'Felt like King Rukmi's soldier...': Sisodia on 530-day jail term
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia, has opened up about his 530-day prison term in the Delhi excise policy case. In an interview with The Times of India, he detailed his experiences in jail, including mood swings and his perspective on the current political landscape. He also spoke about his party's strategy for the upcoming state assembly elections.
'Felt like a soldier of King Rukmi'
Sisodia, who was released from Tihar jail on August 9 after being granted bail by the Supreme Court, described his time in prison as a period of mood swings. He attributed these emotional fluctuations to various factors including news updates, developments in his own case, and the overall political discourse in India. Drawing a parallel from the Mahabharata, Sisodia said he felt like a soldier of King Rukmi who watched the war from the sidelines but couldn't participate.
No statement on joining Delhi government
When asked about his plans to rejoin the Delhi government, Sisodia remained noncommittal. He emphasized that his current priority is to ensure AAP's victory in the upcoming state assembly elections. "If the party or Arvind ji decide that I should join the government, I will. My priority is winning this election," he stated.
Sisodia praises AAP's unity
Sisodia lauded the unity and resilience of his party during challenging times, particularly when senior leadership was under scrutiny. He expressed confidence in Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's imminent release from jail. On the issue of governance in Kejriwal's absence, Sisodia asserted that regular cabinet meetings were not essential for policy decisions. However, he criticized the increased powers of the Lieutenant Governor (LG), terming it as unconstitutional.
Sisodia thanks SC
Following his release, Sisodia posted a picture on social media with his wife, Seema Sisodia, enjoying their first morning tea together after 17 months. He expressed gratitude to the Supreme Court for upholding the power of the Constitution. The Supreme Court bench that granted Sisodia's bail highlighted that prolonged incarceration before being pronounced guilty should not be allowed to become punishment without trial.
