Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has written a letter to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat asking 5 questions. He asked questions on several issues ranging from the misuse of central investigative agencies to the retirement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Kejriwal wrote that he is very worried about the current state of the country and considers the BJP government's policies harmful to the country. If this situation continues, the country's democracy may be at risk.
Kejriwal said that he has written this letter not as a leader of a political party but as a common citizen.
Kejriwal's 5 questions to Mohan Bhagwat…
1. On breaking the leaders of other parties: All over the country leaders are being torn from other parties and governments are being toppled by the lure or threat of ED-CBI. Is it right to topple elected governments like this? Does RSS accept this?
2. Joining of corrupt leaders in BJP: Some leaders were called corrupt by Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah themselves, but after a few days they were included in the BJP. Did RSS envision such a BJP? Aren't you sad to see all this?
3. On giving the BJP the right direction: If the BJP goes on the wrong path, it is the responsibility of the RSS to bring it back on the right path. Have you ever tried to stop PM Modi from doing wrong things?
4. On relations between RSS and BJP: JP Nadda said during the Lok Sabha elections that now BJP does not need RSS. This statement has hurt the RSS workers. What do you think about this?
5. On BJP's 75-year retirement law: A law was made to retire BJP leaders after the age of 75, under which leaders like Advani Ji and Murali Manohar Joshi Ji were retired. Is this law being followed now and should it apply to PM Modi too?
Kejriwal hoped that Mohan Bhagwat would answer these questions and the country would get a chance to know his views on these issues. Kejriwal asked Bhagwat these 5 questions during a public meeting at Delhi's Jantar-Mantar on September 22.
Read full details from Kejriwal's resignation to Atishi becoming CM….
September 21: Atishi becomes Delhi's new CM, Kejriwal steps in after swearing-in
Atishi followed Kejriwal's footsteps after taking oath as Delhi CM.
Atishi took oath as the 9th Chief Minister of Delhi on Saturday. Lt. Governor (LG) Vinay Saxena administered the oath to him at Raj Niwas. After the oath, Atishi kicked Arvind Kejriwal.
He is the youngest (43 years) CM of Delhi. Before this, Kejriwal became the CM at the age of 45. Atishi is the third woman CM of Delhi after Sushma Swaraj and Sheila Dixit.
Atishi has retained 13 departments including Education, PWD and Finance. Along with this, Saurabh Bharadwaj was entrusted with the responsibility of 8 major departments including health. Atishi has been MLA three times from Kalkaji seat.
September 17: Kejriwal submits resignation to Lt Governor VK Saxena
On 17 September, Kejriwal submitted his resignation to the Lieutenant Governor and Atishi proposed to form a new government.
Kejriwal submitted his resignation from the post of CM to the Lieutenant Governor (LG) on the evening of September 17. Atishi and 4 ministers were present with him. After this, Atishi claimed to form a new government.
After this, Atishi said that I have only two jobs till the next election. First- to save the people of Delhi from the conspiracies of the BJP. Second- To make Kejriwal the Chief Minister again.
Why did Kejriwal resign, 3 things…
- He is the Chief Minister, but he has no power: Arvind Kejriwal is out on bail after 177 days in the Delhi Liquor Policy case. The Supreme Court had put a condition that he would not go to the CM's office or sign any file. It means that despite being the Chief Minister after coming out of jail, he no longer has power.
- Only 5 Months of Tenure Remaining: The term of the Delhi Assembly ends in February 2025, meaning the government has only 5 months left before the elections. During this period governments make popular electoral decisions. Kejriwal is bound by the terms of the court. There is sympathy for Kejriwal after his release from jail. Kejriwal will want to take advantage of this by demanding elections in Delhi two-three months earlier.
- Will strengthen the image of an honest leader: Ever since his name surfaced and his arrest in the Delhi Liquor Policy case, BJP leaders have been demanding Arvind Kejriwal's removal as Chief Minister. After resigning, he will be able to directly tell the BJP leaders that he resigned as chief minister because of the allegations. His sincerity will now be decided by the public.
September 13: Kejriwal released from jail after 177 days in liquor policy case
On March 21, 2024, the ED arrested Kejriwal from his home after a two-hour interrogation in the liquor policy case. After 177 days, the Supreme Court granted him bail on 13 September 2024.
Kejriwal's name was associated with many controversies when he was the Chief Minister
- Accused of taking 133 crore rupees from Khalistani organizations: In March 2024, the World Hindu Federation alleged that Arvind Kejriwal's party had taken Rs 133 crore from Khalistan militant groups between 2014 and 2022, so that Devendra Pal Bhullar could be released. After this, VK Saxena recommended an NIA probe against Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. However, AAP denied these allegations.
- Delhi Liquor Policy Scam: The Kejriwal government brought a new liquor policy in 2021. In July 2022, the LG said there were irregularities and recommended a CBI probe. ED-CBI registered the cases in August 2022. Kejriwal was arrested by the ED and CBI as the mastermind of the scam. The Supreme Court had granted bail in the ED case in July and in the CBI case in September. He stayed in Tihar Jail for about 177 days.
- Transfer-Posting of Officers: On May 11, 2023, the Supreme Court gave the Delhi government the right to control the transfer-posting of officers. It also said that the Delhi LG will work only on the advice of the state government. Shortly after this order came, CM Arvind Kejriwal removed Service Secretary Ashish More. LG has put a stay on this decision taken against Ashish More. Currently the case is in the Supreme Court.
- Thug Sukesh's claim- Gift was given in exchange for the project: Thug Sukesh Chandrasekhar has said in a letter to Delhi LG Saxena that he had sent furniture for house renovation as a gift to get a project in Karol Bagh. It also included furniture from the Ralph Lauren and Visionaire brands. Apart from this, silver crockery worth 90 lakh rupees was also given to him.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
