Arvind Kejriwal, the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party, made statements that shed light on his future plans. Despite being granted interim bail by the Supreme Court, Kejriwal announced that he would not accept it and would not return to Tihar Jail as per the court’s conditions. This defiance of the court has raised questions about his intentions and has sparked controversy within the party. Additionally, Kejriwal’s actions and statements have been seen as disrespectful towards the Supreme Court. During a rally he said:
अगर”आप झाड़ू पर बटन दबाओगे तो मुझे जेल नहीं जानी पड़ेगी अगर भार भारतीय जनता पार्टी हार जाती है आम आदमी पार्टी जीत जाती है तो मुझे जेल जाने की आवश्यकता नहीं होगी”: Translation: If you press the button on the broom, I will not need to go to jail. If Bharatiya Janata Party loses the election and Aam Aadmi Party wins, I will not need to go to jail.
Kejriwal’s Meeting with Councilors:
Kejriwal recently called a meeting with the councilors of the Aam Aadmi Party at his house. This meeting follows a previous meeting with MLAs, where he discussed the possibility of running the government if he were to return to jail. Speculations have arisen that Kejriwal is preparing the ground for his wife, Sunita Kejriwal, to become the Chief Minister. The purpose of these meetings seems to be to gauge the level of rebellion within the party and strategize accordingly.
Defiance of the Supreme Court:
Kejriwal’s refusal to accept the interim bail granted by the Supreme Court has raised concerns about his respect for the judiciary. The conditions set by the court, including not going to the office, not signing files, and not meeting witnesses, have been seen as a violation of the court’s order. Legal experts have questioned whether Kejriwal’s actions are a deliberate attempt to deceive the court and extend his interim bail. This has led to a debate about the court’s decision to grant bail during the election campaign and the potential consequences of Kejriwal’s actions.
Implications and Questions:
The controversy surrounding Kejriwal’s actions raises several important questions. Firstly, if Kejriwal manages to avoid returning to jail through legal maneuvers, it would imply that he has deceived not only the public and his party members but also the Supreme Court. This would undermine the credibility of the bail granted for the election campaign. Secondly, the conditions set by the court, which restrict Kejriwal’s involvement in government affairs, have been criticized for being impractical to enforce. The court’s ability to ensure compliance with these conditions has been called into question. Lastly, the potential impact of Kejriwal’s actions on democracy and the judiciary has been a subject of concern. Some argue that his behavior undermines the authority of the court and sets a dangerous precedent.
Current Status:
Arvind Kejriwal has been a well-known figure in the political arena and the media. He is often in the news for practicing freebie politics, facing allegations of involvement in various financial scams, along with some AAP party officials. Additionally, there have been accusations of engaging in revengeful politics, making unwarranted allegations, and issuing derogatory remarks about the Prime Minister of India and other political opponents. He has limited trust in government functionaries, Indian judiciary and believes in dictatorship and a luxurious lifestyle.
He has been evading ED summons before being detained by the Enforcement Directorate on 21 March in connection with the purported Delhi liquor excise policy fraud. Currently, he is on interim bail until June 1st, 2024, for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections
However, his recent statements and actions have revealed his future plans and sparked controversy within the Aam Aadmi Party. His refusal to accept interim bail granted by the Supreme Court and his meetings with councillors and MLAs indicate a potential power shift within the party. The implications of his actions, including the defiance of the court and the practicality of the conditions set, have raised important questions about the state of democracy and the judiciary. Political sources, says that he may be looking for some loopholes in the legal system to evade his return to Tihar Jail on June 2nd 2024. He was earlier playing hide and seek with the Enforcement department and now possibly with the apex court. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how Kejriwal’s actions will be perceived and what consequences they may have.