The CBI's action against Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia soon after he got global praise for his initiatives in education was not unexpected and is seen as part of the ruling BJP’s series of attempts to foreclose AAP’s political bid in the untested waters of Gujarat in the immediate future and whatever national ambitions it harbours.
The BJP and AAP were at loggerheads and the decibel levels were at the maximum in the recent days with both wrangling on issues like freebies, hooch tragedy in Gujarat, settling Rohingyas and the Kejriwal government’s showcasing of achievements in health and education sector among other things. Minister Satyendar Jain was recently arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena had set the stage for the CBI action against Sisodia by recommending a probe by the central agency into the controversial excise policy, which Arvind Kejriwal’s opponents claimed was used by AAP to cough up money for its Punjab bid earlier this year. Saxena’s recommendation for a CBI probe came following an official report suggesting flagrant violations of rules and regulations that helped private bidders.
The searches at Sisodia’s residence here came as the AAP is highlighting in Gujarat and elsewhere its achievement in health and education sectors in Delhi that got front page coverage in New York Times recently. His party colleagues were highlighting the report as they attack the BJP with Kejriwal saying in a way "he has been adjudged the best education minister in the world."
Sisodia did not mince words when he “welcomed” the CBI searches saying that the BJP was troubled because of the "excellent work done" by AAP in health and education sectors. And that was why he and Jain are being "targeted". Kejriwal said, “Earlier too, there were raids and probes. Nothing came out. Nothing will come out now also.”
Countering AAP, Union Minister Anurag Thakur said Kejriwal should "stop treating people as fools…Now the real face of AAP, Kejriwal and Sisodia has been revealed. No matter how hard a corrupt person tries to prove himself innocent, he will still remain corrupt. This is not the first case of corruption by AAP."
The latest round of attacks was initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month when he started a debate on ‘freebies’ promised by parties. While Modi did not specify any party, his remarks were read as a direct jibe at AAP, which was promising free power and education in Gujarat where BJP is in power.
The BJP and AAP also got themselves entangled on the Rohingya issue this week after both accused each other of “helping” Rohingya Muslims settle in the country.
AAP has not hidden its national ambition with Kejriwal saying that impressive wins in two more states would give them national party status. On Wednesday, Kejriwal also announced a “National Mission” to “Make India No: 1”, which he claimed was an “apolitical” movement but all read it as launch of his bid for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The competitive politics in the Opposition has also unravelled as Congress refused to give a clean chit to Sisodia even as it targeted the BJP. AAP also did not come out in support of Congress when Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were questioned by the ED.
"The flip side to relentless misuse of agencies against political rivals is that even legitimate, rightful actions of agencies come under a cloud of suspicion. In the process, the corrupt get away hiding behind the 'misuse' argument and the honest end up paying the price," Congress Media Department Chairperson Pawan Khera tweeted.