Kejriwal pays homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat before surrender, says exit polls are mind games
NEW DELHI,JUN 2: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said he was going back to jail not because he was involved in corruption but as he had raised voice against “dictatorship”.
Kejriwal was released from jail on May 10 on interim bail granted by the Supreme Court in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam to campaign in the Lok Sabha polls.
The bail expired on June 1, the day when the seventh and last phase of the general elections was held.
Addressing AAP workers and leaders at the party’s officer before surrendering at the Tihar jail, Kejriwal said he campaigned during the Lok Sabha polls to “save” the country.
“I am going back to jail not because I was involved in corruption but because I raised voice against dictatorship,” he said.
Kejriwal asserted that all exit polls predicting a third term for the BJP-led NDA were “fake”.
“Yesterday, exit polls were out and I can give you in writing that they are fake. In Rajasthan, there are 25 parliamentary seats but one exit poll gave them 33 seats. What was the reason that they had to release fake exit poll results?” he said, targeting the BJP.
Exit polls on Saturday predicted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will retain power for a third straight term, with the NDA expected to win a big majority in the polls.
“They are not forming government on June 4. These exit polls are mind games to drive you into depression,” Kejriwal told AAP workers and leaders.
“I have told all the INDIA bloc parties to be vigilant and not let their counting agents leave early. Counting agents have to stay till the end when the EVM votes and VVPATs are tallied. Even if the candidate is losing, they have to stay till the end,” he said.
Counting of votes of the general elections will be taken up on June 4.
“I was given a 21-day (relief) by the Supreme Court. These 21 days were unforgettable. I did not waste even a minute. I campaigned for saving the country. The AAP is not important, it is secondary. The country comes first,” Kejriwal said.
He said that Prime Minister Modi accepted in an interview that not even a single penny has been recovered in connection with the excise policy case.
Before reaching party office, Kejriwal paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at the Rajghat and then offered prayers at the Hanuman temple in Connaught Place.
“I paid obeisance at Rajghat. Gandhiji is our inspiration for ending dictatorship. I went to the Hanuman Mandir. I have the blessings of Bajrangbali. June 4 is Tuesday. Bajrangbali will destroy dictatorship,” he added.
In a post on X in Hindi, Kejriwal, earlier in the day, said, “On orders of the honourable Supreme Court, I came out from prison for election campaign for 21 days. Many thanks to the honourable Supreme Court.”
“Today I will go to Tihar and surrender. I will leave home at 3 pm. First, I will go to Raj Ghat and pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi. From there, I will go to Hanuman Temple in Connaught Place to seek blessings of Hanuman ji. And from there, I will go to the party office and meet with workers and party leaders. From there, I will leave for Tihar,” the chief minister said.
“All of you take care of yourselves. I will be worried about you. If you are happy then your Kejriwal will also be happy in jail. Jai Hind,” he added.
-PTI
