The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders will welcome Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as he exits Tihar Jail today, following his release on bail in a corruption case linked to the Delhi liquor policy. A Delhi court granted Mr. Kejriwal bail after his lawyer successfully argued that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had not presented any concrete evidence against him.
Ahead of Mr. Kejriwal's release this evening, AAP leaders plan to present a united front, protesting against the severe water shortage plaguing the national capital. Delhi Water Minister Atishi and Mr. Kejriwal's wife, Sunita Kejriwal, will visit Raj Ghat today, where Atishi will commence an indefinite hunger strike to draw attention to the crisis.
Delhi is currently enduring a heatwave, with temperatures soaring above 50 degrees Celsius, exacerbating the severe water scarcity. The Delhi government has approached the Supreme Court, alleging that neighboring Haryana is blocking the flow of water into the national capital. "Till the time Haryana doesn't release water into the Yamuna, water shortage will continue in Delhi. Munak Canal is receiving very little water and on the other hand, Wazirabad Barrage is receiving no water. The water from Yamuna goes to water treatment and is then resent to Delhi's public after re-treatment. But there is no water in Yamuna, the reason why the supply is halted. I can just stand before the Haryana government with folded hands and appeal to save the lives of Delhi's public," Atishi pleaded.
Around 4 pm today, Atishi and other AAP leaders will head to Tihar Jail to greet Mr. Kejriwal upon his release. His arrest on March 21 was linked to money laundering allegations while framing the Delhi liquor policy for 2021-22. The policy was later scrapped following concerns raised by the Lieutenant Governor. The ED accused Mr. Kejriwal of using funds obtained from liquor sellers to finance the party's campaign in Goa, given his role as AAP's convenor.
Mr. Kejriwal and AAP have consistently maintained that the Centre is misusing its agencies to harass opposition leaders with fabricated cases. Yesterday, the judge ordered Mr. Kejriwal's release on a personal bond of ? 1 lakh, with conditions that he must not interfere with the investigation or attempt to influence witnesses.
