Kejriwal’s arrest won't derail welfare schemes and subsidies: Delhi government

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has moved to Delhi High Court challenging his arrest.

The planning department of the Delhi government on March 26 clarified that public services and social welfare schemes and subsidies would not be affected by the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

“Even as law takes its own course in the process of criminal investigation, it merits clarification that the administration of schemes and governance are never specific to individuals and shall continue in normal course as in the past,” said Niharika Rai, secretary to the planning department.

Rai said that speculations and rumours are being spread by "notorious elements with vested interests" in Delhi that the welfare schemes will be stopped. “There shall be no disruption of any kind in disbursement of admissible subsidies, pension and welfare benefits. These schemes are funded with public money through the consolidated fund,” she said.

Kejriwal, after skipping nine summons from the Enforcement Directorate, was arrested by the probe agency on March 21 in connection with a money laundering case around the liquor policy of the government.

The court has ordered that the chief minister will be in the federal agency’s custody till March 28. On March 23, Kejriwal issued the first order from the ED custody as the chief minister regarding water shortage in parts of Delhi.

Kejriwal, who is also the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) directed his water resources department to deploy tankers in the affected areas to strengthen water supply as the city braces for a scorching summer.

The order was delivered through a note sent to Delhi Water Minister Atishi.