Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday came down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his first public address after his release from the Tihar jail yesterday, where the AAP supremo spent nearly 50 days. Kejriwal began his day by offering prayers at the famous Hanuman Temple in Delhi's Connaught Place and Sri Navgrah Mandir, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Kejriwal in his address attacked the prime minister and said that he is on a mission of making 'One Nation, One Leader'. Kejriwal also accused PM Modi of making bogus claims of fighting corruption, despite "all theives in his party". He said that PM Modi would be better advised to take lessons from him to fight corruption.
"No other party has been harassed to this extent in 75 years. The Prime Minister is saying that he is fighting corruption but all the thieves are in his party. 10 days ago the one who was said to have committed a scam after they made them join their party was made the Deputy CM and Minister. I want to say to PM Modi that If you want to fight corruption then learn from Kejriwal," the Delhi CM said.
"After the formation of the government in Delhi, I myself dismissed one of my ministers and sent him to jail. In Punjab, we sent a minister to jail. You include all the thieves in your party and send Kejriwal to jail, this is not a fight against corruption. By arresting Kejriwal, they have given the message that if Kejriwal is arrested then they will arrest anyone. The name of this mission is One Nation One Leader," he added.
Attacking PM Modi further, Kejriwal said that the prime minister "left no stone unturned" to crush the Aam Admi Party. "Our Aam Aadmi Party is a small party, spread over two states. But the Prime Minister left no stone unturned to crush our party and sent four leaders to jail simultaneously. If four top leaders of big parties go to jail, the party ends. The Prime Minister wants to crush AAP. PM Modi himself believes that AAP is the one that will give a future to the country," he said.
Talking about why he did not resign, he said, "The chief minister's post is not important for me. I did not step down as the chief minister because a conspiracy was hatched to force me to resign on a fake case."
"When I was in jail, some people raised this issue that why doesn't Arvind Kejriwal resign from the post of Delhi CM? I have not come to become CM or PM. In the last 75 years, elections have been held in so many states, AAP government was formed in Delhi with the most historic majority, no other political party could win in any state with such a huge margin. They knew could never defeat AAP, so a conspiracy was hatched to send Kejriwal to jail and the government would fall but we did not fall into their trap. Hemant Soren also should not have resigned. I am fighting against this dictatorship from jail," he said.
Earlier in the day, Kejriwal visited the Hanuman Temple and Sri Navgrah Temple in the national capital and will hit the campaign trail addressing a mega roadshow later this evening. "I am coming straight from jail to you. It feels great to be with you after 50 days. I just went to Hanuman temple with my wife and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Bajrang Bali's blessings are on our party and us. It is by his grace that I am among you today," Kejriwal said.
The Supreme Court on Friday gave interim bail to the Aam Admi Party convenor till June 1. However, as per the terms of his bail, the Delhi Chief Minister cannot make any comment about his role in the Delhi liquor scam case.
Kejriwal spent over 50 days in Tihar Jail after being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in an excise policy case on March 21, days after the election schedule for the general elections was announced. The bail is applicable till June 1 and Kejriwal has to surrender to authorities on June 2. The Delhi CM can participate in the poll campaigning but can not attend his office as Chief Minister.