Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has long faced accusations of nefarious connections with Khalistani terrorists. These allegations have often come more from the Congress than the BJP, given the Congress's relatively stronger status in Punjab as compared to the BJP. Consequently, the Congress has been more proactive in lodging complaints against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) than the BJP. This situation mirrors the dynamics in the liquor scandal allegations where Congress took the lead over the BJP in complaining against Kejriwal. Now, tightening the investigation, the government has prepared for a probe. The Lieutenant Governor (LG) has written to the Ministry of Home Affairs accusing Kejriwal of accepting 16 million US dollars from the terrorist organization 'Sikh For Justice'. LG Vinay Kumar Saxena has recommended an NIA investigation into the matter. The question arises, why did the Delhi LG suddenly feel the need for an NIA probe.
1-Does the BJP not want Kejriwal to come out?
The NDA government at the Centre will certainly face accusations that they do not want Delhi's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to be released from jail. The LG's recommendation came when people were expecting that the Supreme Court might release Kejriwal. The Supreme Court was scheduled to hear Kejriwal's bail plea on Tuesday, and during the previous hearings, the Court suggested that considering the elections, it might consider Kejriwal's release. On the other hand, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) expressed no objections—which earlier led to Sanjay Singh's bail. Therefore, it was conjectured that the Court might grant bail to Kejriwal on Tuesday.
This recommendation by the LG implies that the BJP does not want Kejriwal out of jail, especially since the CBI is already investigating several cases against him. Should ED grant bail, it is possible that the CBI might immediately tighten its grip. The Delhi Jal Board case already lies wide open, but if the NIA registers a case, it's inconceivable when bail might be forthcoming.
AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj has raised questions about the entire situation, stating that the President of the organization to which Prime Minister Narendra Modi's brother belongs, BJP leader Ashu Mongia, has resurfaced the antiquated allegations against Arvind Kejriwal just before the Lok Sabha elections. This clearly indicates that the BJP is losing all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi and is completely frantic. Bhardwaj asserts that Delhi's electorate will respond through their votes to the BJP, which seeks to discredit Kejriwal, the provider of exemplary education, health services, and free electricity and water.
2-Two Chief Ministers alleged, filed written complaints, what have the agencies been doing?
If Arvind Kejriwal was involved in a grand scheme to disintegrate the nation, one wonders what the investigation agencies were doing all along. The fact that Kejriwal was allegedly meeting with those accused of plotting against the nation was not solely levied by the BJP, but serious allegations were also made by people holding constitutional positions in the Congress. Yet no action was taken, which will certainly raise questions. Punjab's former CM Captain Amarinder Singh had repeatedly warned the centre during his tenure. Following Captain Amarinder Singh, Punjab's Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi lodged a complaint but the government investigation agencies remained dormant.
In 2016, a controversial poster featuring Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) along with the late Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, urging people to celebrate Bhindranwale's birthday on February 9, surfaced leading to significant unrest. AAP leaders distanced themselves from the poster, while Punjab Congress President Captain Amarinder Singh accused AAP of adopting a hedonistically disruptive and destabilizing strategy for short-term political gains, which could lead to anarchy. He also targeted AAP for using the slogan of revolution, arguing that India is independent, and hence, there is no need for any revolutionary struggle for freedom.
After Amarinder Singh, Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi, who later became the Chief Minister of Punjab, wrote to the Union Home Minister, alleging that the 'Sikh For Justice' group was in continuous contact with AAP and assisting them in elections. He claimed that just like in the 2017 Assembly elections, the organisation 'Sikh For Justice' was supporting AAP in the 2022 elections as well. Channi stressed that this connection posed a severe threat to the nation's security and integration and warranted an in-depth investigation. He also urged for immediate appropriate action.
Channi's letter also mentioned that Kumar Vishwas, a founding member of AAP, had made allegations about Kejriwal's associations with Khalistani forces
