New Delhi

Aam Aadmi Party leaders on Sunday (Apr 7) held a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar against the arrest of party supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the excise policy case.

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AAP further accused the BJP of resorting to dictatorship with Delhi minister Atishi alleging that the central agencies like ED and CBI are acting as political weapons of the saffron party.

"People of Delhi love Arvind Kejriwal. They don't think of him as a CM but as their son, or brother. All want the bail for Arvind Kejriwal. BJP's ED and CBI haven't been able to show a single penny of liquor scam from the leaders of AAP," Atishi said.

She further alleged that the money trail in the liquor policy scam can be traced from liquor trader Sharat Reddy to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

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"If there is any money trail in this issue, it's from liquor trader Sharat Reddy to the BJP. Sharat Reddy donated 55 crores to the BJP... Why the BJP has not been raided, or accused, why has the BJP's National President not been summoned or arrested? ED, CBI act as political weapons of BJP," she stated.

The fast was also observed by several volunteers and supporters of the party outside of India in countries like the UK, the US and Australia.

Also read: After EC notice, AAP’s Atishi slams ED, asks agency to take action against BJP over ‘money laundering’

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The party leaders said that multiple demonstrations were held at Harvard Square in Boston, the Hollywood Sign in Los Angeles, outside the Indian Embassy in Washington DC, in New York Times Square and in Toronto, London and Melbourne among others.

"Not just in Delhi, but in 25 states of our country, and in 8 countries of the world, AAP  workers fasted against his arrest. Arvind Kejirwal's fault is that he gave good education to the children of Delhi, that he gave good healthcare for free, that he gave free Tirth Yatra for senior citizens, and that he gave free bus rides to women. This is why BJP arrested Arvind Kejriwal," said Atishi.

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Senior Aam Aadmi Party leaders, including Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, Deputy Speaker Rakhi Bila, ministers Gopal Rai, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Kailash Gahlot and Imran Hussain attended the day-long 'Samuhik Upwas' at Jantar Mantar from 11 am.

Earlier, Atishi had urged people during a press conference to be a part of the hunger strike in the national capital to save democracy.

"We appeal to people that all those who are against the arrest of CM Arvind Kejriwal and want to save democracy and love this country can also do' Samuhik Upwas' at their homes, villages, and blocks," she said.

(With inputs from agencies)