Arvind Kejriwal to Skip ED Summons, Will Attend Vipassana Meditation Retreat as Planned: Raghav Chadha

The INDIA bloc’s big meeting scheduled for December 19 has been preceded by a flurry of smaller meetings among different constituents of the anti-BJP alliance. Key among these were Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s meetings with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin.

These meetings were held in the backdrop of fresh summons to Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam. The suspension of a record 92 MPs from Parliament adds significance to the bloc’s meeting on Tuesday, where the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will be represented by Kejriwal, Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann.

The meeting between Kejriwal and Stalin took place on Tuesday morning and lasted for around 30 minutes. Raghav Chadha met DMK leader TR Baalu separately.

While neither Kejriwal nor Stalin spoke to the media after the meeting, Raghav Chadha held a press conference and said: “In these meetings, how to strengthen the INDIA gathbandhan (alliance), how to fulfil the aspirations of the people of the country who want an alternative government, and how to handle the challenges of price rise and unemployment through a strong government were primarily and exhaustively were discussed.”

Chadha’s statement and Kejriwal’s meetings are significant given AAP’s blow-hot, blow-cold stand on the ambitious opposition alliance.

Asked specifically whether ED summons and suspension of MPs figured the meetings, Chadha replied in the affirmative. “The situation in the country, the assault on democracy was discussed, and discussions were held on how to save the democracy in the country, how to get people together, how to save the Constitution given to us by Babasaheb Ambedkar.”

“Today, in this country, if anyone questions the BJP government, that person is either arrested or suspended. Today, if AAP netas Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh and Satyendar Jain were to join the BJP, they would be out of the jail in a jiffy and the BJP would welcome them. You saw the same thing in Maharashtra.”

Raghav Chadha reiterated a point that AAP has been underlining all along – “If the BJP is scared of anyone, it is Arvind Kejriwal”.

“The BJP wants to weaken Kejriwal. I feel that Kejriwal haunts them in their dreams too. As far suspension is concerned, it was a black day for Indian democracy. I will not say that some MPs were suspended, but democracy has been suspended… What is Parliament without the opposition? What is Parliament without elected representatives. I think that day-by-day, the BJP government is dealing a heavy blow to our democratic principles and ideals,” he added.

With just four months left for 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the momentum of the opposition alliance lost due to losses in recent Assembly elections, Chadha said seat-sharing was definitely on the agenda of the INDIA bloc. “Seat-sharing will definitely be discussed. However, after the strategy is prepared, we will update (sic).”

Pitching INDIA front as an answer for the big 2024 question, the young Rajya Sabha MP said, “I feel that all political parties would with all sincerity, dedication and commitment come together. It is not just political parties who will come together. The country’s 135 crore population is coming under the banner of INDIA gathbandhan. This is an important alliance and people are looking at it with hope. They want freedom from price rise and unemployment and they want a government that respects democracy and Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution.”

Elaborating on the one-on-one meetings Kejriwal had with Banerjee, Thackeray and Stalin, Chadha said: “Discussions were held as to how we should strengthen the INDIA alliance and take it forward to a point where it can lead the country and give a blueprint to people of our country to eradicate corruption, eradicate inflation, eradicate price rise and eradicate joblessness.”

He, however, refused to answer whether the meeting on December 19 would take up the issue of declaring a prime ministerial face for 2024 elections.

On whether Kejriwal will show up at the office of the Enforcement Directorate on December 21, Chadha reiterated: “Everyone knows that the chief minister will go on Vipassana from December 19. He goes for Vipassana regularly. This is a pre-scheduled, pre-announced plan. He will consult lawyers on his response to the ED.”

It is speculated that Kejriwal will not respond to the ED summons and instead stick to his meditative retreat. After the INDIA meeting, Kejriwal is likely to leave for Punjab with Bhagwant Mann for a Vipassana break in the state.