In his first public address since stepping down as the Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday, September 22, launched an attack on the BJP and raised five pointed questions directed at Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat. Speaking at a ‘Janta ki Adalat’ event at Jantar Mantar, Kejriwal questioned the ideological stance of the RSS regarding the BJP’s actions and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief questioned the RSS’s position on the use of central agencies to destabilise opposition parties and induct “corrupt” leaders into the BJP. He asked if the RSS agreed with the politics of BJP chief J.P. Nadda, who had stated that the party did not need the RSS, despite the organisation being its ideological mentor.

Further challenging the leadership of Modi, the former Delhi CM raised the issue of the BJP’s retirement rule, which mandates leaders to step down at 75. He asked if this would also apply to the Prime Minister, who is approaching that age. “Will Modi ji follow the same rule applied to L.K. Advani and others in the BJP?”

Released on bail earlier this month after spending over five months in jail over an alleged excise policy scam, Kejriwal strongly defended his record in office. He maintained that the corruption allegations against him were politically motivated, accusing Prime Minister Modi of orchestrating a conspiracy to tarnish his reputation and that of AAP.

“For the last ten years, we ran the government with honesty. We made electricity, water, and treatment free for the people and elevated the standard of education. Modi ji realised that the only way to defeat us was to attack our honesty, and thus he hatched a conspiracy to label AAP leaders corrupt,” he said.

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