After the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor and Delhi Chief Minister refused to adhere to a summons from the Enforcement Directorate, concerns were raised by Delhi Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj regarding what he perceived as targeted actions against opposition leaders by central agencies, with BJP leaders allegedly being exempted.
During a press conference in Delhi, Bhardwaj expressed worry over the one-year detention of Delhi CM’s former deputy, Manish Sisodia, and asserted a lack of evidence against him in the case. The AAP leader mentioned ongoing efforts to arrest opposition leaders and questioned the basis on which Arvind Kejriwal was being called, asserting that he was neither a witness nor an accused.
Bharadwaj drew attention to the apparent lack of action against BJP leaders in various cases, highlighting instances where leaders who faced legal scrutiny were allegedly spared from consequences after joining the BJP. He cited examples of leaders like Suvendhu Adhikari, Mukul Roy, Pema Khandu, Ajit Pawar, and Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Earlier in the day, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal evaded an Enforcement Directorate summons related to the alleged Delhi liquor scam case. The BJP criticized Kejriwal, alleging a “hidden motive,” while Congress accused the central agency of targeting opposition leaders instead of focusing on their duties.
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla claimed that Kejriwal’s avoidance of the summons indicated a desire to hide something, likening it to criminal behavior. Congress leader Udit Raj accused the agencies of pressuring opposition leaders rather than fulfilling their responsibilities.
The Enforcement Directorate had issued a third summons to CM Kejriwal on December 22, asking him to appear before the agency on January 3 in connection with the excise policy case. Kejriwal, in his response to the ED, expressed a willingness to cooperate but deemed the notice “illegal” and questioned its timing, suggesting it aimed to hinder his participation in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Kejriwal was not named as an accused in the initial FIR filed by the CBI in August of the previous year. In February 2023, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia was arrested by the CBI for alleged irregularities in Delhi’s new excise policy, which was subsequently withdrawn amid opposition allegations of foul play.