arrest by the ED in the liquor policy case, at that time.

However, by the time Singhvi reached Court number 2 of Justice Khanna, the special bench sitting had concluded and the regular two-judges bench of Justices Khanna and Dipankar Datta assembled.

Singhvi then mentioned the matter before Justice Khanna, saying the CJI asked him to mention the matter before him for hearing.

Justice Khanna told Singhvi that since it was a writ petition and would have to go before the three-judge special bench, which dealt with similar connected issues.

Justice Khanna then said that the special bench will assemble today after hearing the regular bench matters.

The petition was filed by Kejriwal, challenging the arrest by the ED last night subsequent to his arrest.  (ANI)

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Kejriwal says decision on pact with Cong in 2-3 days

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

Congress and the AAP have mutually agreed that in Punjab, they will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election without having an alliance…reports Asian Lite News

Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday admitted that the agreement on seat sharing arrangement in Delhi between the AAP and the Congress should have happened earlier.

“Let’s see what happens in the next two to three days. It has been delayed a lot, it should have happened earlier,” Kejriwal told reporters when asked about the seat sharing arrangement in Delhi with Congress.

Both parties are constituents of the opposition bloc INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance).

Meanwhile, Delhi Congress President Arvinder Singh Lovely today told reporters that he did not know whether the Congress will have an alliance with AAP in Delhi in the upcoming Lok Sabha election as he is not directly involved in the talks.

“I am not directly involved in whether we are having an alliance or not. A committee headed by Mukul Wasnik is involved so I will not be commenting on that,” Lovely told reporters.

Congress and the AAP have mutually agreed that in Punjab, they will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election without having an alliance.

“In Punjab, Congress and AAP have mutually agreed to contest the polls separately. There is no hostility over this…We are in talks with the Congress over an alliance in Delhi. We are discussing seat-sharing arrangements. The BJP will have it easy if there is no alliance (between AAP and Congress),” Kejriwal said on Sunday.

Kejriwal earlier launched a scathing attack on the BJP, saying that if the ruling party at the Centre does not face defeat in this year’s general elections, then the Aam Aadmi Party “will make India free of BJP” rule in the next Lok Sabha elections.

“The biggest challenger of BJP is Aam Aadmi Party. Today if BJP is scared of anyone, it is AAP…With utmost responsibility, I want to say that if BJP does not lose Lok Sabha elections in 2024, then AAP will make India free from BJP (rule) in 2029,” Kejriwal said in the Delhi assembly.

He said AAP became a national party in a short span of time and now the party has governments in Delhi and Punjab. AAP won the trust vote in the Assembly.

Kejriwal said AAP has received historic mandates in Delhi, got a sizeable percentage of votes in Gujarat assembly polls and has five MLAs in the state and the party has two MLAs in Goa.

“This is no small feat…so today they are only afraid of the Aam Aadmi Party,” he said.

Kejriwal took a dig at those “who succumb to pressure and switch sides” and said those who resist, regardless of the legal consequences, are honest.

He said those switching sides may be needing “BJP’s protection” for their past deeds.

Referring to Manish Sisodia, who is facing ED and CBI probe in the excise policy case, Kejriwal alleged that a “lot of pressure was exerted” on the former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister but he did not succumb. (ANI)

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War of words between Yogi, Kejriwal ahead of polls

He then went on to accuse the Delhi Chief Minister of “cutting electricity and water” for migrant labourers and forcing them to leave the city…reports Asian Lite News

The war of words between Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal has intensified with the two leaders sharpening their claws on Twitter.

While Kejriwal said that his Uttar Pradesh counterpart was a “harsh and cruel ruler”, Yogi called the Delhi Chief Minister a “liar”.

The Twitter war on Monday night started after Kejriwal’s rebuttal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement in Parliament that Delhi and Maharashtra contributed to the spread of Covid by enabling the migrant labourers to go home after the lockdown was declared in 2020.

“This statement of Prime Minister is a blatant lie. The country hopes that the Prime Minister will be sensitive to those who have suffered the pain in the Corona period, those who have lost their loved ones. It does not suit the Prime Minister to do politics on the sufferings of the people,” the Delhi Chief Minister said in a tweet in Hindi.

His Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also tweeted to say the Prime Minister’s statement was “false”.

Responding to the claim, Yogi said: “Today’s statement of Arvind Kejriwal about respected Prime Minister is highly condemnable. Arvind Kejriwal should apologise to the entire nation.”

He quoted a couplet from Goswami Tulsidas, the author of “Ram Charitmanas”, to elucidate his point.

“Kejriwal has a knack of telling lies. When the whole country was battling a global pandemic like Corona under the leadership of the respected Prime Minister, Kejriwal showed the migrant labourers the way out of Delhi.”

He then went on to accuse the Delhi Chief Minister of “cutting electricity and water” for migrant labourers and forcing them to leave the city.

“The electricity-water connection was cut and the sleeping people were picked up and sent to the UP border by buses. Announcement was made that in Anand Vihar, buses will be available for UP-Bihar. The UP government arranged buses for the migrant labourers and brought them back safely,” Yogi further tweeted.

In a direct post, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said: “Listen Kejriwal, You forced the workers of UP to leave Delhi when the entire humanity was groaning due to the pain of Corona. Your government did an undemocratic and inhuman act like leaving even small children and women helpless on the UP border in the middle of the night. Call you a traitor or…”

Kejriwal reacted with: “You should not say anything. When bodies were floating in the rivers, you were spending crores on appreciating yourself through advertisements in Time magazine. Have not seen a harsh and cruel ruler like you.”

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Owaisi, Kejriwal sent by BJP to split votes: Congress

He also urged the Trinamool Congress in Goa to support the Congress party in the poll-bound state to prevent division of votes…reports Asian Lite News

The Congress on Thursday likened Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal to All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen’s Asaduddin Owaisi, both of whom, the opposition party leader Randeep Surjewala said, were being sent to states by the BJP in order to split the anti-BJP votes.

“There are two people, which the BJP sends wherever it is losing. One is AIMIM and second is Kejriwal and AAP. They will wear separate hats, they will seem to be opposing the BJP. But let no Goan be mistaken. At the end of the day, AAP runs its government with the assistance and help of BJP,” Surjewala told a press conference in Panaji.

“There are imposters here who are BJP’s B-team. They are here to assist the BJP and provide cover fire. We need to be wary of such forces, who wear the white topi, but actually wear the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) colours inside,” he also said, while referring to the Aam Aadmi Party.

“Otherwise so many scams happened in Delhi, there is no way they would have been able to rule. He (Kejriwal) would have been behind bars, if 10 per cent of those scams were to be investigated and taken to a logical conclusion in a court of law,” Surjewala also said.

He also urged the Trinamool Congress in Goa to support the Congress party in the poll-bound state to prevent division of votes.

“In a democracy everybody has a right to fight, I’m not disputing their right, but in democracy everyone has to understand and comprehend and think and introspect whether by their act and deeds, knowingly or unknowingly, whether they are giving cover fire to the BJP,” Surjewala said.

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Kejriwal, Sawant spar over Parrikar son’s candidature

Kejriwal, during his recent visit to Goa, had also said that Utpal Parrikar was free to contest on an AAP ticket, if he wishes to…reports Asian Lite News

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday slammed his Delhi counterpart and Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of being a hypocrite and of fishing in troubled waters.

Sawant’s criticism of Kejriwal came soon after the Delhi CM once again reached out to late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s son Utpal to join the AAP, after the BJP rejected his claim to contest from the Panaji assembly constituency, a seat represented by his father since 1994.

“Hypocrisy! Person whose entire party & politics is based on shallow opportunism should brush up his memory & remind himself of his own filthy comments used against one of the greatest leaders Shri Manohar Bhai Parrikar. Mr. Opportunist…” Sawant said.

Earlier on Thursday, Kejriwal had tweeted: “Goans feel v sad that BJP has adopted use and throw policy even with Parrikar family. I have always respected Manohar Parrikar ji. Utpal ji is welcome to join and fight elections on AAP ticket”.

Kejriwal, during his recent visit to Goa, had also said that Utpal Parrikar was free to contest on an AAP ticket, if he wishes to.

Utpal Parrikar had put in a request with the BJP high command to contest from the Panaji seat. The BJP, which released its first list of 34 candidates for the February 14 Goa polls, has instead picked sitting BJP MLA Atanasio Monserrate as its candidate from Panaji. Monserrate, who faces charges of raping a minor and several other criminal cases including one involving leading a mob which attacked a city police station in 2008, had won the 2017 state assembly bypolls — which were facilitated after the death of Manohar Parrikar — on a Congress ticket. He had however joined the BJP along with nine other Congress MLAs in a midnight coup in 2019.

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Arvind Kejriwal tests Covid-19 positive

Arvind Kejriwal

During the devastating second wave of the pandemic in the country in April 2021, the Chief Minister along with his wife Sunita had tested positive for the virus…reports Asian Lite News.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday announced that he has tested positive for Covid-19, adding that he has “mild symptoms” and was isolating at home.

Taking to Twitter, he said: “I have tested positive for Covid. Mild symptoms. Have isolated myself at home. Those who came in touch wid me in last few days, kindly isolate urself and get urself tested.”

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener had campaigned in Uttarakhand on Monday after having visited Punjab and other poll-bound states like Goa.

During the devastating second wave of the pandemic in the country in April 2021, the Chief Minister along with his wife Sunita had tested positive for the virus.

Tuesday’s development comes as the daily Covid-19 cases in the national capital is on the rise, with the city reporting 4,099 fresh infections and a positivity rate resting at 6.89 per cent until Monday evening.

The new cases have pushed up the infection tally to 14,58,220, while the death toll stood at 25,110.

Both are the highest since May 18, 2021, when the city logged 4,482 fresh cases at a test positivity rate of 6.89 per cent.

On December 29, 2020, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) had ordered a ‘yellow’ alert in the capital which is declared when the infection rate continues to be either at the mark of 0.5 per cent positivity for two consecutive days or crosses it.

Of the cases being reported in the national capital, 81 per cent are that of the new Omicron variant, Health Minister Satyendra Jain had said in the Legislative Assembly on Monday.

The capital has, so far, detected 351 Omicron cases, of which 57 have been discharged from the hospital.

The DDMA is likely to strengthen the already existing restrictions to curb the spread of the virus.

While ideally, the yellow alert should be followed by amber, but Delhi’s positivity rate has crossed 5 per cent — mark set for imposition of red alert in the capital.

In either of the alerts, the already existing restrictions will be strengthened with a few places, activities being completely banned under the level 2 (amber) restrictions and a complete lockdown in level 4 (red).

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Singapore invokes misinformation law after Kejriwal’s comments

Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal on Tuesday tweeted about an alleged “new form” of COVID-19 in Singapore and claimed it is very dangerous for children, reports Asian Lite News

Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) on Thursday invoked its anti-misinformation law, the POFMA or Protection from Online Falsehoods & Manipulation Act against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who tweeted about the coronavirus variant from Singapore.

The MOH instructed the POFMA Office to issue General Correction Directions to Facebook, Twitter and SPH Magazines Pte Ltd (HardwareZone forum), read MOH statement. Facebook, Twitter and SPH Magazines are required to carry the Correction Notice to all end-users in Singapore who use Facebook, Twitter and HardwareZone.com.

Under this, the social media giants will be required to make corrections and clarifications are regarding falsehoods on the “Singapore” strain.

The correction notice of MOH reads, “There is no new “Singapore” variant of COVID 19. Neither is there evidence of any COVID-19 variant that is ‘extremely dangerous for kids.”

It further reads that “the strain that is prevalent in many of the COVID-19 cases detected in Singapore in recent weeks is the B.1.617.2 variant, which originated from India. The existence and spread of the B.1.617.2 variant within India predates the detection of the variant in Singapore, and this has been publicly known and reported by various media sources from as early as 5 May 2021.”

Earlier Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal on Tuesday tweeted about an alleged “new form” of COVID-19 in Singapore and claimed it is very dangerous for children.

“New form of coronavirus in Singapore is said to be very dangerous for children. It could reach Delhi in the form of a third wave. My appeal to the Central government: 1. Cancel all air services with Singapore with immediate effect 2. Work on vaccine alternatives for children on a priority basis,” Kejriwal had said.

Kejriwal’s remarks evoked responses and caused some alarm.

Singapore High Commissioner Simon Wong on Wednesday came down heavily on Arvind Kejriwal for his tweet on an alleged dangerous variant of COVID-19, saying that Singapore reserves the right to invoke his country’s online fake news Act on the Delhi Chief Minister’s assertions.

The Indian envoy to Singapore was also summoned by the country’s foreign ministry after which he clarified that Delhi CM has no competence to pronounce on COVID variants or civil aviation policy.

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Later, the Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also commented on the matter. Jaishankar asserted that Kejriwal doesn’t speak for India.

Jaishankar also tweeted tagging foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan, “Singapore and India have been solid partners in the fight against Covid-19. Appreciate Singapore’s role as a logistics hub and oxygen supplier. Their gesture of deploying military aircraft to help us speaks of our exceptional relationship.”

Earlier, foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan objected to the Delhi chief minister’s tweet.

“Politicians should stick to facts! There is no “Singapore variant”,” Balakrishnan responded to the tweet, quoting Kejriwal.

Separately, a statement from Singapore’s ministry of foreign affairs had said, “MFA regrets the unfounded assertions made on Facebook and Twitter by chief minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal that a variant of Covid-19 found in Singapore was particularly harmful to children and could cause a third wave of infections in India.”

“MFA is disappointed that a prominent political figure had failed to ascertain the facts before making such claims. MFA met the High Commissioner of India P. Kumaran this morning to express these concerns. As highlighted by MOH in its press release of 18 May 2021, there is no “Singapore variant”. The strain prevalent in many of the Covid-19 cases in recent weeks is the B.1.617.2 variant, which was first detected in India.”

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi informed on Twitter that the Singapore government had called in India’s high commissioner today to convey its strong objection to Delhi CM’s tweet on the ‘Singapore variant’. “High commissioner clarified that Delhi CM had no competence to pronounce on Covid variants or civil aviation policy,” he tweeted.

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