The news of Arvind Kejriwal’s long-awaited release from Tihar Jail after the Supreme Court judgment on Friday was not only celebrated by AAP but also by ally parties including Rashtriya Janata Dal, National Conference and DMK. Congress, however, held back the celebrations.
The grand old party’s spokesperson Alok Sharma said, “Right now, it’s just bail; no clean chit has been given. The Congress party views this as just a reaction and part of the judicial process. We do not see it as anything more than that. There has been no talk of acquittal from the charges yet. The final verdict is still pending.”
Earlier today, the top court granted bail to the Aam Aadmi Party Convenor in the alleged Delhi Excise Policy scam. Kejriwal will step out of jail in the evening, six months after he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate. The leader was later arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation in June. Although Kejriwal was granted bail in the ED case against him, he continued to remain in jail over the CBI case.
Rift between AAP and Congress?
That no Congress leader has officially commented on Kejriwal’s release might be unusual as it allied with the AAP in Delhi during the Lok Sabha elections under the INDIA bloc.
However, for the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections, both parties have announced that they will fight solo as they could not reach a seat-sharing agreement.
The possibility of a rift became more apparent after the Congress blamed AAP for a poor show in Delhi in the general elections.
Other allies rejoice
Meanwhile, other ally partners of AAP, also part of the INDIA bloc, rejoiced Kejriwal’s release.
National Conference’s Omar Abdullah said, “Congratulations to him. Coming out (from jail) is only through court. This is a betrayal which was done to the people of Baramulla, they were told that they could bring anyone out through vote. Nobody is released through votes, it is done only through court.”
RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav told ANI, “It is good that he (Arvind Kejriwal) has got bail but if we look at the comments of the Supreme Court, the way government agencies are being exposed is also worth paying attention to. The way the opposition people are being targeted, and the reprimand given by the Supreme Court is worth paying attention to.”
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‘Just bail, no clean chit’: Cong on Kejriwal’s release as other INDI Alliance partners celebrate
