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Mamata terms Kejriwal’s arrest ‘blatant assault on democracy’, sends 2 TMC leaders for INDIA bloc’s meeting with EC

Taking to X, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee vehemently condemned Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest and extended her unwavering support to the Delhi CM and Aam Aadmi Party leader

Mamata Banerjee TMC Arvind Kejriwal AAPMamata Banerjee has a very cordial relationship with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal. Earlier when the Opposition alliance INDIA took shape, she took the initiative to include AAP in it. (File/PTI)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday condemned the arrest of her Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday night, terming it “a blatant assault on democracy”.

Taking to her X handle, Mamata posted, “I vehemently condemn the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, the sitting elected Chief Minister of Delhi elected by the people. I have personally reached out to Smt Sunita Kejriwal to extend my unwavering support and solidarity. It’s outrageous that while elected opposition CMs are being deliberately targeted and arrested while individuals accused under CBI/ED investigations are allowed to continue their malpractices with impunity, especially after aligning with the BJP. This is a blatant assault on democracy. “

“Today, our INDIA alliance will meet the EC to express our strong objection to the deliberate targeting and arrests of opposition leaders, particularly during the MCC period. To this end, I have designated @derekobrienmp and @MdNadimulHaque6 to represent @AITCofficial in this crucial meeting with the Election Commission,” the Trinamool Congress chief added.

Mamata Banerjee has a very cordial relationship with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal. Earlier when the Opposition alliance INDIA took shape, she took the initiative to include AAP in it. Arvind Kejriwal arrived in Kolkata along with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and met the TMC chief before the INDIA bloc meeting. In December too, Mamata met Kejriwal before the INDIA alliance’s meeting in Delhi where both leaders decided to propose Mallikarjun Kharge’s name as the face of INDIA.

Earlier too, when Arvind Kejriwal was summoned by central investigating agencies, Mamata Banerjee criticised it, calling the move the BJP’s political vendetta on the Opposition.

The TMC leader is currently under a week’s rest at her residence owing to a forehead injury sustained recently due to which her response to Kejriwal’s arrest was limited to a post on X. The West Bengal unit of the AAP, however, will take out a protest on Friday against the arrest.

Atri Mitra is a Special Correspondent of The Indian Express with more than 20 years of experience in reporting from West Bengal, Bihar and the North-East. He has been covering administration and political news for more than ten years and has a keen interest in political development in West Bengal. Atri holds a Master degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University and Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. He is also an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. He started his career with leading vernacular daily the Anandabazar Patrika, and worked there for more than fifteen years. He worked as Bihar correspondent for more than three years for Anandabazar Patrika. He covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections. He also worked with News18-Bangla and covered the Bihar Lok Sabha election in 2019. ... Read More

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  • Arvind Kejriwal Mamata Banerjee
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