Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann reaches AAP office in Delhi; calls CM Kejriwal's bail as 'victory of democracy'
Sep 13, 2024
New Delhi [India], September 13 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday reached the Aam Admi Party (AAP) office in the national capital to welcome his Delhi counterpart, Arvind Kejriwal, who was released on Friday evening after the Supreme Court granted him bail in the Delhi excise policy case.
"It is the victory of democracy. We had believed that there was nothing in this case. Everyone is coming out (of jail)," Punjab CM told ANI on his way to the AAP Office.
On AAP contesting the Haryana assembly polls, CM Mann said, "We will contest with full might."
"We will get a big force," he said on the difference CM Kejriwal would make after coming out of the Tihar jail, adding , "That BJP can say anything. No credibility."
The Supreme Court granted bail to the Delhi CM earlier in the day, saying prolonged incarceration amounts to unjust deprivation of liberty. The court also put certain conditions on Kejriwal's release, including that he shall not make any public comments about the case and shall be present for all hearings before the trial court unless exempted.
Meanwhile, AAP called it a huge day for the party as well as the whole nation and dubbed the SC's decision to grant bail to Kejriwal the "victory of truth.".
Addressing a press conference in the national capital, AAP National General Secretary (Organisations) Sandeep Pathak said, "This is a huge day, not just for the party, but for the whole nation and every person who has faith in the republic and judicial process. This is the victory of the truth and I hope this remains the same in the future also. We welcome the court's decision."
However, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) mocked the Delhi CM, saying that the 'jail wala' CM has become a 'bail wala' CM now.
"The Supreme Court has shown a mirror to 'kattar beimaan' AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal once again. He has got conditional bail. The 'jail wala' CM is now a 'bail wala' CM," BJP National Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said while addressing a press conference earlier in the day.
Kejriwal was arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement on March 21, 2024, in connection with a money laundering case relating to alleged irregularities in the now-cancelled Delhi excise policy 2021-22. On June 26, 2024, AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by CBI while he was in ED custody in the excise case.
