Bhagwant Mann dubs ED ‘BJP’s political team’, says ‘Kejriwal’s thinking can’t be imprisoned’

While the ED team reached Kejriwal’s residence in Delhi Thursday evening shortly after the Delhi High Court refused to grant him protection from coercive action in an excise policy-linked money laundering case, his arrest did not come as a surprise for the Punjab unit of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Even as the AAP leaders in Punjab were closely watching the day’s developments leading to the arrest, sources said that it was often discussed in the party circles that the Centre was just waiting for an opportune time to arrest him.

For the state leaders, Kejriwal was a “unifier” and they made it a point to thank him first in their speeches followed by CM Bhagwant Mann, who was also looked at as Kejriwal’s shadow.

And it was rightly so as a decade ago, it was Kejriwal who had given Punjab an idea of an alternate, “aam aadmi” politics and the residents lapped it up by sending four AAP MPs to Lok Sabha in 2014 and electing 92 MLAs in 2022 Assembly polls.

Kejriwal has been very active in Punjab, and more in the past two months when the ED started sending him summons. He has addressed functions in all 13 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state, inaugurated schools, held meetings with industrialists and even blew the a poll bugle in the state a few days ago.

And while addressing functions, the AAP convenor was often seen thanking people with folded hands, saying AAP was working for the people of the state as all other parties had failed. His frequent visits to Punjab, often dubbed as his way to evade arrest, also helped him find a place among Punjabis, who traditionally stand with anyone who is seen to be victimised.

It comes as no surprise that his arrest on Thursday was followed by a deluge of messages. Mann’s aide and party candidate from Faridkot Karamjit Anmol said, “This is the height of political revenge… You are trying to crush a pro-people, patriotic and honest voice, but remember that the thought of a warrior born out of mass movement cannot be suppressed, the truth will finally win. Long live the revolution.”

State finance minister Harpal Cheema said, “This arrest is nothing but politics and vendetta. BJP is scared of facing the truth. That is why ED and CBI slaps false cases against Opposition. It is being done when the festival of democracy is on.”

AAP chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang wrote on X, “Arvind Kejriwal has been arrested for implementing the same excise policy in Delhi, which once implemented in Punjab, has generated over Rs 6500 crore in additional revenue in just two years. In contrast, the earlier governments could only add around Rs 3000 crore as additional revenue in over 15 years, causing a potential loss of approximately Rs 50,000 crore to the state exchequer. This revenue could have been utilised for establishing Schools of Eminence and Aam Aadmi clinics in every village. It’s time to stand with true patriots and against the oppressive policies of the Putin Modi.”

AAP leader from Gurdaspur Raman Behl added, “I condemn Modi’s dictatorial attitude, his true face has come out. He is behaving the same way as Ravana. Punjabis are standing with Kejriwal. We will fight this out. Where is he taking the democracy? Already the peasantry is upset with BJP. Now, they will not be able to go to the villages. Kejriwal is a popular leader in Punjab. His vision resonates here.”