AAP stages protest in Srinagar over Arvind Kejriwal's arrest

A group of party workers assembled near the Press Enclave in the city center and tried to take a march, which was, however, foiled by the police.

Few protesters were detained by the police, they said.

“We were even not allowed to take a march against the arrest of our leader. Our fight for democracy will continue,” said an AAP worker.

Omar reacts

National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah on Friday said the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is a part of the process whereby the democratic institution of the country has gradually been "eroded".

He said the arrest was clearly linked to coming elections.

“Within days of the Election Commission announcing the dates for the Lok Sabha polls the sitting Chief Minister and an important part of the opposition alliance has been arbitrarily arrested by the enforcement directorate. But he is not the first opposition leader to face this,” Omar told reporters in Srinagar.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is also chief of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), was arrested on Thursday night by the Enforcement Directorate in the Delhi liquor policy case.

“This is just unfortunately part of a process whereby democratic institutions in this country have gradually been eroded to the point where they almost now cease to exist. Now weather the country realizes the risk and the threat that our democracy faces or not time will tell,” the former chief minister said.

“ But the legacy that this government will leave because this government won't last forever. At some point or the other this government will be out of power but the lasting legacy that they will leave where in democratic institutions will have been all but destroyed is one that is extremely unfortunate for this country,” he added.

Earlier in a post on X, Omar said the arrest shows the ruling dispensation “remarkable degree of nervousness” before the polls.

“Aisi Taisi Democracy. For all the talk of 400+ seats, the ruling dispensation is displaying a remarkable degree of nervousness. Having a sitting opposition CM arrested by a pliable central agency within days of the general elections being announced is a blot on democracy,” Omar said, adding the NC stands with Kejriwal and AAP.

Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti termed the arrest a cowardly act of the ruling party.

“The arbitrary arrest of yet another CM by ED reeks of political vendetta & growing authoritarianism. This cowardly act has exposed fears of the ruling party now resorting to desperate measures by manipulating elections even before they are held. History has shown that tyranny never prevails in the face of unified resistance. We will not be intimidated,” Mufti said in a post on X.

(With UNI inputs)