AAP Celebrates Sisodia’s Bail Amidst Allegations of Political Malice
After the recent bail granted to former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, the Aam Aadmi Party claimed victory as their leaders said that it was a victory for the truth. AAP openly accused the central government of implementing political vendetta against Sisodia in his prison extension matter. It said that no prima facie case of financial irregularity was established against him during the long and tedious investigation.
Political Fallout of Sisodia’s Jail
AAP leaders vented their sentiments on the bail of Sisodia on Friday and termed it as a big victory, not for Sisodia, but to the party itself. Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh came to the fore with the comment, “Central government is driven by ‘political malice’ rather than delivering justice.”. He said that during the long investigation, “not a single rupee” had been recovered from Sisodia, which only led him to believe more and more that the process itself was the punishment.
“Knowingly under various pretexts, he was kept in jail. only due to political malice and grudge,” Singh said while ruing that 17 months of Sisodia’s life were “wasted”. He hoped that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other jailed AAP leaders, notably Satyendar Jain, would also be out of jail soon.
AAP’s future and elections ahead
Bail for Sisodia comes at the most critical time in AAP; only months ahead of the Delhi assembly elections slated to go to polls in January-February 2025. A tough challenge lies ahead for the party, particularly following its recent reverses in the national elections, when it lost all four Lok Sabha seats it contested in Delhi. But AAP leaders hold the view that with Sisodia out of jail, there can be a revival in the fortunes of the party at a time when they are gearing up for the electoral battle.
Sanjay Singh said, “This is a big relief for the Aam Aadmi Party and for the people of Delhi.” He sought PM Narendra Modi’s accountability for the number of days Sisodia spent in jail, saying it was an unjust use of power.
Opposition’s Response to the Bail
While leaders of the AAP hailed Sisodia’s bail, the Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party had a different take on the development. BJP Delhi unit chief Virendra Sachdeva remarked that bail does not imply acquittal, and AAP workers shouldn’t get too carried away because the basic allegations against Sisodia still stand. “AAP leaders should not get excited over the bail because their leader has not been acquitted in the excise scam case,” asserted Sachdeva, reminding that the battle is far from over.
Background of Excise Policy Case
Manish Sisodia was arrested in February 2023 in connection with an investigation pertaining to alleged irregularities in the now-repealed 2021-22 excise policy, which he helped design and implement while serving as excise minister. The allegations include claims of corruption and mismanagement in the excise department, accusing the aforesaid policy of having been implemented to benefit private liquor companies at the cost of public interest.
Sisodia held a diverse portfolio, looking after 18 different departments like finance, education, health, amongst others. The diversity of his departmental responsibilities made him an important functionary in the AAP government and lent credibility to the party’s ability to govern Delhi.
AAP’s Call for Justice
The Bail of Sisodia has served as a backdrop for AAP leaders’ demand for an inquiry into what prompted such prolonged detention. Singh said that the verdict was a “tight slap on the dictatorship of the central government” a sense that is more pervasive in AAP, which feels it has been at the receiving end of politically motivated harassment. The party hopes to galvanize support by framing their narrative as a struggle for justice against the backdrop of alleged political oppression.
As the AAP now gears up for the coming elections, the focus would be on mobilizing mass support around the question of political justice and integrity. Top leaders of the party will use Sisodia’s release as a point to galvanize their supporters and woo the electorate with promises of accountability and transparency in governance.
Conclusion
The bail that has been awarded to Manish Sisodia comes as a turning point for the Aam Aadmi Party in this convoluted political scenario while the assembly elections are just a few months away from Delhi. While opposition camps assert that legal battles are far from over, AAP is firm on highlighting this turn of events to reassure its commitment towards fighting what it feels is political vendetta. The next steps, therefore, are very important to the AAP: under the world’s gaze, these will seal their narrative and position in the coming electoral race.
Read more about related article, just click here
