Kejriwal issues ‘directive’ from ED custody; agency set to hold probe
Amid the ongoing debate on whether he can continue to work as Delhi chief minister from prison, Arvind Kejriwal issued his "first direction" from the Enforcement Directorate custody, instructing water minister Atishi to solve waterand sewer-related problems in some areas of the national capital. The BJP, however, dubbed Mr Kejriwal's order from custody "scripted" and "a fraud". The ED, meanwhile, has taken cognisance of the “CM’s direction” claim and plans a probe into the matter.
Giving out the details at a press conference, Ms Atishi said she was in tears after reading the chief minister's note. “Arvind Ji has sent me a letter and a direction. On reading it, I was in tears. I kept thinking...this man, who is in prison, but is still thinking about Delhi residents' water and sewage problems. Only Mr Kejriwal can do this because he considers himself a family member of Delhi's 2-crore people,” she said.
“I want to tell the BJP
DELHI BJP MP Manoj Tiwari hit out at Arvind Kejriwal, calling his instructions from the ED custody to the water minister scripted and his arrest a cause of celebration for the people of the city
that you can arrest Mr Kejriwal and put him in jail, but you cannot imprison his love and sense of duty for Delhi's people,” she said, adding that the AAP leader may be in jail, but “no work will stop.”
Reading out the letter, Ms Aitishi said, “Kejriwal ji has written -- I have come to know that some areas of Delhi are facing water supply and sewer — PTI
problems. I am worried about this. People should not face any problems because I am in jail. Summer is here, so please ensure adequate tankers in areas facing water shortages. Please give directions to the chief secretary and other officials so that people face no difficulty. People should get an immediate and proper solution to their problems. Please seek help from the lieutenant-governor if needed. He will surely help you.”
According to official sources, the Central agency has taken cognisance of the Delhi minister's statement that the chief minister sent her directions from the
agency’s custody to initiate public welfare work.
The agency will conduct an investigation to ascertain if these directions from the arrested chief minister are in line with the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court’s order issued to the ED and Mr Kejriwal during his custody period.
While remanding Mr Kejriwal in ED custody till March 28, the court had allowed his wife Sunita Kejriwal and personal assistant Bibhav Kumar to meet him every day for half-an-hour between 6 and 7 pm, apart from his lawyers for another half hour.
Hitting out at Mr Kejriwal, Delhi BJP MP Manoj Tiwari called his instructions from the ED custody to the water minister scripted and his arrest a cause of celebration for the people of the city.
Mr Tiwari said: “In the ED’s custody there is a culprit and taking his reference today, a script has been written that water and sewer-related facilities in Delhi are disorganised.”
Also, a complaint was filed with Delhi lieutenant-governor V. K. Saxena over the alleged “unauthorised communication” by Mr Kejriwal to his Cabinet colleague from the ED custody without explicit approval from the court. In his complaint, advocate Vineet Jindal urged the L-G to order a probe into the matter.
BJP national secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa dubbed the letter “forged”, calling it a “fraud on the people of Delhi”. He said, “Mr Kejriwal is in ED custody and cannot pass any order until the court grants him permission. I want to tell Atishi and the AAP that it is a CM’s office, not a liquor shop.”
Questioning the AAP, Mr Sirsa said, “Who used the office of the chief minister in the absence of Mr Kejriwal and issued an official letter? It is part of a crim inal conspiracy. Hence, I request Delhi L-G to order an inquiry.”
Protesting against Mr Kejriwal’s arrest, senior AAP leaders and workers hit the streets by holding candle marches on Saturday evening in different parts of the city.
Earlier in the day, the AAP workers demonstrated on the ITO foot-over bridge in protest against Mr Kejriwal’s arrest. The protesters, who hung a banner that read “Main Bhi Kejriwal” from the bridge, were removed from the spot by the Delhi police.
On the other hand, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva led a protest against Mr Kejriwal, demanding strict punishment against him in the excise policy case, in which he has been arrested. The BJP workers also burned an effigy of the AAP leader.