'Jail ka jawab vote se': AAP launches campaign to seek support for jailed Delhi CM Kejriwal

Delhi AAP convener Gopal Rai, Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak and senior party leaders Sanjay Azad & Pankaj Gupta addressing a press conference on Monday.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday launched a campaign seeking support for jailed Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

"We are launching the campaign 'Jail ka jawab vote se' and we want you to empower Kejriwal," AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak said during a press conference.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Kejriwal in connection with a money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy on March 21. He is cuurently lodged in Tihar Jail No. 2. Several party leaders have questioned the timing of the Delhi CM's arrest just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

"Kejriwal was arrested as part of a big conspiracy. It is the first time that a sitting chief minister has been arrested during the Lok Sabha polls," Pathak said.

"We need not avenge this arrest by any other means but through our votes. We appeal to all citizens to join our movement and help us raise awareness that it is important to lend strength to Kejriwal. We will turn our struggle into a campaign," he said announcing the campaign.

The AAP MP said that party leaders and workers will visit the four Lok Sabha constituencies from where it has fielded candidates - New Delhi, East Delhi, South Delhi and West Delhi. The party is contesting the Lok Sabha elections in alliance with the Congress.

Urging people to respond to 'dictatorship' with their votes, AAP Delhi convener Gopal Rai said, "He (Kejriwal) has never let down the honour of the people of Delhi. The BJP's dictatorial government has sent him to Tihar Jail, but it is now the duty of Delhi to protect his honour for the work he has done for all of us".

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, who was on April 2 granted bail by the Supreme Court, appealed to the people to remember Kejriwal's face while voting in the Lok Sabha elections.

"Your son has been put behind bars by a dictator. Your son, your brother, and the most popular chief minister whom you, the people of Delhi, elected three times in a row with a huge majority," he said.

Singh reminded the people of Delhi the facilities they are enjoying because of Kejriwal.

"Tell me ... do you think you will get the facilities if he does not come back as your chief minister? If he is not there, would you get free electricity, water, treatment, healthcare facilities, bus tickets, and pilgrimage? That is why we are saying, jail ke taale tootenge, Kejriwal chhootenge (Locks of jails will break and Kejriwal will come out)," he stressed.