Delhi liquor scam: BRS blasts BJP for the arrest of Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia by CBI

The minister said that Sisiodia’s arrest was a glaring example of the conspiracy by the Centre to weaken the Opposition parties which were strong in various states. The BJP was resorting to vengeful actions as it was unable to gain any traction in these states.

According to the central investigative agency and the Enforcement Directorate, the Delhi liquor scam was orchestrated by a “South Group” which comprised, among others, BRS MLC K Kavitha, who was also questioned by the CBI in December last year.

Related: CBI arrests Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia as AAP cries foul

Danger to democracy

He said that the political scheming of the ruling dispensation had come to a stage where it has begun portending danger to democracy. “BJP’s actions are like an axe-fall on democracy,” he said.

Describing the arrest as the acme of the BJP’s politics of spite, he said that the saffron party had ordered it after the apex court had censured it in connection with the Delhi mayoral election. After the mayoralty went to AAP, the BJP, unable to come to terms with reality, had begun the crackdown on the party, he said.

The BRS working president also arraigned the BJP for its vindictive politics whenever any Opposition party questioned it on its inept handling of issues or its half-baked policies.

He said that the BJP’s ballgame was to project its leaders as though they were men of probity while painting those of the Opposition as human incarnations of corruption,

“Are BJP leaders brothers of Satya Harishchandra?” he asked.

How many ED, IT & CBI raids on BJP leaders or their kith & kin in last 8 years?

Kya Sab Ke Sab BJP Wale Raja Satya Harischandra Ke Cousins/Rishtedaar Hain?

The country is watching how PM’s Cronies are protected despite serious allegations & how Opposition leaders are hounded

— KTR (@KTRBRS) February 26, 2023

‘People will teach BJP a lesson’

He warned the BJP that if it does not mend its ways, the people would teach it a fitting lesson as they do not condone any party resorting to vindictive politics.

The BJP leaders should keep in mind that in future they would have to taste their own medicine, he said, adding that it has become a wont for the BJP to capture power in states through the backdoor where it does not have the requisite numbers.

The BJP has already brought down democratically elected governments in nine states in India, he said.

The BRS leader said that the BJP was using strong-arm methods against the parties which did not kowtow its line. He recalled how the BJP tried to spirit away four BRS MLAs and how its attempts were foiled.

“The people had seen how the BJP tried to engineer defections with evidence on their television screens,” he said.

Related: ED questions Kavitha’s ex-CA to uncover more details of ‘South Group’

In another statement, Telangana Finance Minister T Harish Rao said that the BJP had resorted to the arrest of the Delhi deputy chief mister unable to rise up to AAP politically.

He said the arrest of Sisodia by CBI was an act of political vendetta. The finance minister said that the BJP which bit the dust in the municipal elections in Delhi was trying to take it out on the AAP in this fashion.

Harish Rao said that the entire nation had seen to what despicable depths BJP had descended to capture the Delhi Municipal Corporation mayoral election and how its attempts blew up in its face after the Supreme Court put its foot firmly down.