The Aam Aadmi Party has called for a nationwide collective fast on April 7 to protest against the arrest of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case.
Gopal Rai, Delhi minister and convener of the AAP unit in the capital, said the fast would be observed by all elected representatives and functionaries of the party near Jantar Mantar. Rai's cabinet colleague Atishi said Kejriwal, who is a diabetes patient, had lost 4.5kg since his arrest.
The AAP's protest call came a day after its MP Sanjay Singh was granted bail in the same case.
“Sanjay Singh was kept in jail for six months, but no evidence or money trail was found…. This is the complete truth of the so-called liquor scam. Under the same conspiracy, the leaders of AAP and the chief minister of Delhi were arrested. Arvind Kejriwal was imprisoned without any allegations,” Rai told reporters on Wednesday.
“Those who are against the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, who want to save the country's democracy and stop injustice and dictatorship are urged to observe collective fasts in their homes, villages, neighbourhoods, block headquarters, tehsils, districts and state capitals,” he added.
Supporters have been asked to share photos of the fast on the website kejriwalkoaashirvaad.com or other mirror sites.
Singh received a hero's reception as he was released from Tihar in the evening. He stood atop a car and said: "This is not the time for celebration, but struggle. The biggest leaders of our party — Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain — have been kept behind bars. I am confident that one day the locks of the jail will break and our friends will be released."
Atishi said: “When he (Kejriwal) was in the ED's custody, his sugar level dropped thrice. Once his sugar level dropped to 46, which could be life-threatening. Arvind Kejriwal has lost 4.5kg in the past 12 days. Being a diabetes patient, losing so much weight in such a short time can lead to severe complications.”
A source at Tihar jail said Kejriwal's weight was constant at 65kg since his arrival on April 1. "Home-cooked food is being provided as per the court order. His vital statistics are normal,” the source added.
