The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is under the Ministry of Finance, has been accused by senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi of working as a political weapon for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Atishi alleged that the ED is seeking details of AAP’s Lok Sabha election strategy by trying to access Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s phone.

The accusation by Atishi comes amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal by the ED in connection with a money-laundering case related to Delhi’s excise policy. Atishi claimed that the ED’s actions are an attempt to weaken the opposition and democracy.

In response, Delhi Congress announced that it will declare its candidates for three Lok Sabha seats in Delhi after the ‘Maharally’ of its alliance partner AAP on March 31. The rally is expected to see participation from prominent leaders such as Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Sharad Pawar.

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari criticized the Modi government and accused it of selectively targeting opposition leaders. Patwari alleged that while Kejriwal was arrested, other individuals who joined hands with the BJP were spared. He claimed that out of the 154 people who were under ED and CBI probes, 121 joined the BJP and the investigations against them stopped.

There have also been PILs filed in the Delhi High Court to remove Arvind Kejriwal from the post of Delhi Chief Minister. However, the court dismissed a PIL seeking his removal and highlighted the non-interference and governance challenges posed by such a move.

The AAP has received permission from the Election Commission and the Police for the INDIA bloc rally to be held at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on March 31 to protest against the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. The rally is expected to witness the participation of several prominent leaders from different parties.

The arrest of Arvind Kejriwal has sparked political unrest in the country ahead of the upcoming national elections. The UN spokesperson expressed hope that people’s political and civil rights are protected during elections and that a free and fair atmosphere is maintained.

The arrest of a Chief Minister by the ED has also drawn international attention, with the US reiterating its call for a fair trial for Arvind Kejriwal. However, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs objected to the remarks, stating that any external imputation on India’s electoral and legal processes is completely unacceptable.

Overall, the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal has led to a heated political climate, with accusations and counter-accusations being exchanged between the AAP and the BJP. The opposition parties are rallying behind Kejriwal, while the BJP maintains that it is necessary to investigate allegations of corruption and ensure accountability in governance.