Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann visits Kejriwal in Tihar jail
What's the story
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann visited his Delhi counterpart and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal in Tihar Jail on Monday.
The meeting took place in a room known as the "mulakat jangla," a space separated by a glass wall inside the prison premises.
This was their first interaction since Kejriwal's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21.
Context
Why does this story matter?
Kejriwal was arrested on March 21, and is currently lodged in Tihar Jail under judicial custody.
He had moved the Delhi HC questioning his arrest's timing, implying it interfered with the 2024 polls and breached constitutional principles.
The court, however, dismissed Kejriwal's objections to his arrest, ruling that the federal agency had no other option but to act after the CM failed to respond to multiple summonses in a money laundering investigation.
Criticism
Mann expresses disapproval over Kejriwal's treatment
During his visit, Mann expressed his disapproval of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government over Kejriwal's treatment.
He stated that the Delhi CM is being treated like "one of the biggest terrorists" in the country.
"It was very sad to see that he is not getting the facilities that are available even to hardcore criminals," Mann said.
Solidarity
AAP parliamentarians show solidarity with Sunita Kejriwal
Furthermore, Mann added, "Kejriwal who is 'kattar imaandaar' (honest man), who started the politics of transparency and ended the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP)'s politics is being treated like this," he told the media.
Meanwhile, in a show of solidarity, AAP parliamentarians from Punjab visited Sunita Kejriwal, Arvind Kejriwal's wife, at her home.
"During the meeting, the MPs said that they stand with the party with utmost devotion and honesty.
Allegations
Controversy over Sunita Kejriwal's denied face-to-face meeting
A controversy regarding Kejriwal's arrest ensued when AAP leader Sanjay Singh alleged that Sunita Kejriwal was denied a face-to-face meeting with her husband.
She had to communicate through a "jangla" or window, which Singh described as "inhuman" behavior.
He claimed that "even the dreaded criminals are allowed to meet in the barracks."
Singh accused authorities of trying to "humiliate and discourage" the chief minister at the behest of the BJP-led central government.