After the Supreme Court granted bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, he made his first appearance in public on Friday. "Feeling very good being here," he said after spending around 50 days in Tihar jail in connection with the money-laundering case.
"I said I will return soon. Here I am," said Kejriwal. While addressing a huge gathering of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers and supporters, Kejriwal said, "We have to work together to save the country from dictatorship".
"I have been fighting against dictatorship with all my might but 140 crore Indians have to fight too," said Kejriwal. He also thanked the crores of people and supporters who sent him wishes and their blessings.
Thanking Lord Hanuman, Kejriwal said that he would visit the temple in Connaught Place on Saturday at 11 am. "I urge all of you to join me. There will be a press conference in the party office at 1 pm," the AAP chief added.
The Enforcement Directorate arrested Kejriwal on March 21 in connection with the Delhi Excise policy case. He was granted bail from the Supreme Court on Friday till June 1. The bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta asked him to surrender on June 2 as well.
While ED strongly opposed the bail, the SC noted that Kejriwal is an elected chief minister and does not pose any threat to society.
AAP has termed it as a "triumph of truth". "Truth can be troubled but not defeated. The decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court is welcome. The dictatorship will end. Satyamev Jayate," AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, also an accused in the money laundering case, said in a post in Hindi on X.
While addressing a rally in West Bengal's Raniganj Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, "This is not regular bail. It is an interim bail. He can campaign but every time he goes to campaign, people will be reminded of the excise scam."
Kejriwal's wife Sunita, who actively campaigned for her husband while he was in jail, said it was the victory of democracy. "Hanuman ji ki jai. This is the victory of democracy. It is the result of the prayers and blessings of millions of people. Many thanks to everyone," she said.
