Rahul Gandhi says Arvind Kejriwal ‘scared’ of PM Modi, he hits back with Herald case, Robert Vadra

The Congress leader also targeted former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia for changing his seat. “Earlier, Manish Sisodia was the candidate here, but he was involved in the liquor scam. That’s why he got scared and left this Vidhan Sabha,” he said.

Hitting back, Kejriwal said in a post on X: “Modi ji puts people in jail even by filing false cases such as the liquor scam. Why haven’t you and your family been arrested in open and shut cases like the National Herald? How did Robert Vadra get a clean chit from BJP? It is better if you don’t preach on fear and bravery. The country knows who is a coward and who is brave.”

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) case in the National Herald matter is based on a trial court order that allowed the Income Tax Department to probe the affairs of the Congress-promoted newspaper and conduct a tax assessment of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul.

In April last year, the PMLA Adjudicating Authority upheld the ED’s attachment of assets worth Rs 751.9 crore of the National Herald and companies linked to it.

In another post, Kejriwal referred to the PM’s official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg: “People are asking why Rahul Gandhi is silent on ‘Rajmahal’? Today Rahul ji repeated the entire speech of BJP. Tell the public what agreement has been reached between the BJP and Congress?”

Earlier at the Patparganj rally, Rahul said, “On the one hand, we have the BJP that makes people fight, and on the other hand, we have Kejriwal ji, who says whatever he wants without any intention of keeping his promises… He entered politics with a small car and big promises to change the system. But when the poor needed him, he was nowhere to be found. During the riots, Kejriwal ji was missing.”

Slamming Kejriwal over the excise policy case, he described AAP as the “most corrupt”. “Delhi went through a huge liquor scam, but at that time, Kejriwal ji was busy fighting with Modi ji over his bungalow, he was busy accusing him of trying to push him out of his house. Kejriwal ji was more concerned about his ‘sheesh mahal’,” Rahul said, referencing the BJP’s ‘Sheesh Mahal’ jibe about the 6 Flagstaff Road residence.

At another rally at Okhla, the Congress leader highlighted local issues, including the decline of the industrial base. “Okhla used to be an industrial centre with many small businesses. Where are those businesses now? Kejriwal ji and Modi ji got them shut,” he said.

He also accused Kejriwal of inaction on pollution, inflation, and unemployment. “What has he done for inflation or employment? Nothing. He just gives speeches.”

Rahul said that after being elected, Kejriwal issued a “certificate of honesty” to himself. “I heard his speech in which he claimed that he is an honest politician. Who says that about themselves? The public should say you are honest. Kejriwal ji had to give himself a certificate of honesty because the public does not believe in it.”