Congress and BJP Trade Barbs Over Court Verdict in Delhi Excise Policy Case
In a dramatic turn of events, the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) engaged in a heated exchange on Friday following the acquittal of former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in the high-profile Delhi excise policy case. The Rouse Avenue court cleared both leaders of all corruption charges, sparking immediate political reactions.
Congress Alleges BJP Misuse of Investigative Agencies
The Congress, which has an on-and-off alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as part of the INDIA bloc, expressed strong resentment over the acquittal. Congress leader Pawan Khera launched a scathing attack, labeling the BJP as an "Icchadhari Naag" or wishful serpent, accusing it of using central investigative agencies for political gains.
In a series of posts on social media platform X, Khera alleged that Kejriwal's release was strategically timed ahead of upcoming Assembly elections in Punjab and Gujarat. He claimed this was part of a broader BJP strategy to weaken the Congress and achieve a "Congress-mukt Bharat" or Congress-free India.
Khera elaborated: "The BJP is not a political party. It is a shape-shifter, a wishful serpent - Icchadhari Naag. It will stoop to any level for one obsessive goal: defeat Congress. For 12 years, the ruling BJP spewed venom at the TMC. And now? Narendra Modi himself is showering it with praise - not out of respect, but to land a cheap blow at Congress."
He further predicted that as elections approach, cases against Congress leaders would intensify while proceedings against BJP's "convenient allies" like AAP would slow down. Khera cited the example of P Chidambaram being dragged back into the spotlight due to upcoming Tamil Nadu polls, calling it a BJP playbook of "vendetta as governance and agencies as campaign tools."
Kejriwal Hails Verdict as Victory of Truth
Outside the court, an emotional Arvind Kejriwal hailed the verdict, stating "truth always wins." He reiterated allegations that the BJP treats investigative agencies as part of its political cadre. Khera echoed this sentiment to reporters, suggesting Kejriwal was being "presented after cleaning from the ‘Washing Machine’" ahead of Punjab and Gujarat elections to weaken the Congress.
BJP Counters, Says Legal Process Not Over
The BJP, however, maintained a cautious stance, emphasizing that the legal battle is far from concluded. BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya pointed out that the acquittal came from a lower court and noted that higher courts, including the Delhi High Court and Supreme Court, had made strong observations in related proceedings.
Malviya stated: "Whether this judgment withstands scrutiny in higher courts remains to be seen. The legal process is far from over." He raised questions about why the Delhi government rolled back the excise policy after irregularities were flagged and expressed concerns over alleged destruction of phones and SIM cards linked to the case.
BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi added that the acquittal was due to absence of proof at this stage, calling it a technical subject. He highlighted the issue of destroyed evidence and suggested the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) would take appropriate steps. Trivedi also questioned how charges could be framed if they were entirely baseless, indicating ongoing legal scrutiny.
The acquittal has intensified political tensions, with both parties leveraging the verdict to attack each other ahead of key state elections, underscoring the deep-seated rivalry in Indian politics.
