AAP Leaders in Punjab, Haryana Slam Kejriwal's Arrest as Mockery of Constitution

In a significant political development, leaders from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab and Haryana, along with Congress representatives, have voiced their strong opposition against the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The AAP leader was taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday night, following a money laundering case linked to an excise policy in Delhi. This event marks the first instance of a sitting chief minister being arrested, occurring shortly after the Delhi High Court denied Kejriwal protection from any coercive action by the agency.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed his disapproval on social media, emphasizing that political strategies cannot imprison ideas, specifically pointing out AAP's role in challenging the BJP. Similarly, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema criticized the central government's actions as an attack on democratic principles and constitutional norms. Sushil Gupta, AAP's Haryana unit president, described the day as dark for democracy and announced plans to protest near Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini's residence in Kurukshetra.

On the other hand, Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring accused the BJP of systematically dismantling opposition forces, citing recent actions against INC and Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren as examples. Deepender Singh Hooda, a senior Congress leader, echoed these sentiments, highlighting a pattern of targeting opposition leaders through governmental agencies.

Brijendra Singh, a former BJP leader who recently joined Congress, criticized Kejriwal's arrest as unconstitutional and indicative of political desperation. Meanwhile, Punjab Cabinet minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and AAP Punjab unit chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang both argued that the arrest would not deter Kejriwal's vision or support among the public.

Chandigarh Congress president H S Lucky also condemned the arrest, noting the recent alliance between AAP and Congress in Chandigarh's mayoral elections. Conversely, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema suggested that the arrest highlighted corruption within AAP, a party that initially sought to combat political corruption.

This series of events has sparked widespread debate and controversy, underscoring deep divisions within Indian politics and raising questions about democratic practices and the use of governmental power against political adversaries.