Thousands of supporters and top leaders of India’s opposition coalition rallied in the capital to protest the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal ahead of the general election, decrying "autocracy" and accusing the government of using law enforcement agencies to intimidate opposition leaders. Kejriwal, a key figure in the opposition alliance challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was arrested in connection with a corruption probe involving alleged kickbacks in liquor licenses. The opposition leaders condemned the arrest and accused the ruling party of leading the country towards ruin, while Kejriwal's wife conveyed his message of gratitude to the people of India. The parliamentary election is set to begin on April 19, with analysts predicting Modi's re-election despite criticism of his government's tactics.
India strongly rebukes the U.S. over comments on Arvind Kejriwal's arrest, deeming them "unwarranted" and "unacceptable," emphasizing its democratic institutions' strength, while the U.S. reiterates its call for fair legal processes. Tensions between the two countries have escalated, with a recent diplomatic exchange and heightened exchanges.
India summoned a US State Department official after the department called for fair legal treatment of opposition leader Arvind Kejriwal, who was arrested last week, leading to tensions ahead of the upcoming national elections. The Ministry of External Affairs objected to the US State Department's remarks, emphasizing respect for sovereignty and internal affairs. Kejriwal's arrest has been viewed as politically motivated, with Amnesty International warning of a government crackdown on opposition figures, while the Indian National Congress accused the ruling BJP of using the tax department to "cripple" their finances.
India has summoned a top US diplomat after the US state department warned it to ensure a fair legal process for Delhi's chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, who was arrested in connection with a corruption investigation. The arrest has drawn accusations that Narendra Modi's government is targeting opposition parties before the upcoming national election. The US and Germany have expressed concerns about the arrest, with the US urging fair, transparent, and timely legal processes. Kejriwal's party vows that he will continue to govern behind bars, while critics claim that government-controlled agencies are being weaponized against political opposition.
The United States emphasizes its stance on advocating for fair and transparent legal processes in response to India's objections over comments regarding the arrest of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, amidst rising diplomatic tensions. Washington's comments came after India summoned a senior US diplomat to express its discontent over remarks perceived as intrusive into its internal affairs, highlighting concerns over the sovereignty and independence of India's judiciary. The diplomatic row revolves around the arrest of Kejriwal and allegations against the Indian tax authorities for freezing the Congress party's bank accounts, with the US and Germany expressing expectations for a fair trial and adherence to democratic principles while India stands firm on its judicial independence.
The arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has sparked widespread condemnation from India's opposition, with some leaders warning of a people's "revolution" against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kejriwal's arrest, amid similar actions against other opposition figures, has raised concerns about the state of democracy in India and the potential for a united opposition front against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming national elections. The arrests have been criticized as politically motivated, while the BJP has defended them as necessary actions against corruption.
Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi and leader of the Aam Aadmi Party, has been arrested by India's financial crime agency in connection with graft allegations related to the city's liquor policy, leading to protests and clashes outside his residence. The arrest comes ahead of elections and follows the arrests of two of Kejriwal's deputies in the same case. The AAP has called it "dirty politics" and is seeking to quash the arrest, while opposition parties have expressed concern over the situation. The Enforcement Directorate is investigating allegations that a liquor policy implemented by the Delhi government in 2022 gave undue advantages to private retailers, which was subsequently withdrawn.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, a prominent critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was arrested by federal authorities over alleged corruption, sparking allegations of political motivation ahead of India's upcoming election. Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating a "huge conspiracy" behind the arrest, which comes amid heightened tensions before the election. The AAP, known for its anti-corruption stance, has faced allegations of favoritism and unlawful funding related to a now-scrapped liquor policy. The arrest has drawn condemnation from opposition leaders, including the Indian National Congress, which has also accused the BJP of using government agencies to stifle political opponents.
Indian law enforcement officials have arrested Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi and a prominent opposition leader, in an alleged money-laundering case, sparking accusations from his supporters that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is using federal investigative agencies to target political rivals ahead of the upcoming national elections. Kejriwal's party, the Aam Aadmi Party, has been accused of receiving millions of dollars from a liquor group, but Kejriwal denies any wrongdoing. The arrest comes amid increasing allegations of the BJP unfairly using federal agencies to pressure or jail political opponents, while a recent Supreme Court judgment revealed the BJP had received more than half of the roughly $2 billion in anonymous campaign contributions since 2018, raising concerns about the fairness of Indian elections.
Delhi Chief Minister and opposition leader Arvind Kejriwal has been arrested by India’s financial crime agency over corruption allegations related to the city’s liquor policy, which his party has called “dirty politics”. The arrest comes ahead of elections next month and is seen as a blow to the opposition alliance challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP. Kejriwal's party has rejected the allegations and described his arrest as a "political conspiracy" orchestrated by the ruling party. The Enforcement Directorate is investigating claims that a liquor policy implemented by Kejriwal's administration in 2022 gave undue advantages to private retailers, a policy that has since been withdrawn. Kejriwal will continue to serve as Delhi’s chief minister while fighting the accusations.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has indicated that his party, the Aam Aadmi Party, will contest all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, citing the decision of the "people of Delhi." This move could further fragment the Opposition front in India, as it follows similar decisions in Punjab and Bengal, where AAP and Trinamool Congress have opted to go solo. Kejriwal also expressed confidence in winning all seats in Punjab and Chandigarh, while criticizing the Congress and emphasizing the need to strengthen regional parties against the BJP.
A Delhi court has summoned CM Arvind Kejriwal on Feb 17 in response to a plea by the Enforcement Directorate, alleging that he failed to comply with summonses in a money laundering case related to the now-scrapped excise policy. The court issued the summons under IPC Section 174, stating that Kejriwal was legally bound to attend in person but had failed to do so despite sending replies explaining his non-appearance. The court observed that there are sufficient grounds for proceeding and that Kejriwal has so far skipped five ED summonses, prompting the agency to move court over non-compliance of three summonses.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal asserts that the BJP has been attempting to poach AAP leaders, but he vows not to succumb to their pressure. He faces inquiries from the Delhi Police and the Enforcement Directorate regarding these allegations. Kejriwal emphasizes that development work will continue despite any potential arrests, expressing discontent with the central agencies' actions against his colleagues. He inaugurates four new school buildings in Delhi and highlights the government's significant investment in education and healthcare. Kejriwal asserts that the cases against AAP leaders are false and accuses the BJP of orchestrating a conspiracy to hinder his party's election campaign.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused the BJP of resorting to unethical tactics to win elections, citing the recent mayoral polls in Chandigarh as an example. He warned that if the BJP loses in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, they could become like Donald Trump and cling to power through undemocratic means. Kejriwal also criticized the BJP's alleged manipulation of EVMs and use of enforcement agencies, and expressed confidence in the INDIA alliance's prospects.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticized Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for allegedly making derogatory remarks against the Prime Minister during a rally on Sunday. The BJP also accused ministers of Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of large-scale corruption. The AAP did not respond to the allegations. The BJP also attacked Kejriwal for alleged irregularities in renovating the chief minister’s official residence. Former Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain and former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia are currently lodged in Tihar jail for alleged money laundering and corruption cases under investigation by two central agencies.
