.Delhi In a sign of their increased political influence after their spouses’ arrests, former chief minister Hemant Soren’s wife Kalpana and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s wife Sunita spoke at an opposition bloc INDIA rally on Sunday for the first time, strongly advocating for the BJP’s defeat. At the ‘Loktantra Bachao’ (defend democracy) protest at the Ramlila Maidan here, two chairs were left empty for Arvind Kejriwal and Hemant Soren, whose spouses accused the BJP-led national government of being responsible for the arrests.
“When two of our sisters are fighting, how can the brothers stay behind?” Shiv Sena (UBT) chairman Uddhav Thackeray said in support of Sunita Kejriwal and Kalpana Soren, among other opposition politicians.Not just us, but the entire nation is with you”
Since the Delhi chief minister was detained by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 in connection with a money laundering case involving excise laws, Sunita has gained attention.
She used to be restricted to the stage, where she would assist him and give party workers recognition. She was a former IRS official. Following the historic mandate that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) garnered in Delhi in 2015—67 of the 70 assembly seats—Avind Kejriwal tweeted his gratitude to her for her unwavering support. He was also seen joyfully giving her a hug in a photo.
After working for the Income Tax department for almost 22 years, Sunita resigned voluntarily from the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) in 2016, almost a year after Arvind Kejriwal was appointed chief minister.
Since his apprehension, she has conducted virtual briefings in which she has read aloud his communications from the ED.
She read aloud his message and declared his six “guarantees” at the Sunday INDIA bloc protest. She also referred to him as a “sher” (lion) and promised that he wouldn’t stay incarcerated for very long.At the rally, Sunita Kejriwal also read out six poll promises pitched by jailed Arvind Kejriwal. There are:
- Countrywide 24-hour electricity.
- The poor in country will get free electricity.
- Every village and mohalla will get a good government school.
- Every village, and mohalla will get a mohalla clinic.
- Farmers will get MSP as per the Swaminathan Committee report.
- Full statehood for Delhi.
She questioned if Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest was appropriate at the start of her speech. “My spouse was imprisoned by our Prime Minister Modi ji. Was the prime minister doing appropriately? Do all of you think that Kejriwal ji is an honest and sincere patriot? These BJP members claim that Arvind Kejriwal ought to step down because he is incarcerated. Must Arvind Kejriwal ji step down? She enquired.
She spoke from Arvind Kejriwal’s statement to the assembly, encouraging them to “keep dreaming about an India which can provide education and health care for all, irrespective of their richness or poverty.” If you let the INDIA bloc a chance, we can create a very magnificent country.”
The AAP faces a dilemma in finding a suitable leader to lead the party and its administration in Delhi after Kejriwal’s incarceration. Sunita Kejriwal’s name has been circulating as a potential substitute for the detained leader.
The BJP compared Sunita to former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi, who entered politics under similar conditions, since she became more involved in politics after her husband’s departure.
The BJP politician and Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri suggested on Friday that she might be getting ready to take over her husband’s position. “The madam you are naming is perhaps preparing to hold the post like Rabri Devi did in Bihar.”The wives of AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Satyendar Jain, who are now serving jail sentences, attended the gathering as well. Manish Sisodia’s wife, whose health prevented her from attending, offered her best wishes.
In the excise policy case, Kejriwal, Sisodia, and Singh were all taken into custody; in a separate money laundering case, Jain was also taken into custody.
Hemant Soren was detained by the ED on January 31 in connection with a money laundering case involving a purported land scam in Jharkhand, a few weeks before to Kejriwal’s detention. Leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha Soren resigned as chief minister just before he was arrested.
His wife Kalpana Soren remarked that the attendees at the INDIA bloc march were opposed to the dictatorial forces that were undermining democracy.
“The history of the tribal people is one of hardship and sacrifice. We take great pride in our past,” she remarked.
“The NDA administration is destroying all of the guarantees contained in Babasaheb’s Constitution. They have destroyed constitutional agencies one by one. Because of the rising rates of unemployment and inflation, discord within communities is growing,”she said.
“While certain parties may believe they are in complete control, individuals are actually in charge. To vote for the INDIA group in the polls, use your finger. Use your vote intelligently if you want to preserve democracy in your country “added the speaker.
On March 4, the day of the JMM Foundation, Kalpana made her first significant public appearance. She spoke movingly about her husband’s detention and promised to keep up the fight. She comes from the Odisha district of Mayurbhanj and holds an MBA and a master’s degree in engineering.
The BJP’s dig at Sunita Kejriwal
Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad claimed Arvind Kejriwal seemed to have taken inspiration from INDIA bloc ally Lalu Prasad, who gave his wife the reins of power after falling under the dragnet Prasad, who served as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s law and justice minister for the first seven years of his tenure, was questioned about the Aam Aadmi Party chief’s unwillingness to resign nearly a week after being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate for money laundering.”These days, Kejriwal’s wife appears to have gotten fairly active. “She can be seen in the chair that her husband once occupied as Delhi’s chief minister,” Prasad remarked.
