Minutes after walking out of Tihar Jail in New Delhi on May 10, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal asked supporters rallying outside the premises to save the country from dictatorship. Mr. Kejriwal was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court earlier in the day and he was released shortly afterwards.
Surrounded by supporters waving the national flag as well AAP party flags, the party chief started his address by shouting ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ and ‘Vande Mantram’.
Addressing the large number of workers and some prominent AAP leaders, including his wife Sunita Kejriwal, who were awaiting his release, Mr. Kejriwal said: “I appeal to all of you to come together and fight against dictatorship in the country.”
‘Here I am’
As people dressed in AAP paraphernalia cheered for their leader, the CM addressed the workers from the sunroof of his car quipping, “I had promised you all I will be out soon. Here I am in front of you.”
AAP workers participated in a road show from Tihar Jail to the CM’s residence in Civil Lines. The CM thanked the crores of people who supported him and showered him with blessings during his 50-day stint in jail. He also thanked the Supreme Court judges for his bail. As part of his bail condition, Mr. Kejriwal is not allowed to discuss in public the case under which he was arrested.
Mr. Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 in connection with a money laundering case related to the now-scrapped excise policy. Since his arrest, the AAP has run an extensive campaign for the Lok Sabha polls which kept him in focus.
Divine support
The party leader also thanked Lord Hanuman for helping him tide over this challenging period. “It is because of His blessings I am out and between all of you today,” he said. Inviting his supporters to the famous Hanuman Temple in Connaught Place to seek blessings, Mr. Kejriwal said he will start his day there on Saturday and then address a press conference at the party office.
Mr. Kejriwal has been granted interim bail until June 1.
The Hanuman Temple at Connaught place has been visited frequently by Mr. Kejriwal. During the Delhi Assembly election in 2020, he had visited the temple during the campaign as well as after his victory before collecting his winning certificate from the New Delhi Assembly constituency. During the February 2020 campaign, the BJP had mocked Mr. Kejriwal for reciting the Hanuman Chalisa on live television and even suggested that the temple had turned impure after his visit. Mr. Kejriwal had hit out at the BJP saying “God belongs to all. God blesses everyone, including those in the BJP”.
On the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti earlier this year, Ms. Sunita Kejriwal paid a visit to the Hanuman Temple and told media persons after offering prayers that she prayed to Lord Hanuman to remove everyone’s troubles, including hers. “I will be back soon with CM sir,” she told reporters at the venue.
On May 11, the CM is likely to take part in his first election roadshow after being granted bail for the ongoing polls for AAP candidate Sahi Ram Pehelwan in south Delhi.
While speaking to the media, the AAP leader said: ”Our country is more than 4,000 years old. It’s a great country but whenever anyone has tried to be dictatorial in the country, people haven’t let them win. Today, the country is going through this dictatorial rule and is fighting against it but 140 crore [people] will have to come together to fight it. I appeal to everyone to fight this together.”
