Delhi CM's arrest: AAP leaders observe hunger strike in protest

New Delhi: Leading members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convened at Jantar Mantar here on Sunday for a one-day fast in protest of the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, the national convener of the party and the Chief Minister of Delhi.

The 'Samuhik Upwas' took place in Jantar Mantar in the national capital starting at 11 am. Prominent AAP figures who participated included Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, ministers Atishi, Gopal Rai, and Imran Hussain, as well as Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel and Deputy Speaker Rakhi Bila.

Atishi, Gopal Rai, Imran Hussain, and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh were present at the 'Samuhik Upwas', which began at 11 am in the national capital at Jantar Mantar, the New Indian Express reported.

The Enforcement Directorate arrested Kejriwal, the national convener of the AAP, on March 21 in connection with a money laundering case involving excise policies. His judicial detention had been extended till April 15.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann joined a collective fast at freedom fighter Bhagat Singh's village, Khatkar Kalan.

Party leaders indicated that protests were being held by Indians both domestically and outside, at locations such as Harvard Square in Boston, the Hollywood Sign in Los Angeles, outside the Indian Embassy in Washington, DC, Times Square in New York, Toronto, London, and Melbourne.

Sanjay Singh asked from the protest site under "what circumstances and pressure" was Kejriwal's name taken by the witnesses.

"The chargesheet has 50,000 pages. Out of these 456 witnesses, only four have taken the name of Arvind Kejriwal Under what circumstances and pressure did he take the name of Arvind Kejriwal?" he asked.

"Show me where it is written that if an honest Chief Minister is put in jail on false charges, then he has to submit his resignation. AAP leaders have not been getting bail for the past year," the AAP MP added.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann remarked that the opposition is being "oppressed" while speaking from Bhagat Singh's village. He also mentioned that the BJP is afraid of the challenge that the AAP poses. Furthermore, he stated that the rally was intended to "convey a message against dictatorship" rather than to demonstrate political strength.

"BR Ambedkar gave us the Constitution, and the Constitution is in danger today... They (BJP) jail whoever they want. The voice of the opposition is being oppressed. If they trust themselves, then why are they putting opposition leaders behind bars? They are scared that AAP will pose a challenge to them in the coming times," he said.

Meanwhile, Atishi said the probing agencies were unable to show the money trail linking AAP leaders and alleged that the trail had been done by liquor trader Sharat Reddy to the BJP.

Atishi, meanwhile, claimed that the investigation agencies were not able to produce the money trail linking AAP leaders and alleged that the trail had been done by liquor trader Sharat Reddy to the BJP.

Meanwhile, Atishi said the probing agencies were unable to show the money trail linking AAP leaders and alleged that the trail had been done by liquor trader Sharat Reddy to the BJP.

"People of Delhi love Arvind Kejriwal. They don't think of him as a CM but as their son, or brother. We all want bail for Arvind Kejriwal. BJP's ED and CBI haven't been able to show a single penny of liquor scam from the leaders of AAP. If there is any money trail in this issue, it's from liquor trader Sharat Reddy to the BJP," Atishi said.

"Sharat Reddy donated 55 crores to the BJP... Why the BJP has not been raided or accused, Why has the BJP's National President not been summoned or arrested? ED and CBI act as political weapons of the BJP," the AAP minister said.

Gopal Rai, the convener of the AAP's Delhi chapter, urged people to participate in the fast in protest to Kejriwal's arrest. He claimed that the Enforcement Directorate's arrest of Kejriwal in a case involving the Delhi excise policy scams was a part of the BJP's plot to destroy the AAP.

In protest of Kejriwal's arrest, the AAP had called for a nationwide collective fast. Protests over his detention took place in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana on Sunday.

To mark their protest, AAP members gathered at south Mumbai's Azad Maidan. The AAP workers held the daylong demonstration in Pune and other Maharashtran cities in public areas. Some opposition Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) representatives joined the AAP's rally in cities like Pune.

A central agency detained Kejriwal on suspicion of corruption in connection with a Delhi excise policy issue. This is the first arrest of a serving chief minister in independent India. Kejriwal made the decision after he repeatedly ignored nine summonses from the investigating agency, claiming they were "illegal."

The complaint concerns purported anomalies and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the Delhi Excise Policy 2022, which was subsequently abandoned.

The action was taken in response to Kejriwal ignoring nine summonses from the investigating agency, referring to them as "illegal.

The case involves alleged irregularities and money laundering in the planning and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy 2022, which was subsequently withdrawn.