In a shocking development, the CBI on Tuesday sealed the office of Delhi chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal banning entry of anybody into his office in the secretariat.
The incident took place on Tuesday morning.
A spokesperson from the state government said that they had no idea why this happened. The spokesperson added that they will soon issue an official statement adding that the development had left them perplexed.
Kejriwal tweeted, “CBI raids my office.”
CBI raids my office
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 15, 2015
His next tweet said, “When Modi cudn’t handle me politically, he resorts to this cowardice.”
When Modi cudn't handle me politically, he resorts to this cowardice
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 15, 2015
His another tweet called Narendra Modi a ‘coward’ and a ‘psychopath.’
Modi is a coward and a psycopath
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 15, 2015
Kejriwal’s deputy, Manish Sisodia, too slammed the central government or carrying out ‘vendetta politics.’
He tweeted;
सीबीआई छापे से डराकर ईमानदार राजनीति को रोकने की कोशिश कर रहे हैं मोदी।जनता सच के साथ है, सफल नही हो सकेंगे।
— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) December 15, 2015
Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu, said that the CBI didn’t function under central government.
He said, “CBI do not function under central govt. It’s become a fashion for Delhi govt to quarrel with centre.”
Kejriwal tweeted saying that the CBI was lying that it conducted raids on his principal secretary, Rajendra Kumar’s office.
He said; “CBI lying. My office raided. Files of CM office are being looked into. Let Modi say which file he wants?”
His another tweet read;
राजेंद्र के बहाने मेरे दफ़्तर की सारी फ़ाइल देखी जा रही हैं।
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 15, 2015
Kjeriwal further added, “I am the only CM who dismissed, on my own, a minister n a senior officer on charges of corruption and handed their cases to CBI. If CBI had any evidence against Rajender, why didn’t they share it with me? I would have acted against him.”
Arun Jaitley, the union finance minister, told Rajya Sabha that the raids were not against Arvind Kejriwal but his principal secretary in relation to cases pertaining to his tenure before he joined the AAP government.
Trinamool Congress’ Derek O’Brian said in Rajya Sabha that the CBI raid on Kejriwal’s office was unprecedented in the history of India adding that the Modi government had ‘to clarify. Has emergency been declared?”
Bihar’s chief minister, Nitish Kumar said, “All standards of Centre-state relationships are being flouted and this is unbelievable.”
There are reports that CBI had acted on the information provided by the shunted IAS officer, Ashish Joshi, who the Delhi government says was removed ‘on corruption charges.’
Delhi’s Arvind Kejriwal government, which won a historic mandate in February this year, winning 67 out of 70 seats in the assembly, has always complained of harassment by the centre’s BJP government.
CBI reports to the central government and its role in being used to settle political scores has come under sharp scrutiny even in the past.
The central government’s other agency, Delhi police, has been accused of launching sustained harassment campaign against legislators and ministers belonging to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party.
Here are some early social media reactions;
CBI and its masters would have known better than to raid Kejriwal without a good reason. Wonder what is going on.
— Sruthijith (@sruthijith) December 15, 2015
Outrageous.CM office raided?? CBI raids and seals office of CM Arvind Kejriwal. Now none of us will spare these sickos. Time for a showdown
— Mrs Anjali Damania (@anjali_damania) December 15, 2015
CBI(caged parrot) raids serving CM's ofc!As wrong as CM living in denial abt corrupt officials in his own rank#VindictivePM #CMinDenial
— Shehzad Jai Hind (@Shehzad_Ind) December 15, 2015
Irony: Just days ago at the launch of my book @ArvindKejriwal told me & @soniandtv "This government is coming after me & my ministers".
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) December 15, 2015
Stunned at the sheer shamelessness of this move by the Centre. How low can they stoop? https://t.co/gOu1LmeQFt
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) December 15, 2015
Demolish jhuggis, leave the poor to die in cold, intimidate those who fight for their rights – well done @PMOIndia! #CowardModi
— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) December 15, 2015
More details to follow