"You can arrest Kejriwal, but it's impossible to confine his ideology": Delhi CM after skipping ED summons

Nov 02, 2023

Singrauli (Madhya Pradesh) [India], November 2 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday targeted the BJP-led central government saying, "While you can arrest Kejriwal; it's impossible to confine his ideology or the beliefs of the thousands who identify with his ideas."
His remarks after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoned him in connection with a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam. However, Kejriwal skipped the summon by the ED and held a roadshow in Madhya Pradesh's Singrauli
"They are threatening daily in Delhi that they will arrest Kejriwal. While you can arrest Kejriwal's physical form, but it's impossible to confine his ideology or the beliefs of the thousands who identify with his ideas. You have been ruling the country for ten years. Today, every child in the country is asking how many schools have been built in the country. Whose mouth will you shut?" Kejriwal said this during a roadshow in Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh.
Kejriwal, while addressing a roadshow said, "I don't know whether I will be in jail or outside on the day the election results come out, but wherever I am, there should be a voice saying that Singrauli mein kejareevaal aaya tha aur Singrauli waalon ne aitihaasik jeet dekar bheja hai."
"We have come out of the Anna movement. I, Satyendra Jain and Manish Sisodia used to sit on the stage of Ramlila Maidan. You will arrest us, but how will you arrest the crowd of crores of people who used to come to Ramlila Maidan? Kejriwal is not afraid of going to jail," he said.
"We have not come here for ourselves. Wherever the Aam Aadmi Party goes to campaign, it starts winning. Just as you supported Rani Agarwal in the last election, support her this time as well," Kejriwal added.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also accompanied Arvind Kejriwal in the roadshow held at MP's Singrauli district.
Earlier today, the Delhi CM demanded that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) withdraw its notice summoning him for questioning, claiming that it was "illegal and politically motivated".
The ED had summoned the Delhi chief minister for questioning in a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam.
"The said summons is not clear as to the capacity in which I am being summoned i.e. as a witness or a suspect in the above-mentioned case. Please recall the said summons, which is to say the least is vague and motivated and I am advised, unsustainable in law," Kejriwal stated in his letter to the ED.
He further alleged that the said summons appears to be politically motivated and issued for extraneous considerations.
"Simultaneous to the summons, in the afternoon of 30.10.2023, BJP leaders started making statements that soon I would be summoned and arrested. By the evening of that day, I received your summons. It is thus apparent that the said summons was leaked to select BJP leaders to malign my image and reputation and has been issued at the behest of the ruling party at the Centre," his letter read.
Arvind Kejriwal was earlier summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in April this year, in connection with the case.
However, Kejriwal was not named as an accused in the first information report (FIR) filed by the CBI on August 17, last year.
Madhya Pradesh is one of the five states set to hold elections this year. The state is scheduled to undergo polls in one phase on November 17 and the counting of votes will take place on December 3.