‘A scared dictator wants to create a dead democracy’: Leaders across party lines condemn Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest

“…While capturing all the institutions including the media, breaking up the parties, extorting money from companies, freezing the account of the main opposition party was not enough for the ‘devilish power’, now the arrest of the elected Chief Ministers has also become a common thing,” Rahul said in a post on X.

“INDIA will give a befitting reply to this,” he added.

Delhi Congress president Arvinder Singh Lovely, who spoke to The Indian Express, termed AAP chief’s arrest as “blatant and unconstitutional”.

“We are firmly with our alliance partner, the AAP; this arrest is blatant and unconstitutional. A Congress delegation is reaching the CM’s residence to stand with them in solidarity,” Lovely said.

CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury also criticised the arrest, and said  it was the second time that the ruling dispensation has arrested a sitting chief minister.

“Strongly condemn the arrest of Delhi CM, Shri Arvind Kejriwal by the ED. It’s the second sitting CM of the INDIA bloc to be arrested. Clearly, Modi and the BJP are in panic over people’s rejection in the ongoing elections.

All opposition leaders who defected and joined the BJP are protected and patronised. They are the ‘Satya Harishchandras’! These arrests will only cement people’s desire to defeat BJP, defend democracy and Indian Constitution,” Yechury said on X.

Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin said the arrest was driven by the BJP’s “fear of a decade of failures and the imminent defeat” in the upcoming general elections. “…the Fascist BJP Govt sinks to despicable depths by arresting Hon’ble Delhi CM @ArvindKejriwal, following the unjust targeting of brother @HemantSorenJMM,” he said on X.

He also termed the arrest of the opposition leaders as a “witch-hunt”.

“Not a single BJP leader faces scrutiny or arrest, laying bare their abuse of power and the decay of democracy. The relentless persecution of opposition leaders by the BJP Govt smacks of a desperate witch-hunt. This tyranny ignites public fury, unmasking BJP’s true colours. But their futile arrests only fuel our resolve, fortifying the #INDIA alliance’s march to victory. BJP, brace for the people’s wrath!”, his post further read.

Condemning the arrest, the TMC questioned the fate of democracy if Opposition leaders and elected chief ministers are arrested before elections.

“The election process has begun. And now this! Chiefs of political parties, CMs, political leaders, election agents, workers, every opponent- being harassed & arrested like this. What will be the fate of our precious democracy,” TMC Rajya Sabha Party leader Derek O’Brien posted on X.

“Earlier his (Kejriwal’s) administrative powers were snatched through an illegal ordinance.” “How can we expect fair elections in India if sitting CMs and prominent opposition leaders are arrested weeks before polls? If SC and ECI fail to act now, who will stand with people against BJP’s oppressive politics in future?” he added.

Opposition stalwart Sharad Pawar said the arrest showcased the depth to which the BJP will stoop for power.

“The arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal showcases the depth to which BJP will stoop for power. ‘INDIA’ stands united against this unconstitutional action against Arvind Kejriwal,” Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar said in a post on X.

NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule termed the arrest as “politically motivated”.

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The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha termed the arrest as “end of democracy” in the country and hit out at the Centre for “scripting the arrest” in the same fashion as of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren over a month ago.

JMM central committee spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharyya said all those who were vocal and the entire opposition will meet the same fate. He demanded that the election notification be cancelled as “it is end of democracy in India and there is no need for elections now.” “No opposition will be allowed in the country and days are not far off when the headquarters of all opposition parties would be surrounded by central forces,” Bhattacharyya said.

“Political vendetta is unprecedented….The Election Commission of India and the President of India should take a call on whether democratic process should continue in India or not,” Bhattacharyya said. He said Soren was arrested in the same fashion as Kejriwal without giving time to seek legal help.

Soren was arrested on January 31 after a seven-hour grilling by the central agency in a money laundering case linked to alleged land scam, shortly after he resigned as the chief minister.

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