The Bharatiya Janata Party reaffirmed its call for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s resignation on Monday, after the High Court sustained his CBI arrest in the alleged excise policy scheme.
However, the Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party said that it is “unfortunate” that the BJP is trying to “mislead” the people of Delhi.
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said both the Supreme Court’s decision on Lieutenant governor’s power to directly appoint aldermen to MCD and Delhi HC’s verdict on the excise policy case were victories for the people of the national capital.
“The question now is whether Kejriwal has the moral authority to remain the Chief Minister of Delhi,” Sachdeva said, adding that the government was “paralysed” and none of the ministers were ready to take accountability for it.
He launched a stinging attack on the AAP, saying, “The high court order has vindicated BJP’s allegations that the AAP and the Kejriwal government looted Delhi in an excise policy scam.”
It has become necessary that Kejriwal steps down as Delhi Chief Minister and someone else comes forward to take responsibility and bring administration back on track, Sachdeva said.
The Delhi High Court upheld the chief minister’s arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the corruption case related to the alleged excise scam, dealing a blow to the AAP chief. The high court also rejected his bail plea and granted him liberty to approach the trial court for relief.
BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj pointed out that the court, while upholding Kejriwal’s arrest, noted “it cannot be said that his arrest was unjustifiable or illegal”.
The “whimsical” insistence of the AAP chief to run the government from jail has led to “zero governance and complete policy paralysis”, she said.
Meanwhile, the AAP claimed that the CBI case had not been decided on merit by the High Court.
“The petition before the High Court was challenging certain technical aspects of the law, as to non-compliance by prosecution of certain legal provisions,” the AAP said.
In a statement, the party noted that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) case was decided on merits and it was “conclusively” held by the trial court that there is no evidence against Arvind Kejriwal, adding that both the trial and the apex court have granted bail to the CM.
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Source: Business Standard
