Kejriwal seeks 'blessings' at Rajghat for 'Satyagraha' amid standoff with HC judge in excise policy case

After refusing to appear before a Delhi High Court judge in the excise police case, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, accompanied by Manish Sisodia and other party leaders, visited Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat on Tuesday and said they prayed for strength to pursue the path of ''Satyagraha'' shown by Bapu. The BJP hit out at the Aam Aadmi Party, saying the ''drama company'' should end its theatrics and allow the judiciary to do its job. ''Kejriwal ji, all you get for liquor 'dalali' is jail, not Bapu's blessings,'' the ruling party's Delhi unit posted on X in Hindi. After Delhi High Court's Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma rejected his plea seeking her recusal from the case, former Delhi chief minister Kejriwal wrote to the judge, saying he will not pursue their matter in the excise case in her court as it was now ''impossible to receive an impartial hearing''. Sisodia too wrote to the judge on similar lines on Tuesday, saying that he did not expect justice and there was no path left except Satyagraha. Their letters also invoked the principles of Satyagraha (non-violent resistance) and the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. ''We respect the judiciary, but due to certain circumstances, we have to do this Satyagrah. I have mentioned all the details in my letter to the high court justice,'' Kejriwal told reporters at Rajghat. Taking to X, he later said, ''Today, upon reaching Raj Ghat with Manish and other companions, I paid homage to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi ji.'' ''My only prayer to Bapu is that he forever grant strength to our resolve to walk on the path of 'Satyagraha' shown by him. I have unwavering faith that with Bapu's blessings, we will remain steadfast with complete devotion on this arduous path of Satyagraha,'' he said in the post in Hindi. Sisodia said in a post on X: ''I went to Rajghat and bowed at the 'samadhi' of revered Bapu along with Arvind Kejriwal. Mahatma Gandhi Ji always inspired us to remain steadfast on the path of truth and to undertake satyagraha for truth with inner strength. Today, our resolve to walk on that same path has grown stronger,'' he said in Hindi. Alleging conflict of interest, AAP leaders have claimed in an affidavit that the judge's children are empanelled central government lawyers who receive work through solicitor general Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the CBI. Meanwhile, Delhi BJP MP Parveen Khandelwal alleged that ''thief and corrupt Arvind Kejriwal is now taking refuge in Gandhi ji's Satyagraha to escape jail''. ''Taking Gandhi ji's name to save himself from the corruption of his liquor scam? What kind of thief is this who wants even the judge to be of his own choosing?... Going to jail is certain, stop the drama, Kejriwal,'' he said. Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal, who switched from AAP to the BJP, said Kejriwal ''is used to doing this drama and it is nothing new''. ''Because of this habit, not just Arvind Kejriwal, but the entire AAP is known across the country for its drama, lies, hooliganism and corruption.'' ''Now that he has reached the Raj Ghat, he should ponder upon why he is raising questions on the PM and on the judiciary. These are personal attacks,'' she told reporters. ''The liquor brokers went to Raj Ghat today with their drama troupe again to pay homage to Bapu. This has become Kejriwal's habit-- whenever corruption is exposed, jail time looms, or the court rebukes him, he shows up to stage this drama,'' the Delhi BJP alleged on X.

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