Several senior leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab held a demonstration in Jalandhar yesterday against the arrest of their party convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Ministers Balbir Singh, Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, Lal Chand Kataruchak, and MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer were among those who took part in the protest along with other MLAs. The gathering condemned the arrest and accused the central government of targeting Kejriwal with false cases.
Addressing the demonstrators, Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal criticized the ruling BJP at the center, saying the action against Kejriwal was unprecedented and damaging to democracy. He argued the cases against Kejriwal lacked merit and were aimed at muzzling dissenting voices. “You may imprison the man but you cannot arrest his ideals,” Dhaliwal asserted. Health Minister Balbir Singh pointed out the investigating agencies had been unable to establish any financial irregularity or embezzlement despite their probes.
The protestors burned effigies symbolizing their frustration with the Modi government. They waved placards with slogans like ‘Stop Misusing Agencies' and ‘Free Kejriwal'. MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer questioned the timing of Kejriwal's arrest when he had already secured bail in another related case. As the gathering broke up, Dhaliwal declared the party's agitation would continue all over Punjab until their leader is released.
