NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday compared Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia with freedom fighter Bhagat Singh as he was summoned for interrogation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the alleged liquor scam. However, AAP’s rivals BJP and Congress condemned the comparison and demanded an apology from its leaders.
Before leaving for the CBI headquarters on Monday morning, Sisodia sought blessings of his mother and went to Mahatma Gandhi’s samadhi Rajghat. He alleged that he was being framed by the Narendra Modi government which did not want him to campaign in the forthcoming Gujarat assembly election.
Wearing a mustard coloured scarf, the Delhi education and excise minister waved the national flag and rode an open vehicle, which was followed by a carcade of his supporters, when he left his house. It was much like Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, who had made a spectacle out of his summons, before being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an alleged money laundering case in August.
AAP likens Sisodia to Bhagat Singh
A number of top AAP leaders attacked the Modi government for summons issued by CBI and said he would be arrested. They claimed that Sisodia was being framed in a false case to prevent him from campaigning in Gujarat.
While posting their tweets with the hashtag ‘Modi arrests Manish Sisodia, the AAP leaders compared the deputy minister with Bhagat Singh.
Delhi chief minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal said jail bars and hanging noose could not deter Bhagat Singh's lofty intentions. “This is the second fight for freedom. Manish and Satyendra (Jain, who is in jail in a money laundering case) are today's Bhagat Singh. After 75 years, the country got an education minister who gave good education to the poor and gave hope for a bright future. Prayers of crores of poor are with you,” he said.
AAP, from its official handle, said, “Today's Bhagat Singh. #ModiArrestsManishSisodia”
Delhi Jal Board vice-chairperson and AAP national spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said the country has asked for Sisodia’s sacrifice. “Like Bhagat Singh ji, he is going to sacrifice for the country. The nation is proud of Manish ji,” he said.
AAP MLA Atishi Marlena said Sisodia went to CBI headquarters wearing Bhagat Singh’s “basanti” color. “The people of Delhi came out on the streets to give their blessings to him because BJP is arresting Manish ji, who is shaping the future of lakhs of poor children,” she said.
Punjab AAP’s chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang tweeted: “The ideology of S Bhagat Singh is in our blood and veins. We will continue to tread the path shown by an Immortal martyr. Mr Sisodia Ji is a harbinger of revolution of education. These intimidating tactics of BJP can't weaken our resolve to fight the fascist #ModiArrestsManishSisodia.”
Congress condemns AAP
Congress leaders objected to their AAP counterparts for likening Sisodia to Bhagat Singh.
Lok Sabha MP from Sri Anandpur Sahib in Punjab Manish Tewari said, “Shaheeds (martyrs) Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar have a very special place in the pantheon of heroes that Punjab – in fact Punjabs on both sides – revere. Comparing them to any living mortal does not honour their memory or sacrifice.”
Calling Sisodia corrupt, Congress MLA from Bholath in Punjab Sukhpal Singh Khaira demanded an apology from Kejriwal. He said, “We Indians demand an unconditional apology from Arvind Kejriwal for insulting Shaheed Bhagat Singh ji by comparing our icon with meek and corrupt leaders like Manish Sisodia and Satyender Jain facing corruption charges. Bhagat Singh laid down his life for India while they’re ‘looting’ India.”
BJP demands AAP’s apology
Senior BJP leaders also censured AAP for the comparison and demanded its leaders’ unconditional and immediate apology.
BJP general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh said, “Anarchist party leader Arvind Kejriwal compares his minister in jail Sri Satyendra Jain and ED-CBI raided DCM Sri Manish Sisodia to Shaheed Bhagat Singh. From agitation against corruption through lokpal to shameless stand about corrupt leaders who are being investigated.”
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Jai Hind alleged that the AAP leaders played victim card. He said, “We have PAN card, Aadhar card - AAP has a permanent victimhood card! They played this for Tahir Hussain then Satyendra Jain! Both are still in jail! If everything is fake, why did Kejriwal roll back the corrupt New Sharab policy? He declared you guilty! After facing imminent defeat in Gujarat as per all surveys first they launched Gopal Italia and now another diversionary victim card. But notice how they run away from specific questions and tonnes of evidence piling up against them in Sharab Ghotala! Shameful that they invoke Gandhi ji and Bhagat Singh ji.”
Another spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia came down heavily on AAP. Speaking from the party’s official podium, he said, “Arvind Kejriwal these days compares himself to god and his ministers with freedom fighters. I want to tell Mr Kejriwal that he should be ashamed to do so as his corrupt ministers are filling his coffers while Bhagat Singh sacrificed his life for country.”
Party leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the comparison was unacceptable. “Bhagat Singh was the one who chose to be a martyr to free his motherland. Using his name to save the corrupt AAP leaders cannot be exempted! Kejriwal Ji, you can carry on your dramas but please stop maligning the name of Bhagat Singh. A committed Indian Sikh to work for humanity, community and nation. Humbly and fearlessly raising my voice on righteous issues. Every Indian wants Aam Aadmi Party to apologise for misusing Bhagat Singh Ji’s name and linking it with a corrupt liquor mafia agent!”
Another BJP leader from Mumbai Priti Gandhi mocked AAP leaders for comparing Sisodia with different historical personalities. “First Sisodia claimed he was a descendant of Maharana Pratap. Then Kejriwal equated him with Bhagat Singh. Now Sisodia says he is being tormented like Gandhi ji! For a liquor scamster to compare himself to a man who fought to prohibit liquor his entire life is such an irony!!
Besides the BJP, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) also took on AAP for the comparison. VHP spokesperson Shriraj Nair said, “Bhagat Singh the great who sacrificed his life for the nation is insulted by Arvind Kejriwal and his cotrie for political gains. How low one can fall…”
