Attempt being made to destroy country: Kejriwal

AAP national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday described Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha as a matter of ''deep concern'' and hit out at the BJP alleging that an attempt is being made to destroy the country.

He alleged the way Gandhi was disqualified was an ''act of cowardice symbolic of a scared government.'' ''It's not just a fight of the Congress or Rahul Gandhi, it's a fight of the entire opposition,'' he told reporters after his speech in the Delhi Assembly.

The Aam Aadmi Party, which had avoided siding with the Congress on various issues, has appeared to be softening its stance for the party in recent weeks. AAP's support for Gandhi has come at a time when Kejriwal is learnt to be attempting to forge an alliance of ''like-minded'' parties ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year.

Referring to Gandhi's disqualification, Kejriwal told reporters later that the central government is ''scared''.

''Our relations are not important. Everyone of the 130 crore people will have to come together. This is not a fight of Congress or Rahul Gandhi. This is a fight to save the country from an a dictator, a less educated and arrogant person,'' Kejriwal claimed.

Kejriwal claimed the atmosphere in the country is such that people are scared of sending WhatsApp messages.

''If an autowallah feels scared to send to send a WhatsApp message then you have caused the 130 crore people of the country to live in fear. How will the country function in such a manner. Why should people be scared. Why should we live under fear. Its our country. Everyone-farmers, labourers judiciary, judges, media, traders- is scared. They threaten everyone with CBI and ED,'' he alleged.

Kejriwal also cited his former deputy Manish Sisodia's arrest and said one his volunteers had told him that he ''could be next''. ''One of my party members came to me and said - you could be next. A new trend has begun after Manish Sisodia's arrest… MLAs are being threatened. I want to ask all of you - 'Are you scared?' If you are, you can leave AAP,'' he said.

Kejriwal assured his party MLAs that even if they go to jail, all their household expenses will be taken care of by him.

''They will put all our netas in jail. And whoever goes to jail, I will take care of their household finances. Just like Bhagat Singh's name is remembered for going to jail, this is that opportunity for you,'' he asserted. Earlier speaking in the assembly, he alleged, ''There has not been a more corrupt prime minister and the least uneducated prime minister in the history of our country. He cannot run the government but he is full of arrogance. I want to tell BJP people that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, an attempt is being made to destroy the country. Those who want to destroy the country should be in BJP and those who want to save the country should leave BJP.'' The statement led to an uproar in the assembly.

Gandhi was disqualified from Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after he was convicted by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case for his alleged remark, ''How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?'' Asserting that the AAP respects the judiciary, Kejriwal said his party does not support the judgment against Gandhi.

''The way Rahul Gandhi was framed in the defamation case and, convicted with maximum sentence and within 24 hours his Lok Sabha membership was terminated, its a matter of deep concern for the country. The way his membership was terminated is an act of cowardice symbolic of a scared government,'' he said.

The Delhi chief minister also alleged that the BJP wants to create an opposition-less polity.

''They want to create a situation wherein just one party and one leader exists and others are eliminated. One nation, one party and one nation, one leader. This is called dictatorship,'' he said.

Kejriwal also drew parallels between the BJP-ruled Centre and the British rulers.

''The form of the present government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scarier and more dangerous than the British rule... If we want to save the country, then all the 130 crore people will have to come together and participate in this fight. It's immaterial who forms the government,'' he said.