5 min readNew DelhiSep 23, 2024 04:39 AM IST
First published on: Sep 22, 2024 at 04:24 PM IST
AAP national convener and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal Sunday once again turned the lens on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s age and questioned the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on if it supported the BJP’s politics of using central probe agencies to topple Opposition governments, force senior leaders to retire, and induct corrupt people into the party.
In his first ‘Janta ki Adalat’ public meeting at Jantar Mantar after stepping down as chief minister, days after the Supreme Court granted him bail in the excise policy case, Kejriwal asked RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat five questions.
“The way Modi ji is breaking other parties by luring or threatening them with the ED, CBI, and bringing down governments, is this right for the country’s democracy?…” he asked.
He also asked Bhagwat if he agreed with the BJP’s politics of inducting “most corrupt” leaders. Pointing out that the BJP was born from the RSS’ womb, Kejriwal asked its chief if he had advised Modi against this.
In another question, he asked Bhagwat how he felt when BJP national president J P Nadda said before the Lok Sabha elections that his party didn’t need the RSS.
Nadda, in an interview with The Indian Express in May, had said the party has grown from the time it needed the RSS and is now “saksham” (capable) and runs its own affairs. The RSS, he had said, is an “ideological front” and does its own work.
Kejriwal went on to say the RSS and BJP made a rule that a politician will have to retire after turning 75 years old. “Veteran leaders like L K Advani ji and Murli Manohar Joshi ji were retired, but now Amit Shah ji is saying the rule will not apply to Modi ji,” said Kejriwal, adding that he hoped the RSS chief and other leaders would answer his questions.
The AAP chief also accused the BJP and Modi of making false allegations against him and AAP leaders, such as Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, to tarnish their reputation. “I remember when we were protesting against corruption, the opposition made fun of us and said fight elections… we knew to contest polls, you need money, powerful people, but we showed them elections can be fought with honesty… and we won for the very first time and ran the government with honesty in the last 10 years,” said Kejriwal.
He said all he wants is to serve the country and people honestly. “… They (BJP) defamed me and called me corrupt… They might be thick-skinned, but I am not like them… So, I will not sit on the CM seat till you vote for me and give me a clean chit,” he said.
Kejriwal said he would vacate the CM residence after the Navaratri festival begins. “I am getting a lot of calls from people inviting me to stay at their house without rent… I will… come live among you people,” he said.
He also said he would undergo “agni pariksha (test of fire)” in the people’s court for the next three months. “If you think Kejriwal and AAP are honest, press the jhaadu (AAP’s broom symbol) button, vote for us, and make us win,” said the AAP chief.
The event was attended by newly appointed chief minister Atishi, Cabinet ministers Kailash Gahlot, Mukesh Ahlawat, Gopal Rai, Saurabh Bharadwaj and Imran Hussain, and senior party leaders Sandeep Pathak, Durgesh Pathak and Jasmine Shah.
Several party workers, volunteers and residents were also present. Nabi Malik, who came from Ambedkar Nagar, said, “… What has the BJP done for the people of Delhi? First, it demanded Kejriwal’s resignation and now when he has resigned, they are not happy… Kejriwal ji has silenced BJP leaders by resigning… he knows people will only vote for him.”
Suman Sharma from Malka Ganj in North Delhi said, “… Kejriwal gave us free travel, free electricity, 24×7 power… what else does a poor man want?”
Hitting back at Kejriwal, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said his political journey is nearing its end. “Kejriwal had announced a Janata Darbar (public court) but fled in minutes. Today, after promising a Janata Adalat (people’s court), he delivered a brief political speech and left without listening to anyone. It would not be an exaggeration to say Kejriwal didn’t organise a public court but rather a gathering of his party workers, which also flopped as not many party men turned up,” he said.
In his first 'Janta ki Adalat' public meeting at Jantar Mantar after stepping down as chief minister, Kejriwal asked RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat five questions. (Express photo by Amit Mehra) 
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