New Delhi:
The arrest of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in an alleged liquor scam seems to have achieved what ideology or common cause against the BJP failed to do – unify the opposition ahead of next year’s general elections. Since yesterday, all major opposition parties have tweeted their anger and disappointment, supporting Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party.
The only exception was the Congress, which kept mum on AAP alleging misuse of central investigative agencies late this evening.
The Congress’s Delhi unit has been at loggerheads with the AAP after being in power for three terms since Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement. Its leaders have supported the arrest of Mr. Sisodia and have also declared that Arvind Kejriwal should be next in line.
But late this evening Congress’ media in-charge Jairam Ramesh posted a tweet which put it firmly on the side of the opposition and not behind the AAP.
,@INCIndia He has always believed that institutions like the ED, CBI and Income Tax Department have become instruments of political vendetta and harassment under the Modi government. These institutions have lost all professionalism. Opposition leaders are selectively targeted to destroy their reputation
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) February 27, 2023
Ever since the BJP-led government came to power, the opposition has been accusing it of targeting them through central agencies. Prominent opposition leaders across the board were searched, named in corruption cases and arrested.
Now the arrest of Mr Sisodia – the face of the AAP’s overhaul of Delhi’s schools – appears to have been tapped into the opposition complaint, sparking outrage.
Trinamool’s Derek O’Brien tweeted, “Had @msisodia got himself a BJP brand washing machine, he would never have been arrested. Bravo, Manish…allies…all left BJP.” Only CBI, ED, IT remain true allies.”
If @msisodia got myself an A #BJP brand of washing machine, he will never be arrested. Bravo, Manish
Allies Shiv Sena, Akali Dal, JD(U), TDP and others have all left the BJP.
CBI, ED, IT remain true allies.Targeting opposition leaders is a favorite pastime of the despondent duo
– Derek O’Brien | Derek O’Brien (@derekobrienmp) February 26, 2023
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said, “By arresting Manish Sisodia ji, who brought revolutionary changes in the field of education in Delhi, BJP has proved that it is not only against education but also against the future of the children of Delhi.” “
One of the jailed opposition leaders of late, Sanjay Raut, a senior leader of the Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena, decided to look at the bigger picture. He tweeted, “The way BJP is arresting opposition leaders, I fear what will happen to BJP leaders in future when they are out of power.”
The way BJP is arresting opposition leaders, I fear what will happen to BJP leaders in future when they are out of power. What if they are equally persecuted/arrested? Who will come to their aid? @Arvind Kejriwal@OfficeofUT#Manish Sisodia arrestedpic.twitter.com/PgSB7xN3W1
— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) February 26, 2023
The CPM issued a statement saying Mr Sisodia’s arrest was “part of the Modi government’s project to weaponize central investigative agencies to target opposition party leaders”.
“In almost every state where the government is run by an opposition party, cases are filed against leaders, arrests are made to destabilize the governments run by the opposition parties. Due to failure to win elections through democratic means Modi is using the governance center.” The CPM said the agencies were targeting the opposition to undermine democracy in India.
Telangana’s ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi, Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal United, Tejashwi Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress ally Jharkhand Mukti Morcha have also condemned the arrest.
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