Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal held a public meeting at Delhi's Jantar-Mantar on Sunday (September 22). He mentioned the incident of Anna movement in 2011 and winning elections for the first time. Said – We came to power for the first time on the basis of honesty.
On resignation, Kejriwal said – I am not greedy for power and chair. I felt sad when BJP called corrupt and thieves. Chair with taint so I can't even breathe, can't live, next Delhi election is an ordeal for me, vote only if I am honest.
AAP convener asked Sangh president Mohan Bhagwat 5 questions. Said- When leaders like Lal Krishna Advani, Murali Manohar Joshi and Kalraj Mishra retired in 75 years, then why these rules are not applied to Modi. Amit Shah is saying that this will not apply to Modi. Bhagwatji please reply.
Kejriwal resigned as CM on September 17 after being released on bail on September 13 in the Delhi Liquor Policy case. On September 21, Atishi became the new Chief Minister of Delhi.
Delhi CM Atishi also reached the Janata Ki Adalat program. Manish Sisodia and Saurabh Bharadwaj were also present with him.
4 big things of Kejriwal's speech…
Kejriwal said- Elections can be fought and won honestly, I still remember this. It was April 4, 2011, when independent India's biggest anti-corruption movement began here at Jantar-Mantar. The government of that time was arrogant. Challenge the show by winning the election. We were small, money was needed for elections, goons were needed, men were needed. How can we fight back? We also contested elections, people won us and for the first time Aam Aadmi Party formed the government. We proved that elections can be contested and won honestly.
We have not come to power to make money, we have come to change the politics of the country
He was running the government honestly and saving money for 10 years inside Delhi. These people have conspired and put all our leaders in jail. We got out of jail and after that I resigned. I resigned because I did not come to do corruption, I am not power hungry as CM. I am not here to make money. He came for the country, he came for Mother India, he came to change the politics of the country.
In 10 years I would have got 10 bungalows and 10 plots but I earned nothing
Kejriwal said, 10 bungalows and 10 plots would have been built in 10 years. I have not earned anything. Today, when I step out of the house, people call me and ask me to take my house. We don't take money. After completion of Shraddha I will leave home and stay with you when Navratri starts. I thought to myself that I will not sit on the chair again until the court acquits me. The lawyers said that the case would last for 8-10 years, so I decided to go to a public court, which would say whether I was honest or not.
Before pressing the button of the broom, the voter takes the name of God
The upcoming elections are not trivial, this is Kejriwal's ordeal. Vote only if you are honest. This broom is no longer an election symbol, it is a symbol of faith. When a man goes to vote and presses the broom button, he closes his eyes and recites the name of God first. He thinks that he is going to form an honest government. I have come to ask among you whether Kejriwal is a thief or those who sent Kejriwal to jail are thieves. This is for you to decide.
3 major agitations in Delhi in 10 days…
September 21: Atishi becomes Delhi's new CM, touches Kejriwal's feet after taking oath
Atishi took oath as the 9th Chief Minister of Delhi on Saturday. Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinay Saxena administered the oath to him at the Raj Niwas. After the oath, Atishi touched Arvind Kejriwal's feet.
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. AAP MLAs had finalized Atishi's name as Chief Minister after Kejriwal's resignation on September 17.
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
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…
- Chief Minister has, but not 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 tenure left: The term of the Delhi Assembly ends in February 2025. That means the government has only 5 months left for 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 the removal of Arvind Kejriwal 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.
When he was the Chief Minister, his name was associated with many controversies
- 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 recommended a CBI probe citing irregularities therein. 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 empowered the Delhi government to regulate 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, 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 – Gifts were 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).
