Deepak Singla was arrested not for any wrongdoing, but for working against BJP: Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday arrested Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s Goa Co-incharge Deepak Singla and conducted raids at multiple locations in Delhi and Goa, triggering sharp reactions from party leaders who called out the BJP-led central government of using investigative agencies to target opposition leaders ahead of the Goa Assembly elections. AAP leaders including National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal asserted that the action against Deepak Singla was similar to ED and CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) crackdowns in Bengal and Punjab, revealing that leaders refusing to join the BJP were being selectively targeted.

What did Arvind Kejriwal say?

On this, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal took to 'X' and wrote, “Deepak Singla has not been arrested because he did anything wrong. He has been arrested because he was working against the BJP and refused to join the BJP. Deepak Singla is brave and is fighting for the country.” Referring to Sanjeev Arora, he said, “Sanjeev Arora is very brave and patriotic. The whole of Punjab is proud of him.”

What did Atishi say?

Meanwhile, AAP Goa Incharge and Delhi Assembly LoP Atishi stated, “Today in our country, NEET exams are being leaked, the prices of petrol, diesel, and CNG are rising every day, and the rupee continues to weaken against the dollar. But PM Modi has only one job, filing false cases against opposition leaders and getting them arrested. On Monday, the ED arrested Aam Aadmi Party leader Deepak Singla because he was building an organisation in Goa to fight against the BJP. I want to tell PM Modi that no matter how many leaders of our party you arrest, we will continue working in the interest of the country.”

Atishi said, “The entire country saw how the BJP used the ED against the Trinamool Congress during the West Bengal Assembly elections. People working with the election management agency I-PAC were sent to jail, and just before the elections, all the data of the Trinamool Congress was stolen through the ED. As soon as the elections ended, all those people were released from jail.”

She further said, “After Bengal, the BJP’s next attack began in Punjab, where repeated raids were conducted on Aam Aadmi Party leaders. The leaders who came under pressure and joined the BJP faced no action. But leaders like Sanjeev Arora, who clearly refused to join the BJP, were sent to jail.”

The AAP Goa Incharge continued, “After Punjab, Goa has now become the BJP’s next target. The BJP is doing this because it knows very well that people in Goa hate the BJP government. The BJP is frightened that in the Goa Assembly elections to be held in February, the people here are going to throw them out of power. It is out of fear of the growing popularity of the Aam Aadmi Party that the ED is conducting raids today at the residence of Aam Aadmi Party Goa Co-inchargeDeepak Singla.”

“Here in Goa, raids are not only being conducted on senior leaders, but also at the homes of several ‘karyakartas’. These raids on ‘karyakartas' and organisation in-charges are being carried out solely to steal their election data. Exactly the same way the ED acted against the TMC in Bengal. All the data was stolen and handed over to the BJP. The same game is now being repeated in Goa,” she revealed.

Warning the BJP, Atishi asserted, “I want to clearly tell the BJP that the Aam Aadmi Party is not going to be afraid of your threats or the ED. The people of Goa are watching everything, how the BJP has worsened the condition of Goa over the last 15 years and troubled its people. These fake ED raids will also not save the BJP from a crushing defeat in Goa.”

What did Manish Sisodia say?

On the other hand, senior AAP leader and Punjab Prabhari Manish Sisodia said on ‘X,’ “By using institutions like the ED, CBI, and Election Commission as their personal goons, Modi Ji may be able to stop opposition leaders from winning elections. But he cannot handle the country’s economy or the falling value and dignity of the rupee.”

Meanwhile, party's Delhi Unit President Saurabh Bharadwaj stated on ‘X,’ “On Monday, the ED conducted raids at several locations in Delhi and Goa, including the residence of Aam Aadmi Party Goa Co-inchargeDeepak Singla. Aam Aadmi Party leaders are continuously being harassed by agencies such as the ED, CBI, and ACB.”