Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal walks out of Tihar jail after SC grants him bail in excise policy case
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal walked out of jail on Friday evening after securing bail from the Supreme Court and resolved to continue to fight "anti-national" forces working to weaken the nation.
As he was welcomed by party leaders and workers braving rain, Kejriwal raised slogans like 'Inquilab Zindabad' and 'Vande Mataram' and said the incarceration has only strengthened his resolve. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia were at the prison gates to welcome him.
"I want to thank people who prayed for my release. You have braved rain to come here and I am thankful to you. Every drop of my blood is dedicated to the service of my nation. In my entire life, I have faced difficulties but God has always been with me," he said.
"They put me in jail to break me but my resolve has only grown stronger. Jails cannot break me. I will continue my fight against anti-national forces," he said as supporters chanted slogans like 'Jail ke taale toot gaye, Kejriwal chhoot gaye', 'Bhrastachaar ka ek hi kaal, Kejriwal, Kejriwal'.
He said he will continue to fight against anti-national forces.
Reacting to the bail granted to Kejriwal, Congress accused the union government of misusing probe agencies in the last 10 years to target political opponents. Congress Social Media and Digital Platforms chairperson Supriya Shrinate said despite the misuse of the probe agencies, the people have given the BJP a befitting reply in the Lok Sabha.
She said she did not want to comment on the Supreme Court comparing CBI to a "caged parrot" but added, "I would only say that in the last 10 years, agencies have been misused against political opponents."
"So what is the doubt that you misuse ED, CBI and IT department and have been doing so for the last 10 years. There are so many people languishing in jails without a trial because Narendra Modi and Amit Shah do not like their faces," Shrinate told reporters.
AAP demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah after the Supreme Court's "cage parrot" remark, as it raises questions on him.
"So many raids were conducted but not a penny of ill-gotten wealth was found. Yet so many of our leaders were put behind bars. The Supreme Court's decision to grant bail to Kejriwal is a slap on the face of Shah, the home ministry, Centre and the CBI. Shah should resign by this evening before Kejriwal comes out," Delhi Minister Atishi said.