Strictly denying any allegation of corruption, Sisodia said there was no scam in the implementation of the excise policy and claimed that the Center ordered the CBI to take action against him as he is a minister in the Kejriwal government in Delhi. .
A day earlier, CBI officers had raided his residence and 30 other places on the basis of an FIR, “with an intention” without the approval of the competent authority to take decisions related to the Excise Policy 2021-22 on public servants, including Sisodia. was accused of taking Giving undue advantage to the licensees after tender”.
Speaking to reporters a day after the CBI action, Sisodia said, Delhi Excise Duty The policy – which has been withdrawn – was implemented with complete transparency and is the best policy in the country.
Sisodia claimed, “If the Delhi LG had not changed his decision in a conspiracy to thwart the policy, the Delhi government would have received at least Rs 10,000 crore every year.”
CBI officers came to my residence today. They also raided the Deputy Chief Minister’s office in the Ministry of Education. All officers, both in… https://t.co/uwhCrbRava
— The Times of India (@timesofindia) 1660978056000
Sisodia said the issue was not about liquor or excise scam, but because the Center is worried about the rise of Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal.
Sisodia said, “Their problem is Arvind Kejriwal. Entire proceedings against me, raids on my residence and office are to stop Arvind Kejriwal. I have not done any corruption. I am only Arvind Kejriwal’s education minister.”
The Delhi Deputy Chief Minister claimed that the Center is concerned about Kejriwal’s rising stature in Indian politics, especially after AAP’s thumping victory in the recent Punjab elections.
“This [raids] They are part of the script to stop Kejriwal, who is emerging as a national alternative,” Sisodia said.
The Delhi minister said Kejriwal’s work in the field of health and education has been appreciated all over the world and the central government is targeting his ministers for undermining the credibility of the chief minister.
America’s largest newspaper New York Times covered Delhi’s education model on its front page y’day. It is a matter of pride… https://t.co/kc9P1Zi4UK
— The Times of India (@timesofindia) 1660978054000
“Satyendra Jain” [Delhi health minsiter] Already in jail, I will also be arrested in 2-3 days… This is a conspiracy to stop work in the field of education and health.”
Sisodia launched a direct attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the CBI raids, saying they came two days after Kejriwal announced “Make India No 1 campaign”.
Sisodia alleged, “The difference between Kejriwal and Modi is that Kejriwal learns from people who do good work, Modi ji tries to stop those who try to do better than him.”
He reiterated the opposition’s charge that the government was using central agencies like ED and CBI to target its political opponents.
The Deputy CM of Delhi said that there will be a direct contest between BJP and AAP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The senior AAP leader said, “Till now people used to ask Modi vs who… Now people are determined to give a chance to Kejriwal.”
‘Kejriwal is the kingpin’
Moments after Sisodia’s press conference, BJP took several digs at AAP over the raid and claimed that Kejriwal is the real “kingpin” of the alleged scam.
Union Minister and BJP leader Anurag Thakur claimed at a press conference, “Deputy CM Manish Sisodia is the number one accused in the Delhi liquor scam, but Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is looting several crores from the common man.”
Thakur challenged Kejriwal to reply as to why the excise policy was withdrawn on the day the LG ordered a CBI probe.
The Union minister questioned why Sisodia decided to withdraw the policy if he felt it was correct.
“Manish ji, if your liquor policy was correct, why did you take it back? It’s like ‘chor ki dahi mein tinka’… Why there is a soft corner for liquor businessmen? I would challenge Arvind Kejriwal to come forward Nation and reply to me within 24 hours,” Thakur said.
On Friday, the AAP had strongly condemned the raids against Sisodia, with Kejriwal claiming that the agency has been called “from above” to harass its leaders.
The BJP asked the Delhi government to come clean on its excise policy.
The 15-hour searches at the AAP leader’s house, the residence of IAS officer and former Excise Commissioner Arva Gopi Krishna and 29 other places came after the CBI registered an FIR for alleged corruption and manufacture of bribes and execution of the Delhi Excise Policy. Brought in last November, officials said.
The Excise Policy 2021-22, prepared on the basis of the report of the expert committee, was implemented on November 17 last year and under it retail licenses were issued to private bidders for 849 shops divided into 32 zones across the city.
However, under the policy, many liquor stores could not open as they were located in non-conforming areas of the city. Many such contracts were sealed by the municipal corporations for violation of the master plan.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena had last month recommended a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Excise Policy 2021-22.
He had also suspended 11 excise officials in this case. Sisodia had also demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the policy.
(with inputs from agencies)