Modi's top opponent released from prison urges battling 'dictatorship'
3 Min Read
Kejriwal claims the outcome of the elections would determine if India remained a democracy.
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Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal speaks to supporters after his release from Tihar Jail in New Delhi, India, Friday, May 10, 2024. (AP)
Following his provisional release from jail to campaign in the national elections, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's top opponent and leader of the opposition, Arvind Kejriwal, urged Indians to resist "dictatorship" after being granted bail following weeks in custody.
During a press conference a day after his release, Kejriwal claimed the outcome of the elections would determine if India remained a democracy, saying, "I have come to beg 1.4 billion people to save my country... Save my country from this dictatorship."
He continued to accuse Modi of targeting opponents with criminal investigations, saying, "Modi has started a very dangerous mission... (He) will send all opposition leaders to jail."
Kejriwal was greeted by more than 1,000 supporters as he exited the capital's Tihar Jail on Friday night.
"They sent me to jail and the PM says he is fighting against corruption," he said, stressing, "If you want to fight corruption, learn from Arvind Kejriwal."
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The Supreme Court previously announced that he was allowed to temporarily leave prison to campaign in India's elections, on one condition - his return to custody after the last day of voting on June 1.
"No doubt, serious accusations have been made, but he has not been convicted," the court's ruling said. "He is not a threat to the society."
He is also not permitted to release public comment on the case against him, not to interact with witnesses, and not to visit the offices of the Delhi government.
Polls opened at 102 constituencies across India and will carry on for the next six weeks until June 1, while all results will be counted and announced on June 4.
However, Modi's nationalist policies may prove to be costly, since 200 million Muslims live in India and have been subjected to persecution, discriminatory laws, and documented violence by the BJP-led state.
Kejriwal, the chief minister of the capital Delhi, has been held in contempt since March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate, India's main financial crimes agency, and was transferred for 14 days to prison for investigation purposes.
Kejriwal's government is accused of providing liquor licenses to private companies and receiving illegal payments in return.
Opposition leaders have denounced Kejriwal's arrest and accused Modi of attempting to tighten and hinder the opposition ahead of the elections.
