Jail-bound Kejriwal makes emotional barter plea at presser

In what seemed like a last-ditch effort to play the sympathy card, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on May 31 alleged that the police may “torture” him more at the behest of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) when he goes back to prison on June 2.

"The Supreme Court had given me 21 days to campaign for the elections. The day after tomorrow I will go back to Tihar Jail. I don’t know how long these people will keep me in jail this time. But my spirits are high,” Kejriwal said while addressing a press conference.

The Supreme Court of India had on May 10 granted the Delhi Chief Minister, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with an excise policy case, interim bail to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.

“I am proud that I am going to jail to save the country from dictatorship. They tried to break me in many ways, tried to silence me, but they (BJP) did not succeed. When I was in jail, they tortured me in many ways. They stopped my medicines… I don’t know what these people wanted. Why did they do this?” he said.

Kejriwal will leave his home at 3pm on June 2 to surrender.

“It is possible that this time they may torture me more, but I will not bow down… wherever I live, inside or outside,” he said. 

Kejriwal is facing money laundering charges that pertain to the formulation and execution of the Delhi government’s now-scrapped excise policy between 2021 and 2022.

The Delhi CM had sought an extension of his interim bail by seven days on grounds of bad health and pending medical tests, but the apex court turned it down earlier this week.

Kejriwal assured that the development work in the national capital will continue in his absence. “I will not let Delhi’s work stop. Your free electricity, mohalla clinics, hospitals, free medicines, treatment, 24-hour electricity, and many other things will continue,” he said.

And then, he concluded with an emotional plea. “After returning, I will also start giving Rs. 1,000 every month to every mother and sister. (But) Today I want to ask you something for my family. My parents are very old. My mother is very ill. I worry a lot about her in jail. Take care of my parents after me, pray for them.”