Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot has praised Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, calling him a "modern-day freedom fighter" while extending Independence Day greetings. Gahlot paid tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for India's freedom and to the soldiers guarding the nation’s borders.
He highlighted the irony of celebrating freedom while the democratically elected CM, Kejriwal, remains behind bars, a situation he describes as a grave injustice in a democratic society.
Gahlot expressed deep respect for the sacrifices made by India's freedom fighters, connecting their legacy to the current struggle faced by Kejriwal, who is in jail on charges related to the now-cancelled Delhi excise policy.
The minister emphasised that Kejriwal’s fight is for the people, aiming to liberate them from poverty and illiteracy, just as the freedom fighters fought to free the nation from colonial rule. According to Gahlot, Kejriwal has accepted imprisonment rather than bowing to forces that undermine democracy.
In his speech, Gahlot lamented that while the nation celebrates Independence Day, anti-national forces are attempting to suppress the voices of leaders like Kejriwal, who are dedicated to the people's welfare.
He also mentioned Manish Sisodia, another prominent AAP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister, who is also imprisoned. Gahlot expressed hope that Kejriwal will soon be released and will have the opportunity to hoist the national flag next year.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also took the opportunity to criticise the central government after the national flag was not hoisted at the CM’s residence. Sunita Kejriwal, the CM's wife, expressed her disappointment on social media, questioning how patriotism can be suppressed even when an elected leader is unjustly jailed.
Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21, 2024, in connection with an ongoing money laundering investigation tied to the Delhi excise policy. The situation escalated on June 26, 2024, when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also arrested him while he was still in the ED’s custody.
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