The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has initiated a daylong collective fast, known as ‘Upvas Diwas’, today (April 7), in protest against the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case related to the excise policy. According to Senior AAP leader Gopal Rai, party leaders and workers will convene at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and Punjab’s Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, to undertake a mass fast.
Commenting on the campaign, AAP leader Sandeep Pathak stated, “Fasting purifies the mind and soul. We will pray to god today to grant (Delhi CM) Arvind Kejriwal the strength and blessings to let him move forward on the path of struggle.”
Delhi minister and party leader Atishi expressed that the people of Delhi hold deep affection for Arvind Kejriwal, regarding him not just as a CM but as a son or brother. She emphasized the public’s desire for bail for Kejriwal and questioned the lack of action against BJP leaders by investigative agencies despite the absence of evidence linking AAP leaders to the liquor scam.
Regarding ‘Upvas Diwas’, Rai mentioned in a press conference earlier this week that the party aims to garner widespread support from the public for Kejriwal’s cause. He urged individuals opposed to Kejriwal’s arrest and those striving to uphold democracy to observe collective fasts in various settings, from homes to state capitals.
Rai also encouraged collective prayers or listening to the devotional song “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram” on YouTube as a means of solidarity. He stressed that this fight extends beyond Kejriwal’s personal battle, emphasizing its broader significance in safeguarding democracy from oppression and dictatorship.
Kejriwal, who was arrested last month in the money laundering case, remains in judicial custody until April 15.
