AAP alleges targeted efforts to arrest opposition leaders while BJP leaders are exempted

New Delhi: After Aam Aadmi Party convenor and Delhi Chief Minister refused to comply with the summons from the Enforcement Directorate, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj raised concerns over targeted actions against opposition leaders by central agencies while exempting BJP leaders.

In a press conference in Delhi today, Bhardwaj cited the one-year detention of Delhi CM's former deputy Manish Sisodia and claimed a lack of evidence against him in the case.

"Manish Sisodia has been under arrest for 1 year. They have not been able to gather any evidence against Manish Sisodia and now preparations are on to arrest Arvind Kejriwal. Efforts are being made continuously to arrest the opposition leaders of the country," the AAP leader said.

"We are not being informed in what capacity they are calling Arvind Kejriwal, he is neither a witness nor an accused," the Minister added.
Bharadwaj pointed out the lack of action against BJP leaders despite many cases in place. He also cited examples of leaders who faced legal action and were allegedly exempted from the same after they joined the BJP.

"Many cases come up against BJP leaders but no action is being taken against them," Minister Bhardwaj said.

"BJP was running a campaign against everyone from Suvendhu Adhikari to Mukul Roy, Pema Khandu, Ajit Pawar, Himanta Biswa Sarma, and then they joined BJP," he added.

The Delhi CM earlier in the day evaded the Enforcement Directorate summons to appear for questioning in connection with the alleged Delhi liquor scam case.

BJP criticised the CM alleging a "hidden motive". BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said, "Today, once again Arvind Kejriwal has skipped the third summon. This shows that there is something to hide, and that is why he is absconding like a criminal."

Congress slammed the central agency and accused it of targeting opposition leaders and "not doing their work".

Congress leader Udit Raj said, "Arvind Kejriwal is also a part of the opposition alliance. Indeed, these agencies are not doing their work but putting pressure on the opposition leaders."

ED issued a third summons to CM Kejriwal earlier on December 22 last year, in connection with the excise policy case, asking him to appear before the agency on January 3.

As per the party sources, Kejriwal in his reply to ED has expressed his readiness to cooperate with the investigation but declined to appear today calling the notice "illegal".

Kejriwal further questioned the timing of the notice as a move to stop him from electioneering ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections, the party sources said.

Kejriwal was not named as an accused in the first information report (FIR) filed by the CBI on August 17, last year.
In February 2023, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia was arrested by the CBI for alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi's new excise policy. The policy was withdrawn amid allegations of foul play by the opposition. (ANI)