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Arvind Kejriwal slams “BJP’s strategy” after probe agency summons AAP leader

September 13, 2021
Bharat Times

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said AAP will “emerge stronger” (File)

Highlight

  • AAP ready to contest Punjab, UP elections next year
  • Raghav Chadha Says He Wants To Expose “AAP’s Political Witch Hunt”
  • AAP leader did not reveal much in his tweet

New Delhi:

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party on Monday hit out at the ruling BJP over the Enforcement Directorate’s notice to party national secretary Pankaj Gupta.

Gupta has been called for questioning next week in the money laundering case involving former AAP (and now Congress) leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira.

The central agency is believed to have taken cognizance of two FIRs related to alleged drug trafficking and forged passports, and launched an investigation against Mr Khaira, who left AAP in 2019 (it was a bitter departure) and this year Joined Congress in June. .

Sources in the agency told NDTV that Mr Khaira had raised around US$100,000 in donations for AAP from the United States, and the amount is now under investigation.

Mr Khaira has denied all allegations and declared that he is being targeted by central agencies as he has been vocal against the government’s three agricultural laws.

Mr Kejriwal slammed “these tactics of the BJP” – a reference to opposition parties alleging that the BJP uses central agencies to intimidate its leaders – and insisted that the AAP will emerge “strong”.

“In Delhi they tried to defeat us with IT department, CBI, police – but we won 62 seats. As we move up in Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand, Gujarat – we get ED notices! People of India honest Want politics – these tactics BJP will never succeed, they will make us stronger.”

AAP spokesperson Raghav Chadha, who had earlier tweeted about a “love letter to the Modi government’s preferred agency”, accused the BJP of trying to “character assassinate” the party after it failed to lose the election.

Mr. Chadha said, “The Enforcement Directorate should be given an office space right next to the BJP headquarters. They are a major organization of the BJP.”

Mr Chadha’s reference to a “love letter” from the Enforcement Directorate – which investigates financial crimes and is part of the Union Finance Ministry – was a hint Swipe of Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut.

Mr Raut’s remarks echoed recent comments made by Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

Mr Pawar last week called several investigations by the Enforcement Directorate “an attempt to encroach on the rights of the state … and Discourage opponents by using these agencies as tools“.

Ms Mufti, whose mother was questioned for three hours last month, had said: “… the institutions should protect our rights and uphold the Constitution. Talibanization has been done“.

Ms. Banerjee targeted the government Regarding issuance of summons to his nephew and Trinamool Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee in the alleged coal mine scam.

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