CM Arvind Kejriwal during the special Assembly session Tuesday. (Source: Express photo by Ravi Kanojia) CM Arvind Kejriwal during the special Assembly session Tuesday. (Source: Express photo by Ravi Kanojia)

On a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi defended Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Parliament, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal came down heavily on the PM and demanded his resignation.

Kejriwal was speaking at the special assembly session convened Tuesday to discuss the irregularities in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) during the tenure of Jaitley as its chief. He also announced that a one-man commission has been set up to probe the charges.

During the session, Kejriwal accused the PM of “unleashing” the CBI on the government and said the recent raid on his principal secretary’s office was an “attack on the federal structure of democracy”.

“Yahan aapka wrong number lag gaya, aap doosre logo ko dara sakte hain (You can threaten others but not us),” said Kejriwal.

“We used to conduct raids and if they were false, someone would lose their job. The CBI works directly under PM…CBI ki head kaun hai, report kis ko karti hai? PM ko. (Who is the head of CBI and who does it report to — PM). I demand his resignation via this assembly… The PM ordered this raid to protect Jaitley,” alleged Kejriwal.

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Questioning the independence of the CBI as an investigative body, Kejriwal said, “The day CBI becomes independent, it will send a notice to Shivraj Chouhan. It will send a notice to Modi to ask him about the money he got for his coat. Sushma and Vasundhara Raje will get notices, not Rajendra Kumar…”

Defending Kumar, Kejriwal said, “Hamare afsar ke locker khali mile aur 12 daaru ki bottles mili. Is world ki sabse badi democracy ke PM raid karwaye aur 12 bottles liquor mile to sharm ki baat hai…(The head of the world’s biggest democracy ordered a raid and only found 12 liquor bottles. This is shameful).”

Kejriwal also took a dig at the PM’s foreign trips.

“He has nothing to do with the country. He has a big plane with all facilities and stays in five-star hotels… Everything runs smoothly when he is out of the country. The day he returns, the CBI is unleashed on the opposition…,” he said.

“Modi ji tilmila jaate hain mera naam sun le to (Modi becomes furious on hearing my name),” said Kejriwal.

Saying he is someone who takes action against corrupt ministers, Kejriwal said, “We dismissed our minister when we got proof (of his corruption). Why is the PM not showing his determination to fight against corruption and dismissing his minister?”

He also welcomed the defamation case filed by Jaitley against him and his partymen. “We will go to Patiala House on February 5… We will give our explanation and the trial will begin. Jaitley will stand in the witness box and our advocate will cross-examine him. This will go on for a year. They have harmed themselves,” said Kejriwal.

The commission of inquiry will look into the everyday functioning of the cricket board, including allegations of betting, stated the CM.

“It is yet to be seen if the commission will be declared null and void…The Centre had asked us to inquire (into the body). Now that they know who is in the dock, they are backtracking. The DDCA… deals with sports which is under us,” said Kejriwal.

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