NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was scheduled to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding a liquor scam case on November 2. However, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader opted to forego the summons, alleging that it was part of a larger plot by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to incarcerate opposition leaders in anticipation of upcoming elections.
The New Indian engaged with some Delhi residents to gauge their perspectives on the situation and Kejriwal’s accusations against the saffron party. Many voiced their unwavering support for their chief minister and suggested foul play on the part of the BJP to imprison opposition figures ahead of state and Lok Sabha elections.
Satgun Sharma, a resident of central Delhi, vehemently rejected any allegations against the Delhi CM and criticised the BJP for resorting to underhanded tactics to incarcerate Kejriwal. He proclaimed, “There is no one more honest than Kejriwal. Someone who does so much for the people of Delhi, how can he be corrupt? BJP will put all the opposition leaders in jail since they know they are not going to win on their own.”
Sharma further expressed his commitment to Kejriwal, stating, “Jail me ho ya rail me, vote to mai Kejriwal ko hi dunga (I will vote for him even if he is in jail).”
Like Satgun, many shared similar sentiments, echoing the opposition’s claims that ED and other law enforcement agencies are being used as tools to silence them.
Law student from Delhi University, Ashutosh Sharma, asserted, “ED is BJP’s main weapon. Whoever speaks in favour of the country, they try to intimidate them with ED. Why are BJP’s leaders not facing charges? Why are BJP leaders like Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh not charged despite facing allegations of sexual harassment?”
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He underscored the attack on democracy and its perilous consequences, saying, “I am not an AAP supporter, but I support democracy, and I don’t like this. If there is any party with the maximum black money, it is BJP. These people are against democracy and the opposition. It is evident they aim to establish ‘One nation, one party’ by silencing opposition leaders.”
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Another DU student, Zaid, defended Kejriwal’s character, deeming him unlikely to engage in corruption due to his simplicity. He questioned the motives behind the allegations, emphasising that this appeared to be a hoax concocted in light of the upcoming elections.
He said, “Look at his face. He is such a simple guy. He wears slippers. His kids are already in IIT Delhi. What will he do with the money? I don’t see any motive for him to do such a thing. All of this is a hoax and are false allegations because of the elections coming up.”
Furthermore, Zaid believed that this was an attempt to tarnish Kejriwal’s image ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He said, “Ofcourse, I see it as an attack by the BJP on the opposition parties because once a controversy erupts nobody is going to fact check the claims. His name will get tarnished. The claim doesn’t need to be proven for his image to get ruined till the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.”
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A third DU student, named Adish, praised Kejriwal’s confidence in urging voters to support him based on his performance. He said, “AAP will remain strong in Delhi. Although I am not from Delhi, I have spoken to locals here and there is a consensus that the AAP is doing good work. I also like the confidence of Kejriwal. Like he says only vote for me if you feel that I have worked.”
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Sanchita, an art student at DU, lauded AAP’s efforts to improve women’s safety in the national capital and expressed her willingness to overlook the charges even if they were true. She remarked, “As much as I have observed, I don’t think he was actively involved in this. Also, the fact is that I have been living in Delhi for the past four years, and I think this place has become more suitable to live for women. I think he has contributed to women’s safety, and even if he has done corruption, I can brush it under the rug.”
Note: This article is based on interviews and reflects the views of individuals at the time of the interviews. Election outcomes may vary.
