Delhi excise policy case: How BJP & Congress reacted after Arvind Kejriwal gets relief from court | India News
New Delhi: Congress And BJP On Friday, the acquittal of the former Delhi Chief Minister reacted strongly Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the Delhi Excise Policy case. AAP’s on-and-off ally Congress, however, has expressed anger over the leaders’ discharge, alleging that the ruling BJP is a “willful cobra” who uses central investigative agencies for political purposes. The BJP, however, said the “legal battle is not over.”Such is the complaint of Congress leader Pawan Khera KejriwalIts release ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Punjab and Gujarat was part of a “strategy to weaken” the grand old party.
Congress calls BJP ‘willing nag’
In a post on X, Khera said the BJP is focused on achieving a “Congress-free India” and claimed that cases against Congress leaders intensify before elections, while the process against its “allies of convenience” slows down. “The BJP is not a political party. It is a shape-shifter, a willful serpent – a willful nag. It will stoop to any level for an obsessive goal: defeat the Congress – Congress Mukt Bharat,” Khera said.“BJP in power for 12 years “spoils TMC. And now? Narendra Modi is showering praises on himself – not for respect, but for giving Congress a cheap shot,” he posted on X.“Elections are coming. So the scenario is predictable. Cases against Congress leaders will suddenly accelerate and meanwhile, cases against AAP and others against their convenient ‘allies’ will quietly disappear in the light of Gujarat and Punjab elections,” Khera said, adding that P Chidambaram has already been dragged as Tamil Nadu is back in the spotlight.“This is BJP’s playbook: revenge as governance and agency as propaganda tool,” he further alleged.His comments came after Kejriwal and Sisodia were acquitted of all charges by the Rouse Avenue court on corruption charges linked to the Delhi Excise Policy case.Kejriwal became visibly emotional as he spoke to reporters outside the court premises, welcoming the verdict saying “truth always prevails”.“We have always said that the BJP considers investigative agencies as part of its own cadre. With elections in Punjab and Gujarat, Arvind Kejriwal is being presented after being cleaned from the ‘washing machine’, as the BJP’s real objective is a Congress-free India. Everything is related to elections and how to weaken Congress. That is the only aim of the BJP,” Khera told reporters.Also Read: ‘No wider conspiracy or criminal intent’: Why court clears Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia in Delhi excise policy case
BJP says ‘legal process not over’
BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya said the kickback allegations were serious and argued that the acquittal came from a lower court.“Kickbacks are not a figment of imagination, they are matters raised before the courts and the public. More importantly, Kejriwal’s ‘one on one one free’ scheme has hurt families across Delhi. His policies have increased the price of liquor and hurt families. He deserves the harshest punishment for running what was a morally bankrupt government over Malvi.”He noted that higher courts, including the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court, have taken a firm look at related proceedings. “It remains to be seen whether this verdict withstands scrutiny in the high court. The legal process is not over yet,” he said.Malviya also questioned why the Delhi government rolled back the excise policy after irregularities were flagged and expressed concern over the alleged destruction of phones and SIM cards.BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi claimed that Kejriwal “deserves the harshest punishment for running a morally bankrupt government.”“The lower court acquitted him for lack of evidence. It is a technical matter, and it is also true that hundreds of mobile phones and SIM cards were destroyed…” he said.“The CBI will take appropriate steps to deal with this issue of destruction of evidence. As far as the party is concerned, it will give a structured reply after giving all the details… If the entire allegations are baseless, how did the court allow them to be framed?…” he added.
