The BJP on Friday accused the Aam Aadmi Party of peddling a bundle of lies on the issue of its leader Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest, asserting that those who are corrupt will go to jail. The BJP further slammed the AAP saying there is an old saying “Chor Machaye Shor” (the culprit makes a lot of noise to cover up the crime) and the AAP’s “shameless” protest against the arrest of Kejriwal is a fitting example.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said politicians used to scratch each other’s back to help each other while indulging in scams but this has changed in the last 10 years under the government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Should he (Kejriwal) be let off because he is a chief minister and not a common man,” he asked, alleging that the Delhi chief minister is a kingpin in the corruption case being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). With opposition parties, including the Congress, rallying to Kejriwal’s defence and describing his arrest as part of the Union government’s crackdown on their leaders, the BJP spokesperson said it is a case of thieves displaying brotherhood.

He is the leader of the corrupt, Patra charged and added that AAP leaders have been peddling a bundle of lies on the matter. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are also on bail in a corruption case, he said, adding mockingly that it is “bail bond” among them. They are also coming together as their ships are sinking, he said.

Dismissing AAP leaders’ allegation of political vendetta, Patra asked if people will believe courts or them and said every thief claims innocence when caught. With the AAP insisting that Kejriwal will remain chief minister, the BJP leader said it shows his greed for power and post while he and his colleagues rose in politics by claiming to disdain the very thing.

As Delhi government minister Atishi questioned the arrest of a chief minister and expressed concern about his safety as he has ‘Z plus’ security, he hit back, saying it shows their sense of entitlement.

She is saying how a CM can be arrested as he is not a common man, Patra said, noting that Kejriwal once named the likes of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Lalu Prasad Yadav as corrupt and would ask when people will start going to the jail. The AAP leader then claimed he has entered politics to cleanse it but began living in a palace and moving around in a security cover, he said.

“It is high time that people who are embroiled in corruption are arrested,” Patra asserted. Patra also played a statement of Congress leader Ajay Maken in which the he had lashed out at Kejriwal for the alleged excise scam and accused him of using Rs 100 crore collected from it to harm the Congress in the Goa assembly polls in 2022.

Even the Supreme Court has spoken about a money trail of over Rs 338 crore while denying bail to AAP leader Manish Sisodia in the same case, he said.

Following Kejriwal’s arrest Thursday evening, the AAP had given a nationwide call for protest against the BJP.

Delhi BJP  president Virendra Sachdeva also slammed the AAP saying the party has lost all moral grounds as its leader has been arrested in a “corruption” case.

“ Kejriwal knew the corruption that happened in framing and executing the excise policy as his former Deputy Manish Sisodia and party MP Sanjay Singh went to jail over it, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said. “He himself skipped nine Enforcement Directorate summonses.

He will now have to answer the ED because he was involved in corruption that is why he has been arrested,” Sachdeva said.

 There is an old saying “Chor Machaye Shor” (the culprit makes a lot of noise to cover up the crime) and the AAP’s “shameless” protest against the arrest of Kejriwal is a fitting example, he said. Aam Aadmi Party and its leaders are “crying” over Kejriwal’s arrest but they have lost all moral grounds, and the people of Delhi have lost faith in them, he said.

 Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri has said that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal did not listen to anyone while implementing the liquor policy in Delhi.

“He did not even listen to his guru Anna Hazare and did not follow our advice in the Assembly. This is the reason why he has now to see such days,” Bidhuri said.