“Has the son become so big now that it is showing attitude to his mother?” Kejriwal asked during a rally, where he posed five questions to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, marking a major shift in his political narrative.
Kejriwal’s questions centred around the BJP’s use of central agencies, the party’s stance on retirement rules, and its relationship with the RSS. He directly questioned Bhagwat’s satisfaction with the BJP’s current politics, aiming to draw a wedge between the saffron party and its ideological mentor.
In his first ‘Janta Ki Adalat’ public meeting at Jantar Mantar following his resignation as Delhi CM, Kejriwal asked:
- Does the RSS agree with the BJP’s use of central agencies to break up opposition parties and topple governments, while inducting “corrupt” leaders into its ranks?
- Will the BJP’s rule on retirement age apply to Modi, as it did for senior leaders like LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, and Kalraj Mishra?
- Does the RSS support the BJP’s practice of calling politicians “corrupt” and later inducting them into the party?
- How does the RSS feel about BJP president JP Nadda’s claim that the BJP no longer needs the RSS, despite it being the party’s ideological backbone?
- Is the RSS satisfied with the BJP’s current political strategies and actions?
Kejriwal further questioned why the BJP’s rule, which mandated retirement for leaders over 75 years of age, did not apply to Modi, unlike Advani and others. “Do you agree with this fact that the rule that applied for Advani ji will not be applicable to Modi ji?” he asked Bhagwat.
Meanwhile, the BJP held protests against Kejriwal and the AAP, accusing them of corruption, with demonstrations at Connaught Place and Rajghat. The protest sites were barely a kilometre away from Jantar Mantar, where AAP supporters, draped in the party’s blue and yellow, filled the venue. Banners with slogans like “Na rukega, na jhukega…” and “Hamare Kejriwal imaandar hai” were seen, as the crowd affirmed its belief in Kejriwal’s innocence.
Jantar Mantar पर Arvind Kejriwal की Fiery Speech | Mohan Bhagwat | Narendra Modi
Kejriwal, released on bail from Tihar Jail on September 13 after spending over five months in custody in the excise policy case, told supporters that he joined politics to serve the country, not for power or position. He said the allegations of corruption against him hurt him deeply, leading to his resignation.
As the Delhi Assembly polls loom, Kejriwal termed the elections an “agni pariksha” (trial by fire) for him and urged voters to not support him if they believed he was dishonest. He also pledged to move out of the chief minister’s official residence after the “shraddh” period during Navratri and live among the people, many of whom have offered him accommodation.
The former chief minister also raised a rhetorical question to the crowd, asking whether they thought he was a “thief” or if those who had sent him to jail were the real “thieves.”
Opposition’s retort
Meanwhile, the BJP staged protests against Kejriwal across Delhi, with a prominent one led by Delhi BJP vice-president Kapil Mishra at Rajghat. The BJP accused the AAP government of failing to deliver on any of the 70 promises it made in its manifesto over a decade ago, including creating a pollution-free city and 8 lakh jobs.
Speaking to PTI Videos, Mishra claimed, “None of the 70 promises made by Kejriwal’s government have been fulfilled. He promised to bring the Lokpal Bill and Swaraj Bill, but nothing happened.”
Mishra also released a report card of the AAP government and vowed to distribute it across the city to expose Kejriwal. “The people of Delhi are fed up with Kejriwal, and we will reach out to every household with the AAP’s report card and expose him when he lies to the people,” Mishra said.
Amid this, Congress leader Sandeep Dixit criticised Kejriwal’s ‘Janta Adalat’, dubbing it a “sponsored event.” Speaking to ANI, Dixit said, “It is a sponsored Adalat. It is a TV event. Within 5-6 months, Kejriwal will become the permanent resident of Tihar Jail.”