CBI scared of Sisodia, says Delhi CM; BJP hits back

New Delhi: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said that the CBI was “scared” of Manish Sisodia, referring to the inquiry initiated by the agency against his deputy. On his part, Mr Sisodia dared the investigating agency to arrest him. The preliminary enquiry was merely a tool to stall reforms in Delhi’s education sector, he said.

A CBI team on Thursday also raided the Delhi information and publicity office. “A CBI team raided DIP office. I was waiting for them at my residence,” tweeted deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia.

“Manish kept waiting for CBI, but it did not come. Till now, people used to be scared of CBI, for the first time, the CBI is scared of someone,” Mr Kejriwal tweeted. Mr Sisodia said he was being punished for creating world-class facilities for schoolchildren “unlike governments” who push them towards “drugs”. “My work scares them. I invited them to come and arrest me. They should understand that they are affecting the future of 26 lakh children of Delhi and causing me no personal harm. The moment we vowed to arrest Punjab minister (Bikram Singh) Majithia, they made arrangements to arrest me,” he said, addressing an event.

Meanwhile, asked about the CBI inquiry against his daughter Saumya over her appointment as adviser to the mohalla clinic project, health minister Satyendar Jain said, “It seems Jung has got nothing out of the 400 files he had sought.”

The AAP added that the CBI action on Mr Sisodia and Mr Jain’s daughter Saumya was a manifestation of PM Narendra Modi’s “fears” over AAP’s “imminent electoral success,” the AAP said on Thursday. The party launched a scathing attack on the Centre saying that the CBI inquiry was the “clearest indicator” that the party would sweep Punjab and Goa in the upcoming Assembly polls. The BJP, however, said that people fail to understand the fear and anxiety behind the outburst of Mr Kejriwal on the issue of CBI inquiry.

Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari has said that all through his election campaign before 2013 and 2015 Delhi Assembly poll, Mr Kejriwal used to say that my government will be transparent, always open to public scrutiny. “One fails to understand that what has suddenly changed that Mr Kejriwal is not prepared to answer any inquiry,” asked Mr Tiwari.  

Reacting to AAP, leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta said that the knee-jerk reaction of Mr Kejriwal and Mr Sisodia shows their nervousness and fear of action as a consequence of wrongdoing. “Even before the start of the inquiry, AAP leaders have shown ‘Modiphobia’, which is their usual practice. Attributing even the most routine action against them to the Prime Minister has now become a psychopathic trait with AAP leaders,” said Mr Gupta.

Mr Tiwari alleged that the misconduct and misuse of funds by deputy chief minister Mr Sisodia is well documented and undeniable. “Similarly, in the matter of Mr Jain the misuse of authority stands proven as it is a fact that his daughter whose educational qualifications are related o architecture and interior designing was appointed as senior consultant of a high level health committee. In-fact she was paid perks for her work,” Mr Tiwari further alleged.

Mr Gupta asked does the Kejriwal cabinet and deputy chief minister considered themselves above the rules. “Even the cabinet cannot overrule the observations of the finance and the concerned department. Obviously, there were certain vested interests working within the government. Mr Sisodia must answer the need for violating the laid down procedure. Chief minister and his deputy should patiently wait and not drag Prime Minister in every matter,” added Mr Gupta.