New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal came out of Tihar Jail on Friday, got out of his car’s sunroof and boomed into a mic urging “all 140 crore people to fight dictatorship together”.
“I said I will return soon,” said Kejriwal, beginning his speech.
In a sharp contrast to the BJP’s usage of Ram, Kejriwal evoked Hanuman in his address. He also used the word ‘dictatorship’ thrice in his 2-minute short address.
“First I want to thank Lord Hanuman because of whose blessings I am with you all. I want to thank you all. Crores of people of this country sent their blessings and prayers to me,” he said.
Senior AAP leaders Atishi, Saurabh Bhardwaj and Bhagwant Mann had waited for him outside the jail along with the crowd of supporters.
As dusk fell, Kejriwal got out of Tihar Jail in an SUV from Gate 4 around 7 pm.
Speaking from his car, the Delhi chief minister had to pause a few times amid the deafening sound of firecrackers. “I have only one request: we have to save this country from dictatorship together. I am fighting with my heart and soul against dictatorship. But all 140 crore have to fight this dictatorship together,” he said.
He then gave the clarion call — “Come in large numbers tomorrow” at Connaught Place’s Hanuman Temple at 11 am. The AAP chief then announced that a press conference will be held at the AAP office at 1 pm.
Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Kejriwal till 1 June after taking a “holistic and libertarian view.” While the ED opposed his release on bail for election purposes, the top court held it could always consider the question of grant of interim bail keeping in mind the “peculiarities associated” with Kejriwal and the “surrounding circumstances,” which in the present case was the polls.
The AAP national convener had been in jail since March on money laundering charges in connection with the now-withdrawn Delhi excise policy.
Also Read: Kejriwal’s interim bail charges up AAP. Lok Sabha poll campaign set to turn ‘aggressive’
Roadshow outside jail
AAP supporters and party workers had swamped Jail Road, a major arterial road of the city. They had started assembling outside the jail premises right after the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Kejriwal around 2 pm.
Kejriwal supporters were jubilant as they anticipated the release of their leader and confident that his release will boost the party’s campaign momentum.
“The people of Delhi are happy because Kejriwal is an honest chief minister. That’s the reason we are here today. Why else would we be here,” said an elderly supporter, who was in his 70s.
Slogans of “Jail ke tale toot gaye, Kejriwal choot gaye (The locks of jail have broken and Kejriwal is out)” reverberated in the air — both before and after the AAP chief came out of the jail.
Women party workers were also present in huge numbers outside the jail, who occasionally danced along with their male counterparts.
Proudly holding an AAP flag was Sanju Jain, who jostled to get a front view of Kejriwal’s release. She claimed that she was out on the streets right after Kejriwal was arrested on 21 March.
The AAP supporter said the release was a shot in the arm for the Opposition’s remaining campaign.
“In Delhi, we are winning all the 7 seats with the INDIA bloc, but it will also boost the campaign for remaining phases in the country. The dictator has lost, justice has won,” said the Shalimar Bagh resident.
“Voters who would have probably not come out to vote will now come out of his house. Kejriwal’s release will bring back life into the election campaign,” said AAP worker Niyaj Khan, who had come from Najafgarh.
The party was struggling to gather people in the rallies in absence of Kejriwal, he said.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
Also Read: Why EC wants AAP to ‘modify’ & resubmit campaign song ‘jail ka jawab vote se denge’