With Arvind Kejriwal in jail, AAP Maharashtra turns to prayers

Aam Aadmi Party leaders and supporters in Delhi took to the streets, yesterday, in protests of Kejriwal’s arrest, which incidentally came hours after his apology to the people of Delhi for his resignation from the post of the chief minister, earlier this year. The arrest set into motion a chain of spontaneous protests of AAP supporter, resulting to the arrest of around 70 party workers, including prominent leaders such as Yogendra Yadav and Manish Sisodia.

Critics have, however, termed the protests as a gimmick for the upcoming polls, especially considering just earlier Kejriwal had expressed willingness to contest in the Delhi assembly polls again. “It was a matter of principle that Arvind Kejriwal chose to go to jail,” explains AAP Maharashtra secretary Preeti Sharma Menon.

But why the demonstrations? “The dharna was a spontaneous response to the arrest. If Modi was arrested, tomorrow wouldn’t the BJP take to the streets?” she questions.

READ: Politics or gimmickry: what are Arvind Kejriwal’s priorities?

Kejriwal was arrested for refusal to pay the bail amount ordered by Delhi court in a defamation case put against him by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari. He was taken to Tihar jail last evening, where AAP members gathered, and criticised the courts decision terming it as ironical stating that while those who attack corruption are sent to jail, others who are alleged to be corrupt remain free.