The BJP lashed out at Arvind Kejriwal Monday after the Enforcement Directorate said the Delhi Chief Minister gave “false and contradictory evidence (regarding) other members of (his) AAP” in interrogation. The BJP also pointed to Mr Kejriwal – the “kingpin” in the liquor policy scam – reportedly calling AAP colleagues “confused” when asked about their statements.

The sharp attacks came shortly after Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court was told Mr Kejriwal had given “evasive replies” and concealed information relevant to the investigation into the alleged scam.

The court was hearing a plea by the ED seeking judicial remand of the Chief Minister for 15 days; the request was granted, with Mr Kejriwal – arrested last month – sent to Delhi’s Tihar Jail till April 15.

READ | Kejriwal Sent To Jail After Probe Agency Claims He’s “Uncooperative”

Specifically, the agency claimed Mr Kejriwal said former AAP comms boss Vijay Nair reported to Delhi Ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bhardwaj and not himself, and that his “interaction with Mr Nair was (of) limited” duration. The ED, however, pointed to Mr Nair’s statements to it, in which he claims he stayed in a bungalow allotted to a cabinet minister and worked from Mr Kejriwal’s office.

“… there are reports Arvind Kejriwal said prime accused Vijay Nair used to report to Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj. Delhi Government’s liquor policy situation is becoming clearer. It is to be seen if Kejriwal resigns or heads towards a new politics…” BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said.

Mr Kejriwal reportedly also made contradictory statements when asked about ND Gupta; according to the ED, Mr Kejriwal first recognised Mr Gupta as a senior leader with knowledge of the party’s functioning. But he backtracked after a statement about Mr Kejriwal’s role in the alleged scam.

The BJP pounced on these, and other arguments made by the ED in court today to attack Delhi’s ruling AAP and call (again) for Mr Kejriwal’s resignation on “moral and Constitutional grounds”.

Mr Trivedi delivered the jabs with BJP leader Shazia Ilmi sitting by his side.

Ms Ilmi was a member of the AAP till she jumped ship to the saffron party in 2015, accusing her former boss and his party of having “little interest in democratic leadership”.

The BJP today also attacked Mr Kejriwal over “moral and Constitutional questions” and mocked the anti-corruption activist-turned-politician for having “changed his guru (teacher)”.

“Anna Hazare used to be his (Mr Kejriwal’s) guru. The guru said he would not join politics, but the discipline joined and became Chief Minister. Now he has changed his guru… now the guru is Lalu Prasad Yadav,” Mr Trivedi ranted, referring to former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav.

Mr Yadav was forced to resign as Chief Minister after being convicted in corruption scams.

“Lalu Yadav at least resigned when he was going to jail (the Rashtriya Janata Dal patriarch handed the reigns to his wife, Rabri Devi) but he (Mr Kejriwal) hasn’t resigned yet,” Mr Trivedi sneered.

#WATCH | On Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal sent to judicial custody till April 15, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi says, “…Those who tried to portray the bogie of victimhood, I would like to underline that today’s judgement of the court is based on concrete evidence for which neither we nor… pic.twitter.com/OAA2gv0HYC

— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2024

The BJP’s continuing all-out attack came after the ED’s remand copy was made public.

The agency said Mr Kejriwal had failed to explain why Mr Nair – who was also a key accused till he became a government witness – had “more than 10 meetings… with co-accused persons involved in the liquor business”. The Delhi Chief Minister “evaded” this and other questions, the ED said.

NDTV Explains | Why Enforcement Directorate Arrested Arvind Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 hours after the Delhi High Court said it would not protect him from arrest. The ED believes the now-scrapped policy provided an impossibly high profit margin of 185 per cent for retailers and 12 per cent for wholesalers. Of the latter, six per cent – over Rs 600 crore – were bribes demanded by Mr Kejriwal and the money was used to fund poll campaigns.

Mr Kejriwal, his colleagues behind bars, and other senior AAP leaders have denied all charges; they have pointed to an investigation that has spanned two years and resulted in no cash recovery, and accused the BJP of a “political conspiracy” to discredit the opposition party before an election.

READ | Up At 6:30, Dal, Sabzi For Lunch, Dinner: Arvind Kejriwal’s Tihar Routine

The opposition has also accused the BJP of using investigative agencies that report to the centre – like the ED and Central Bureau of Investigation – to target rival political leaders before the election.

The BJP has firmly dismissed such claims.

Mr Kejriwal will spend the next two weeks in Jail No 2 of Delhi’s Tihar Jail, with his former deputy, Manish Sisodia; his former Health Minister, Satyendar Jain; and AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh for company. Mr Sisodia and Mr Singh were arrested in the alleged liquor scam case, as was another opposition politician – the BRS’ K Kavitha. Mr Jain was arrested on money laundering charges.

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In a sharp response to Dr S Jaishankar’s remarks on the Katchatheevu island row, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram questioned why the foreign minister is “doing a somersault” on the issue. Mr Chidambaram also said that Dr Jaishankar’s journey from being a “suave liberal foreign service officer” to “a mouthpiece of the RSS-BJP” will be “recorded in the annals of acrobatic sports”.

The counter-strike came after Dr Jaishankar today doubled down on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s charge at the Congress over the island row.

Quoting decades-old discussions in Parliament, the minister said the governments led by Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi were indifferent to the island.

It is true that Fishermen were detained in the last 50 years. Likewise, India has detained many SL fishermen

Every government has negotiated with Sri Lanka and freed our fishermen

This has happened when Mr Jaishankar was a foreign service officer and when he was Foreign…

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) April 1, 2024

The Katchatheevu island, he said, was a “nusiance” for Nehru. It was during the Indira Gandhi government’s tenure when India gave up fishing rights near the island, he said.

The matter has become a talking point following a media report based on an RTI reply received by Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai. Dr Jaishankar stressed that the matter has not emerged suddenly, saying that it is a “live issue”. He also said that the Congress and the DMK are approaching the matter as if they have responsibility.

The recurrent arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lanka is an issue that finds resonance among the people. With the elections near, the BJP wants to play up this matter as it pushes for a better show in the southern state. The Prime Minister has accused the Congress of “callously” giving away the island to Sri Lanka and said the DMK had done nothing to safeguard Tamil Nadu’s interests.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Mr Chidambaram said, “It is true that Fishermen were detained in the last 50 years. Likewise, India has detained many SL fishermen. Every government has negotiated with Sri Lanka and freed our fishermen. This has happened when Mr Jaishankar was a foreign service officer and when he was Foreign Secretary and when he is Foreign Minister.”

“What has changed for Mr Jaishankar to launch a tirade against the Congress and DMK? Were not fishermen detained by Sri Lanka when Mr Vajpayee was PM and BJP was in power and in alliance with different political parties of TN? Were not fishermen detained by Sri Lanka when Mr Modi was in power since 2014?” he added.

Tit for tat is old. Tweet for Tweet is the new weapon.

Will Foreign Minister Mr. Jaishankar please refer to the RTI reply dated 27-1-2015.

I believe that Mr Jaishankar was the FM on 27-1-2015.

The Reply justified the circumstances under which India acknowledged that a small…

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) April 1, 2024

The Congress leader said “tit for tat is old” and “tweet for tweet is the new weapon”.

“Will Foreign Minister Mr. Jaishankar please refer to the RTI reply dated 27-1-2015. I believe that Mr Jaishankar was the FM on 27-1-2015. The Reply justified the circumstances under which India acknowledged that a small island belonged to Sri Lanka. Why is the Foreign Minister and his ministry doing a somersault now?” asked Mr Chidambaram, a Tamil Nadu leader and former Home Minister. 

He then took a personal swipe at the External Affairs Minister. “How quickly can people change colours. From a suave liberal Foreign Service officer to a smart Foreign Secretary to a mouthpiece of the RSS-BJP, life and times of Mr Jaishankar will be recorded in the annals of acrobatic sports,” he said, referring to the minister, who went from being a diplomat to joining the government.

Mr Chidambaram said the pact between India and Sri Lanka helped Tamil refugees from the island come and settle in India. “Why did Indira Gandhi acknowledge that it belonged to Sri Lanka? Millions of Tamils, as many as 6 lakh Tamils, were suffering in Sri Lanka. They had to come to India as refugees and settle here. As a result of this settlement, 6 lakh Tamils came to India. They have lived in this country for the last 50 years, their families are here. They enjoy freedom,” he said.

The DMK, too, has hit out at the BJP over the issue. DMK’s A Saravanan said the External Affairs Minister has said nothing new. “The question is why the BJP is raking up this issue now. Because they are scared, they know they are going to lose this election and in Tamil Nadu, they are facing a rout. The Prime Minister cannot answer the question, why no flood relief for Tamil Nadu. He is now bringing up false bogeys,” he said.

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Monday responding to the Katchatheevu island row, took a dig at external affairs minister S Jaishankar by accusing him of doing a ‘somersault’ on the issue.Taking to X, the senior Congress leader said Jaishankar’s journey from being a “suave liberal foreign service officer” to “a mouthpiece of the RSS-BJP.”