New Delhi, Jun 26 – Following the Rouse Avenue Court’s decision to place Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on three days’ CBI remand in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced that its MPs would boycott President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the joint sitting of Parliament on Thursday. This will be the first presidential address since the formation of the third National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.
After the President’s address, a motion of thanks will be moved in both Houses of Parliament, which members will discuss.
AAP leader Sandeep Pathak stated that while the President and the Constitution are supreme, it is essential to raise voices against perceived injustices. “Today we will protest in the Rajya Sabha against the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and we will boycott the President’s address. The President and the Constitution are supreme, and when dictatorship is done in the name of justice, it is important to raise our voices,” Pathak said.
When asked if other parties within the INDIA bloc would join the protest in the Rajya Sabha, Pathak responded, “We did not have a discussion with the remaining parties of the INDIA alliance regarding this, but our party will boycott the President’s address.”
Meanwhile, the Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi on Wednesday ordered Kejriwal to three days of CBI remand in connection with the Excise policy case. Vacation Judge Amitabh Rawat, after considering submissions from both sides, granted CBI remand for Kejriwal until June 29, 2024. During the remand period, the court permitted Kejriwal’s wife, Sunita Kejriwal, to meet him for 30 minutes daily and his lawyer for the same duration. The court also allowed him to carry his prescribed medications.
During the hearing, Kejriwal addressed the court, refuting claims made by the CBI. “CBI is claiming that I have made a statement against Manish Sisodia, which is completely false. Manish Sisodia is innocent, Aam Aadmi Party is innocent, and I am also innocent. Statements are being given in the media to defame us,” Kejriwal stated.
He further added, “They are tarnishing our image in the media by using unnamed sources. Their plan is to make it headline news that Kejriwal has shifted all the blame to Manish Sisodia.” However, the court noted, “I have read your statement… you have not said this.”
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday stayed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s bail order passed by the trial court, emphasizing that the trial court should have recorded its satisfaction with the fulfilment of the twin conditions of Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before passing the impugned order.
