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Special Representative of the Telangana State Government and Congress leader Mallu Ravi on Friday condemned the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal earlier yesterday terming it as a "political arrest" and alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) did not want the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to go in favour of the INDIA bloc in Delhi and other parts of India.
"I totally condemn the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. It's a political arrest, not an arrest based on the mistake made by the CM. BJP does not want the AAP to go in favour of the INDIA bloc in Delhi and other parts of India. They (BJP) have made a mistake. People of India, particularly of Delhi are the lovers of democracy and those who are working against democracy will be punished by the people," Mallu Ravi told ANI on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Aam Adami Party (AAP) is set to gherao the prime minister's residence on March 26 to register its protest against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the party's leader Gopal Rai said on Friday. Speaking to ANI, Rai said that the party will not celebrate Holi this year. INDIA bloc leaders on Friday met the Election Commission against Arvind Kejriwal's arrest and the alleged targeting of Opposition leaders across the country ahead of Lok Sabha elections. Earlier in the day, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had produced Kejriwal before Rouse Avenue Court under tight security. The ED arrested Kejriwal Thursday night in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case linked to a money laundering case. The case pertains to alleged irregularities and money laundering in framing and implementing the Delhi excise policy case 2022, which was later scrapped. The letter submitted to the poll body by the INDIA on Friday asserted that "arrests, of individuals holding Constitutional posts are clearly intended to have a stifling and deleterious effect on the democratic functioning of the affairs of their respective states, as well as the parties themselves". While entering the court complex Kejriwal told reporters, "My life is dedicated to the country whether I am inside or outside the prison." Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the excise policy case on Thursday after the Delhi High Court refused interim protection to Kejriwal from coercive action in connection with the excise policy case. Two senior AAP leaders, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, are in judicial custody in the excise policy case. Sisodia, who was the then Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, was arrested by the CBI on February 26 following several rounds of questioning. On October 5, ED arrested Sanjay Singh, who is a Rajya Sabha member. (ANI)
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