‘I will be back soon…don’t hate BJP for this’: Wife Sunita reads Arvind Kejriwal’s message from prison

This is the second time in as many days that Sunita Kejriwal, behind whom the AAP has rallied since Kejriwal was placed under custody on Thursday and later formally arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in the excise policy case, has put out a message.

Though she has not participated in any protest or made a public appearance since her husband’s arrest, Sunita has been acting as the point of contact between the party and representatives – mostly senior leaders – from INDIA bloc partners including the Congress and Left.

“Your son and brother Arvind Kejriwal has sent a message for you from prison: ‘My dear countrymen, I was arrested yesterday. Whether I am inside or outside, I will continue to work in the service of the country every moment’,” she said, after introducing herself as Arvind Kejriwal’s “dharampatni (wife)” and quoting the Chief Minister who was sent to seven days’ ED remand until March 28 by a city court on Friday.

“Each moment of my life is dedicated to the nation, every drop of blood is for the nation. I have been born on this earth only to struggle. I have struggled a lot till this day and seem fated to take on bigger struggles in days to come,” she went on.

Adding that Kejriwal had stated that he was not surprised by the arrest, Sunita said he had issued an open appeal to citizens to “make Bharat great again” by dissociating from individuals and powers inimical to the country and siding with those who were “desh bhakt” or patriotic and working to strengthen it.

Though speculation about Sunita taking over the reins of both the Delhi government and the AAP from her husband, in the event of his arrest, are not new, the AAP has formally announced in no uncertain terms that Kejriwal will retain both responsibilities from behind bars as well.

Sources in the BJP said the party will not let slip any “opportunity” to embroil the AAP in allegations of “parivaarvad” or nepotism as soon as she takes any formal responsibility either related to the Delhi government or the AAP.

AAP insiders, however, sought to term her growing emergence “purely in a personal capacity, as the representative of the CM’s family” adding there were “several complications” related to both these possibilities “if they were to be considered”.

According to an AAP insider, Kejriwal’s wife taking over as Chief Minister was “problematic” as it would necessitate her election as a legislator within six months – a prospect that the party was not keen on given the prevailing “political circumstances.”

“When it comes to the party, there are issues. The ED has also suggested that AAP, as a party, is also accused under PMLA so making her the party’s face can open her up to legal complications just like it happened for the CM who is also national convenor,” a source said.

“…I must’ve done many good deeds in my previous birth to have been born in a great land as Bharat. We have to make Bharat great again, make it the most powerful and number 1 country in the world,” Sunita quoted Kejriwal as having said.

“There are many powers both within and outside the country which are making Bharat weak. We have to identify these powers cautiously, to defeat them. In India itself there are many such people and powers that are desh bhakt and want to take Bharat forward, we have to join with these powers and make them stronger,” she added.

Touching upon the Rs 1,000 allowance announced for eligible female beneficiaries as part of the AAP Delhi government’s budget for the 2024-25 financial year, Sunita said her husband had asked the capital’s citizens to keep faith in him.

“My sisters and mothers from Delhi must be thinking that Kejriwal has gone inside now, who knows whether we will get Rs 1,000…keep faith in your son, your brother… I will come out soon and fulfil my promise. Has it ever happened that Kejriwal promised something and did not deliver on it?” she further said.

Though he was tough enough to take on the immediate crisis, Sunita added, her husband still asked that the people keep him in their prayers; he also requested her to convey that AAP leaders continue to serve the people and that his arrest was not reason enough to “hate the BJP”.

“Your brother and son is made of iron, is very strong. Bas ek vinati hai, ek baar mandir zaroor jana aur Bhagwan se mere liye aashirwad maangna (I just have one request: please go to the temple once and ask for blessings for me). The good wishes of crores of people are with me. This is my only strength,” she said, as part of the message.

The message, conspicuously, made no reference to the Centre or Prime Minister Narendra Modi or the ED. In fact, its tone was shorn of all criticism, focusing on welfare and nationalism. He even urged his supporters not to “hate” the BJP.

“I also appeal to all members of the AAP: don’t let any work of social service or that for the service of the people stop just because I’ve been sent inside… aur haan, iss wajah se BJP walon se bhi nafrat nahin karni, ve sab hamare bhai behen hain (and, yes, because of this reason (his arrest), do not hate the BJP. They too are our brothers and sisters). Main jald laut kar aaunga. Aap ka apna Arvind (I will return soon. Your Arvind). Jai Hind,” she added.

Reacting to the development, BJP Northeast Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari criticised Sunita and said that the people of Delhi no longer sympathised either with her or her husband and were looking forward to a “double engine sarkar” led by the BJP both at the Centre and in Delhi.

“Where were you when he (Kejriwal) swore on your kids to never ally with other parties and broke that promise? Where were you when he promised he would not take a bungalow and government vehicles and eventually made a palace for himself?” he asked.

“You entered the same house where bundles of money were being brought in… People of Delhi have no sympathy with you or Arvind Kejriwal now…they are looking forward to re-electing Narendra Modi as PM and for a double-engine sarkar which will fix everything, from the broken streets to the air quality of the city,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sunita met Kejriwal at the ED office where he is lodged on Saturday evening. The court has allowed her and his personal assistant, Bibhav Kumar, to meet him for half-an-hour daily, between 6-7 pm, apart from his lawyers.