Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal delivered a fiery critique against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asserting that his imprisonment was due to his resistance to authoritarianism. Addressing AAP supporters at the party’s Delhi headquarters before surrendering at Tihar Jail, Kejriwal dismissed exit polls predicting Modi’s third term as “fraudulent” and confidently declared that the BJP would not retain power.
Kejriwal stated, “Today, as I go back to jail, remember that it is not due to any corruption on my part. It’s because I stood up to tyranny. Even the Prime Minister admitted during the campaign that there’s no evidence against me. Despite over 500 raids, not a penny has been found.”
He further criticized the legitimacy of the exit polls, suggesting they were part of a strategy to mislead the public. “These exit polls are all a sham. It’s absurd—one poll even allocated 33 seats to the BJP in Rajasthan, a state that only has 25 seats. This is a clear attempt to manipulate public perception and possibly even the election outcome via the electronic voting machines,” Kejriwal added.
Earlier in the day, Kejriwal paid respects at Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial and visited a local Hanuman temple. He left his residence for Tihar Jail in the late afternoon as his three-week interim bail for the Delhi liquor policy case expired. Kejriwal also expressed his appreciation for the Supreme Court’s decision to grant him 21 days of interim bail for election campaigning, in a message on social media.
Upon his surrender, Kejriwal was taken to Tihar Jail number 2, adhering to the regulation that requires prisoners to surrender before sunset. In preparation for his jail term, Kejriwal convened a session of the AAP’s political affairs committee and the opposition INDIA bloc at his residence, emphasizing the importance of unity within party ranks during his absence.
In his speech, Kejriwal highlighted the integrity of his governance, saying, “My imprisonment is a clear indicator of the lengths this regime will go to silence dissent. Despite intense scrutiny and numerous raids, they have found no evidence of corruption. This is about silencing voices that challenge their authoritarian rule.”
Kejriwal’s arrest comes amid heightened political tensions as exit polls predict a strong performance by the BJP in Delhi, contrary to Kejriwal’s assertions. The Chief Minister urged his supporters to remain steadfast, promising that the truth would prevail.
“The narrative being spun by these exit polls is designed to create a false sense of inevitability about the BJP’s victory. We must remain vigilant and continue to fight for democracy and transparency,” Kejriwal said.
As Kejriwal turned himself in, his supporters rallied behind him, expressing their unwavering support. The Chief Minister’s defiant stance and call for resistance have galvanized the AAP base, setting the stage for an intense political battle in the days leading up to the elections.
This development underscores the volatile political landscape in India, with Kejriwal positioning himself as a key figure in the opposition’s fight against the BJP’s dominance. As the nation watches, the implications of his imprisonment and the upcoming elections will undoubtedly shape the future of Indian politics.
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