Kejriwal Praises Sanjeev Arora for Resisting BJP Pressure Amid Arrest
On Sunday, Arvind Kejriwal, the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), expressed admiration for Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora, who chose to face arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) rather than join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Following Arora's arrest on Saturday, Kejriwal asserted that this action was a consequence of the minister's refusal to align with the BJP. In a post on X, he remarked that a person's true character is revealed during challenging times, stating that Arora preferred imprisonment over joining the BJP. He extended his salute to Arora.
Read More: Punjab Government Faces Major Setback as Minister Sanjeev Arora Arrested in Money Laundering Case
Earlier in the day, AAP minister Harbhajan Singh ETO criticized the central government for Arora's arrest, alleging that central agencies were being utilized to coerce opposition leaders into joining the BJP. Singh described this as an attempt to intimidate individuals into joining the BJP under 'Operation Lotus,' which he condemned vehemently. The Jandiala MLA further stated that agencies like the ED and CBI were being misused. He noted that Arora's arrest was part of this intimidation strategy, and protests were occurring nationwide. He claimed that the same tactics used in Bengal were now being employed in Punjab to seize power, but the people of Punjab would not allow it.
On Saturday, Kejriwal criticized the BJP over corruption allegations, pointing out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had previously accused the newly appointed Chief Minister of West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, of corruption. Kejriwal highlighted this contradiction, noting that Modi had accused Adhikari of corruption but later administered the oath of office to him. He claimed that while the ED would not take action against Adhikari, it was targeting Sanjeev Arora, himself, and Manish Sisodia.
Read More: Political Uproar Following ED Raid on Sanjeev Arora, Kejriwal Claims Agencies Are Undermining Parties for BJP
Meanwhile, a special court in Gurugram has remanded Punjab minister Arora to seven days of ED custody in connection with a money laundering case linked to alleged fraudulent GST transactions exceeding ₹100 crores. Arora was arrested in Chandigarh on May 9 and was presented in court for interrogation.