Dy CM, Jain are today's Bhagat Singh: CM on CBI summons
New Delhi: With the CBI summoning Manish Sisodia for questioning in the excise policy case, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday compared his deputy and jailed minister Satyendar Jain to Bhagat Singh and termed his government's fight with the Centre the "second freedom struggle".
The AAP claimed that Sisodia would be arrested on Monday and alleged the move was initiated in view of the forthcoming assembly elections in Gujarat where it is in a direct contest with the BJP.
The reactions from Kejriwal and his AAP came after the CBI summoned Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia for questioning on Monday in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped excise policy.
The federal probe agency has asked the AAP leader to appear before it at its headquarters here at 11 am on Monday.
"Jail bars and hanging noose could not deter Bhagat Singh's resolute intentions. This is the second fight for freedom. Manish and Satyendar are today's Bhagat Singh. After 75 years, the country got an education minister who gave good education to the poor and gave hope for a bright future. Prayers of crores of poor are with you," Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi.
Satyendar Jain was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on May 30 in connection with a money laundering case.
Reacting to the CBI summons, Sisodia said he will fully cooperate.
"CBI raid was conducted at my house for 14 hours, nothing came out. Searched my bank locker, nothing came out in it. They did not find anything in my village. Now they have called me to CBI Headquarters at 11 am tomorrow. I will go and give my full cooperation. Satyameva Jayate," Sisodia tweeted.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, the AAP's chief spokesperson, Saurabh Bharadwaj, said the central probe agency has summoned Sisodia to arrest him.
"We all understand that Manish ji is going to be arrested by the CBI tomorrow. Orders have already been issued in this regard, he said.
"But the move to arrest Sisodia has nothing to do with the alleged excise policy scam. It's about elections in Gujarat where the AAP is in direct contest with the BJP and the people are talking about change and want change, he claimed.
Sisodia's arrest will further strengthen the AAP in Gujarat as people are watching why such repressive actions are being taken against the party leaders, he claimed.
"We are ready. We are not scared. As many repressive actions are taken against our party leaders that much stronger the party will become, he added.
Meanwhile, drawing attention to the deteriorating law and order situation in the Capital, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has written a letter to L-G Saxena. Sisodia clearly mentions in the letter that Delhi has become the 'crime capital' of the country as the fear of law in criminals has vanished. He further reminded the L-G that the ambit of law in the capital and the police department comes directly under him and then urged the L-G to look into the matter immediately.
"If you give some time to the workings of the police department and in improving the law and order situation in Delhi, it will bring good to the common man in the capital," said Sisodia in the letter.
AAP MLA and chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj in a press conference on Sunday stated, "CBI has summoned Dy CM Manish Sisodia tomorrow. This whole conspiracy is premeditated and planned; CBI summon has nothing to do with Excise, they will call Sisodia to their office and arrest him. CBI-ED have raided 500 locations across the country so far in the case; they haven't found a single strand of proof."
In a separate press conference on the issue, AAP MLA Atishi said, "CBI-ED put some 400-500 officers on the task of framing Dy CM Manish Sisodia yet they haven't found a penny worth's wrongdoing."
