News Mania / Agnibeena Ghosh/7th May 2024
In a dramatic development on Monday, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has demanded an anti-terror investigation into accusations that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal received political funding from the banned organization Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), founded by wanted terrorist GurpatwantPannun. Responding swiftly, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) dismissed the call for a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as a “conspiracy” orchestrated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), labeling the Lieutenant Governor as an agent of the BJP.
The allegations, which emerged amid the ongoing intense rivalry between the AAP and the BJP, come just weeks before the general election in the national capital. VK Saxena, in a detailed letter to the Union Home Secretary, referenced a video enclosed with the letter, where GurpatwantPannun purportedly declares that the AAP received a substantial amount of funding from Khalistani groups. The letter also cited a complaint from a Hindu religious body and tweets by a former AAP worker as evidence.
According to the allegations, Arvind Kejriwal purportedly promised to facilitate the release of Devender Pal Bhullar, a convict in the 1993 Delhi bomb blasts case, in exchange for significant financial backing from Khalistani factions to the AAP. Bhullar, a former professor, was sentenced to death in 2001, which was later commuted to life imprisonment.
Moreover, it is alleged that Kejriwal received money to advocate pro-Khalistani sentiments, adding fuel to the controversy surrounding the AAP leader. However, the AAP has vehemently denied these allegations, attributing them to political vendetta by the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
Arvind Kejriwal is currently in jail on corruption charges related to the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam, being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation. The AAP has consistently maintained that these charges are baseless and politically motivated. Kejriwal has challenged his arrest in the Supreme Court, arguing that there is no evidence linking him to the alleged crime. The court, while still hearing the case, has expressed willingness to consider bail for Kejriwal to enable him to campaign for the upcoming Delhi election.
The arrest of Kejriwal, which occurred on March 21, adds to the list of AAP leaders facing legal troubles, including ex-Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh. While Singh has been granted bail, Sisodia and Kejriwal remain embroiled in legal battles, contesting the charges against them.
The unfolding situation underscores the high-stakes political environment in Delhi, with allegations of terrorism financing and corruption rocking the AAP-led government. As the investigation progresses and legal battles continue, the political landscape in the capital remains fraught with tension, with both the AAP and the BJP vying for supremacy ahead of the crucial election.
