Amid concerns over how Arvind Kejriwal can continue work as Delhi Chief Minister from prison, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo has issued his first order from the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) lock-up.
Delhi is the capital city of India.
The order was related to the national capital’s water supply, and the Chief Minister issued it through a note to Delhi minister Atishi, who handles the portfolio.
In a press meeting, Atishi said she was in tears reading the Chief Minister’s note.
“Arvind Kejriwal ji has sent me a letter and a direction. On reading it, I was in tears. I kept thinking about who this man is, who is in prison, but is still thinking about Delhi residents’ water and sewage problems. Only Arvind Kejriwal can do this because he considers himself a family member of Delhi’s 2 crore people,” she said.
“I want to tell the BJP, you can arrest Arvind Kejriwal and put him in jail, but you cannot imprison his love for Delhi’s people,” she said, adding that the AAP leader may be in jail, but “no work will stop”.
Reading out the letter, she said, “Arvind Kejriwal ji has written, ‘I have come to know that some areas of Delhi are facing water supply and sewer problems. I am worried about this. People should not face any problem because I am in jail. Summer is here, so please ensure adequate tankers in areas facing water shortage.
“Please give directions to the Chief Secretary and other officials so that people face no difficulty. People should get immediate and proper solutions to their problems. Please seek help from the Lieutenant Governor if needed. He will surely help you’.”
“Even today, after being arrested, Arvind Kejriwal ji is thinking about the people of Delhi,” Atishi said.
ED arrested Kejriwal on Thursday night in a money laundering case linked to Delhi’s now-scrapped liquor policy. He has been remanded in the central agency’s custody for a week.
The AAP supremo has denied the allegations against him and accused the BJP-led central government of using probe agencies for political goals.
The Delhi High Court will take up Arvind Kejriwal’s request on Wednesday in which he has challenged his arrest as well as a lower court’s order granting the ED his custody for seven days.