Skip to main content

Kejriwal arrest: 95% leaders targeted by ED under Modi govt are from opposition parties

Counterview Desk 

Top human rights group, People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL),  condemns the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi,   is meant to weaken the Aam Aadmi Party on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections, weaken the Aam Aadmi Party on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections, as all senior leaders and strategists of the party have been "silenced and forced out of any form of public action".
"The terror of Enforcement Directorate (ED) is so widespread that even without any case being filed, mere apprehension of ED raids and arrests have led to politicians switching sides and supporting the central ruling establishment", PUCL said in a statement.
"While corruption in public life is well known across political parties, its selective use and misuse to browbeat the opposition seems to be one of the final nails in the coffin for democracy", it added. 

Text

Chief Minister of Delhi by the ED
People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) condemns the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out in the night of 21st March, 2024 from his residence. 
He was the third leader of his party arrested by the ED, under PMLA, for allegedly having received Rs. 100 crore kickbacks in the Delhi excise policy case, with Former Dy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia having been arrested 13 months ago on February, 26th 2023, Sanjay Singh, Rajya Sabha Member and spokesperson, arrested directly without any summons on 4th October, 2023.
The arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is clearly to weaken the Aam Aadmi Party on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections, just as all senior leaders and strategist of the party have been silenced and forced out of any form of public action.
Arvind Kejriwal is not the first sitting Chief Minister who was arrested. Earlier, on January, 31st January, 2024, Hemant Soren, was also arrested under sections of PMLA after raids and repeated summoning. 
It is clear for all to see, with the increasing trend of raiding, summoning, questioning and arresting opposition party leaders and political opponents, using ED, CBI and other agencies of the government, that the arrest of Chief Minister Hemant Soren or Arvind Kejriwal, who decided to ignore 9 summons by the ED by calling them illegal, has nothing to do with corruption.
Like with Arvind Kejriwal, Hemant Soren's arrest was also seen as a move to destabilize the democratically elected government of Jharkhand with a clear majority. Tribal groups called it is an attack and insult to the public sentiment of Jharkhand. 
Hemant Soren was the only tribal Chief Minister outside the northeastern states and has been fighting for the rights of the adivasis and the essence of Jharkhand.
The PUCL believes that these arrests are politically motivated action against the opposition governments and parties to intimidate and suppress them. 
Since past few years the entire country is witness to the ED being used as a handmaiden of the central political executive in an effort to crust the democratic opposition. 
The law used for the purpose is the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as amended, which gives wide ranging powers to the ED with extremely onerous bail conditions. 
Law used is Prevention of Money Laundering Act as amended, which gives wide powers to ED with extremely onerous bail conditions
Unfortunately, the Supreme Court in the case of Vijay Chaudhri has given its stamp of approval to the draconian provisions of the law. It is no coincidence that 95% of the political leaders targeted by the ED under the Modi government are from the opposition. 
We have been witness to a large number of cases where ED raids opposition party members, arrests or threatens to arrest them, attaches their properties and the moment these individuals switch their support, ED backs out and all the so-called sins are whitewashed. 
The terror of ED is so widespread that even without any case being filed, mere apprehension of ED raids and arrests have led to politicians switching sides and supporting the central ruling establishment. While corruption in public life is well known across political parties, its selective use and misuse to browbeat the opposition seems to be one of the final nails in the coffin for democracy. 
Democracy cannot survive without a level playing field with the civil society, political opposition  and independent statutory and constitutional institutions holding the ruling  dispensation accountable.
The recent appointment of election commissions is only one example of how these institutions are being hollowed out. 
Civil society is constantly under attack through the misuse of FCRA provisions and UAPA. The political opposition is sought to be crushed through various means including income tax raids and threats from ED. The recent disclosure by the State Bank of India strongly suggest that threat of ED is used to extort money.
In this context and with the impending elections, the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal seems to be nothing else but an act of political vendetta.
PUCL once again condemns the arrest of Mr. Kejriwal and demands that he  should be immediately released on bail and allowed to fully participate in the coming elections. Similarly, former CM Hemant Soren should also be released on bail.
-- Kavita Srivastava, President, V Suresh, 
 General Secretary, PUCL

Comments

TRENDING

Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan raises concerns over Jharkhand Adivasis' plight in Assam, BJP policies

By Our Representative  The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan (Save Democracy Campaign) has issued a pressing call to protect Adivasi rights in Jharkhand, highlighting serious concerns over the treatment of Jharkhandi Adivasis in Assam. During a press conference in Ranchi on November 9, representatives from Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh criticized the current approach of BJP-led governments in these states, arguing it has exacerbated Adivasi struggles for rights, land, and cultural preservation.

Promoting love or instilling hate and fear: Why is RSS seeking a meeting with Rahul Gandhi?

By Ram Puniyani*  India's anti-colonial struggle was marked by a diverse range of social movements, one of the most significant being Hindu-Muslim unity and the emergence of a unified Indian identity among people of all religions. The nationalist, anti-colonial movement championed this unity, best embodied by Mahatma Gandhi, who ultimately gave his life for this cause. Gandhi once wrote, “The union that we want is not a patched-up thing but a union of hearts... Swaraj (self-rule) for India must be an impossible dream without an indissoluble union between the Hindus and Muslims of India. It must not be a mere truce... It must be a partnership between equals, each respecting the religion of the other.”

A Marxist intellectual who dwelt into complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape

By Harsh Thakor*  Professor Manoranjan Mohanty has been a dedicated advocate for human rights over five decades. His work as a scholar and activist has supported revolutionary democratic movements, navigating complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape. His balanced, non-partisan approach to human rights and social justice has made his books essential resources for advocates of democracy.

Four J&K MLAs visit Wular lake, pledge support to fisher community, environmental conservation

By Shamim Ahmed*   In a historic meeting that highlighted both environmental and social concerns, four Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) visited Wular Lake to meet with the fisherfolk community, signaling a significant step in addressing their longstanding issues. This gathering, organized with the support of dedicated advocates, marks a strengthening of efforts to both safeguard the lake’s ecosystem and support the community’s welfare.

Supreme Court’s dismissal of PIL on Covid vaccine safety is counter to known science and mathematics

By Bhaskaran Raman*  On 14 Oct 2024, the Supreme Court of India dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the side-effects of the Covid vaccine. In 2021, the world saw the rollout of various Covid vaccine candidates. In India, Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and Serum Institute of India’s Covishield were rolled out. Covishield was nothing but Oxford’s AstraZeneca relabelled in India. The importance of open-minded and scientific probe of Covid vaccine safety In 2020/2021, all Covid vaccines were authorized for emergency use, which meant that the necessary efficacy and safety follow-up was incomplete at that time. The originally approved trials – called randomised controlled trials (RCT) had a “vaccine” group and a “placebo” group for comparison. Such experimental comparison/control is the cornerstone of the scientific method – which even children learn in photosynthesis experiments in class-1. The vaccine trials were scheduled to conclude in late 2022/early 2023. For instance, Covax...

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah  The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

Right-arm fast bowler who helped West Indies shape arguably greatest Test team in cricket history

By Harsh Thakor*  Malcolm Marshall redefined what it meant to be a right-arm fast bowler, challenging the traditional laws of biomechanics with his unique skill. As we remember his 25th death anniversary on November 4th, we reflect on the legacy he left behind after his untimely death from colon cancer. For a significant part of his career, Marshall was considered one of the fastest and most formidable bowlers in the world, helping to shape the West Indies into arguably the greatest Test team in cricket history.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Our Representative Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Will Left victory in Sri Lanka deliver economic sovereignty plan, go beyond 'tired' IMF agenda?

By Atul Chandra, Vijay Prashad*  On September 22, 2024, the Sri Lankan election authority announced that Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won the presidential election. Dissanayake, who has been the leader of the left-wing JVP since 2014, defeated 37 other candidates, including the incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP) and his closest challenger Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.