'Nothing new': Akhilesh Yadav slams central government over AAP MP's arrest

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], October 4 : Samajwadi Party (SP) Chief Akhilesh Yadav took a jibe at the central government on Wednesday over the arrest of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh in the alleged liquor scam case, stating that it is 'nothing new.'
"Opposition leaders are well-prepared now. It is nothing new. It is fortunate that those elected by the people are doing 'injustice.' Whatever dreams they showed us, they fulfilled none of them. The government does not get stronger by this," said Yadav while speaking to ANI in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow.
"The public will give a befitting reply for all of this. Everybody, including some BJP leaders, is saying that it is unfair," the SP Chief added.
Earlier in the day, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) arrested Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh in connection with the Delhi excise policy case.
Sanjay Singh was arrested following a day-long questioning session by ED officials at his Delhi residence.
Notably, Sanjay Singh is the third prominent leader of the AAP, after Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, to be arrested by a central agency.
The federal agency on Wednesday morning raided the residence of AAP leader Sanjay Singh in connection with the now-cancelled liquor excise policy in the national capital. The development followed closely on the heels of the ED's raid on the premises belonging to two of Sanjay Singh's close aides in the same context.
The case connects with claims that Singh and his partners played a part in the Delhi government's decision to give licenses to alcohol shops and merchants in 2020, causing losses to the state exchequer and violating anti-corruption laws.
Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP Supremo Arvind Kejriwal also condemned Singh's arrest stating, "The arrest of Sanjay Singh is completely illegal. This shows Modi ji's nervousness. They will arrest many more opposition leaders till the elections".
Also, the AAP MP's arrest triggered sharp reactions from the leaders of the INDIA alliance.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Manoj Jha said, "It is not the ED that has arrested Sanjay Singh, he has been arrested by the unit of BJP that comprises ED-IT-CBI. Dark days have begun...In this era of dictatorship, jo dar gaya wo mar gaya. The dictators themselves are scared. This fear will be retaliated against soon".
The AAP is also set to hold a protest outside the BJP headquarters tomorrow opposing Singh's arrest.