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Journalism of Courage
Amid much talk of opposition unity, the central leadership of the Congress interestingly maintained silence on the CBI summoning of Arvind Kejriwal, even as its Delhi unit chief Anil Chaudhary demanded the embattled Delhi Chief Minister’s resignation. Several other opposition parties hit out at the BJP government.
RJD’s Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Kumar Jha was scathing. “Arvind Kejriwal has been summoned by the CBI for questioning…Wonderful…I would urge the Prime Minister and the Home Minister to lock up all the opposition leaders of the country in a gas chamber. Finish them off in Nazi style…nothing should be left…you keep working in a dictatorial way,” he said.
He said the Prime Minister is worried that power is slipping from his hands. “So what are you doing about it? You have created such a situation for these investigative agencies that they can only see the houses of the opposition leaders…they see only the houses of those who speak against you…karte rahiye…anth aapka bahut nikat hai,” he said.
Jha said the BJP government is targeting opposition parties to divert attention from the questions being raised on the Adani group. “So sometimes Congress, sometimes NCP, RJD, AAP, BRS…have you spared any party…the reason is that you are scared…that your friend is going to be exposed…It is said that the Emperor has no clothes…you are turning the saying into a reality,” he said.
While the Congress high command remained silent, the party’s Delhi unit chief said Kejriwal, who had emerged from the Anna movement, is now at the doorsteps of the CBI having been embroiled in the liquor scam. “Kejriwal is responsible…the mastermind for turning Delhi into the capital of scandals…To maintain the dignity of the office of the Chief Minister…resign and then go to the CBI’s doorsteps,” he said in a Twitter post.
While Chaudhary, who is fighting the AAP in Delhi, cannot take any other position, Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar said “the BJP should not use this agency for any political settlement.”
“I don’t know why…the Chief Minister or anyone…you should not settle political scores by using this institution,” he said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi called the summoning a political witch-hunt. “Does the CBI summons to Delhi Chief Minister have anything to do with his speech in the Delhi assembly recently exposing the crony nexus of the BJP central government and Adani Group? Nothing but political witch-hunt!” she said.
CPI general secretary D Raja said: “Kejriwal is the elected Chief Minister of Delhi. The way it is being done really raises several questions regarding the way the CBI is functioning. Already the probe is on…then why the Chief Minister…”.
