Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Compares Himself to Bhagat Singh, Prepares for Jail Over Excise Policy Case
Jalandhar: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is set to surrender on June 2 at the end of his interim bail period in the excise policy case, stated on Wednesday that he takes pride in going to jail to “save” his country.
Drawing a parallel with freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, the AAP convener told PTI Videos, “I am a follower of Bhagat Singh. If I have to go to jail 100 times to save the country, I will go.”
Kejriwal is out on interim bail until June 1, following a Supreme Court order that requires him to surrender on June 2. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in March in connection with a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.
Kejriwal also predicted that the BJP would secure less than 200 seats, while the INDIA bloc would surpass the 300-seat mark in the general elections scheduled for June 4.
In recent days, Kejriwal has been campaigning in Punjab. Criticizing the BJP-led central government, he said, “They claim Kejriwal indulged in corruption, yet they have no proof. People say if Kejriwal is corrupt, then no one is honest.”
“They allege a theft of Rs 100 crore, but despite raids at 500 locations, not a single paise was recovered. Did the Rs 100 crore vanish into thin air?” he questioned.
Kejriwal cited a TV interview with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where Modi was asked why Kejriwal was arrested despite no evidence or recovery. “The PM admitted they have no proof and no recovery, attributing it to Kejriwal being an experienced thief. If the PM acknowledges this publicly, it means the entire case is baseless,” he asserted.
Kejriwal claimed he was arrested because of his work, which he believes Modi cannot replicate. “I provided free electricity in Punjab and Delhi, built quality hospitals and mohalla clinics. These are things the PM cannot do, and hence, they want to imprison me,” he alleged.
The AAP chief emphasized that he will continue to oppose the BJP’s alleged authoritarianism and “goondagardi” (hooliganism). “They want to silence me, but no force in the world can break me. I am ready to return to jail on June 2, and I am proud to do so to save my country,” Kejriwal said.
Regarding Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent remark that the Bhagwant Mann government in Punjab would not last long after the BJP’s victory, Kejriwal accused Shah of threatening Punjab’s three crore people with the dismissal of the AAP government post-June 4. “Such ‘goondagardi’ has never been seen before. I am raising my voice against it and will continue to do so,” he declared.
Kejriwal noted that the AAP holds an overwhelming majority in Punjab, with 92 MLAs in the 117-member assembly. “Will they [BJP] bribe, threaten, or break our MLAs?” he asked.
He challenged Shah, stating, “Punjabis may give a few seats out of goodwill, but now, having been threatened, the three crore Punjabis will respond on June 4.”
On the BJP’s slogan of securing “400 seats,” Kejriwal said, “Why do they need 400 seats when a government can function with 300? We learned they intend to end reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and OBCs,” he alleged.
Addressing public discontent, Kejriwal said, “People are frustrated with inflation and unemployment and expect solutions from the PM. Instead, they see him hurling abuses at the opposition in his speeches. Does he even know the people’s problems? He seems to be living in his own world,” Kejriwal remarked.
“In his interviews, Modi portrays himself as a divine avatar, not an ordinary person. We follow deities like Lord Ram, Krishna, Shiva, Jagannath, and Hanuman. The RSS should clarify whether it views Modi as a divine avatar,” he questioned.
Reflecting on his time in jail, Kejriwal revealed he lost seven kilograms and experienced unexplained weight loss and high ketone levels, which require medical examination. “We will see how this proceeds,” he added.
Polling for all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab will take place on June 1, the final phase of the ongoing general elections. The AAP and the Congress, both part of the opposition INDIA bloc, are contesting the elections in Punjab separately.
