"You're not only mastermind, but also 'bhagoda'": BJP slams Kejriwal for skipping ED summons
Feb 02, 2024
New Delhi [India], February 2 : BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla lashed out at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, stating the Aam Aadmi Party national convenor is "refusing to cooperate" with the central probe agencies in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy case.
He was reacting to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal skipping the Enforcement Directorate's summons for the fifth time.
The BJP leader told ANI, "This is the ABCD of Arvind Kejriwal. A for avoid. B for 'Bhag jao'. C for 'Chhup jao'. D for 'divert Karo'. If you have done nothing, then why are you afraid of going and joining the investigation?"
He said that Arvind Kejriwal used to say that first there should be resignation followed by investigation during his intital days of political career started with anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare.
"Today he refuses to cooperate with the investigation... Today it is proven that you are not only the mastermind, but you are a 'bhagoda (fugitive)'...," He added.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal skipped the Enforcement Directorate's summons for the fifth time in connection with the money laundering probe related to irregularities in the Delhi excise policy 2021-22 case.
The fresh summons to the Delhi CM followed the fourth summons, which he had skipped on January 18.
Kejriwal has so far skipped four previous summons issued by the ED on January 18, January 3, November 2, and December 22, calling them "illegal and politically motivated."
The ED wants to record Kejriwal's statement in the case on issues like the formulation of policy, meetings held before it was finalized, and allegations of bribery.
Two senior AAP leaders--Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh--are already under judicial custody in the case. Sisodia, who was the then Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, was arrested by the CBI on February 26 following several rounds of questioning, and on October 5, the ED arrested Singh, who is a Rajya Sabha member.
