'Even Britishers didn't expect ruler more cruel in India': Kejriwal attacks BJP govt, shares tales from jail

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal criticized the BJP-led central government, comparing its leadership to British rule. He recounted his time in jail and restrictions placed on him. Announcing his resignation, he addressed allegations of theft and corruption by the BJP. AAP has called for early elections in Delhi by November.

NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government comparing its leadership with that of the British rule , saying that even the Britishers could not have anticipated a ruler more oppressive than them. The remarks came in as Kejriwal recalled the restrictions put upon him while he was in jail. "75 years after the independence achieved after Bhagat Singh's martyrdom, a revolutionary CM went to jail.

I had written only one letter from jail and that was to LG that I am in jail and Atishi should be allowed to hoist the flag in my place. My letter did not reach me and instead, I was warned that if I wrote again, I would not be allowed to meet my family," Kejriwal, who is set to resign from the top post in two days, said. "Even the British had not thought that in independent India, there would be a bigger dictator than the British in this country.

Even Britisher wouldn't have thought that there would come a crueller ruler than them," he added. He cited the example of the friendship between Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt and said, "One day Sandeep Pathak went to meet me, he did not come to talk about romantics, he came to talk about political things and then after that, he was blacklisted from meeting me." 'Maa Sita gave agnipariksha , I am also ready' After declaring that he would quit from the chief ministerial position, Kejriwal said that it was his ' agnipariksha' theft and corruption' levelled by the BJP regarding excise policy case.

"They (BJP) accused me of theft, corruption, deceiving Bharat Mata etc. I came to do something for my nation. When Lord Ram came after 14 years, Maa Sita had to give an 'agnipariksha', I am also ready to give my 'agnipariksha'.

The central government snatched my power by putting several laws. The only thing that I have earned in my life is honesty," he said. Aam Aadmi Party has asked for elections in Delhi at the earliest by November.

The term of the current AAP government is set to end by February 2025. Kejriwal was released from Tihar Jail on Friday evening, hours after the Supreme Court granted him bail in a corruption case linked to alleged excise policy scam..