Kejriwal accuses Central agencies of framing Delhi CM Atishi in fabricated case ahead of Delhi elections

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal accused central investigative agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED), and Income Tax Department, of conspiring to arrest Delhi Chief Minister Atishi by fabricating false charges. Kejriwal stated that sources informed him of a recent meeting between these agencies, where they were allegedly directed to arrest Atishi by creating false cases. Kejriwal further claimed that the agencies were also planning raids on other senior AAP leaders, including himself and Saurabh Bhardwaj, as part of a broader strategy to disrupt the party's election campaign ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections in 2025.

These allegations come as AAP has launched two significant welfare initiatives in Delhi: the Mahila Samman Yojana and the Sanjeevani Yojana. The Mahila Samman Yojana promises Rs 1,000 per month to non-tax-paying women in Delhi, aiming to provide financial assistance to a large section of women. The Sanjeevani Yojana is designed to provide free medical treatment to senior citizens at both government and private hospitals. The registration process for both schemes began earlier this week, with AAP leaders carrying out a door-to-door campaign to encourage participation. Kejriwal linked the alleged attempts to frame Atishi to the political impact of these welfare initiatives, which are seen as key components of AAP’s election strategy.

In addition to his accusations regarding the central agencies, Kejriwal criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its governance in Delhi over the past decade. He claimed that the BJP had failed to deliver on developmental promises, especially in areas such as law and order, despite controlling key administrative functions. Kejriwal noted that the BJP's electoral campaign primarily focused on criticizing his leadership, while AAP emphasized its track record of welfare schemes and developmental work in Delhi. "The BJP has no agenda and no candidates to contest the elections in Delhi," Kejriwal said, pointing to the AAP's achievements and contrasting it with the BJP's focus on negative campaigning.

Meanwhile, Delhi's Health and Family Welfare Department issued a public notice regarding the Sanjeevani Yojana, stating that no such scheme was officially authorized by the government. The department clarified that it had not launched or approved any program under the name of Sanjeevani Yojana, nor had it issued any cards for senior citizens. Similarly, the Women and Child Development Department issued a separate notice cautioning against the registration for the Mahila Samman Yojana, stating that no such scheme existed under the department's jurisdiction. Despite these statements, Kejriwal reaffirmed that the Delhi cabinet had approved the schemes and that the necessary notifications had been issued to implement them. The AAP government’s claims of providing financial aid and healthcare to women and senior citizens remain central to its election campaign.