If the BJP is determined to put democracy in jail, then I am determined to run democracy from jail

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW ARVIND KEJRIWAL, DELHI CHIEF MINISTER AND AAM AADMI PARTY NATIONAL CONVENER

- SONI MISHRA

On May 11, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal arrived at the Aam Aadmi Party’s office in the national capital to a roaring welcome by party leaders and workers. Just the previous evening, he had walked out of Tihar Jail after the Supreme Court granted him interim bail for 21 days in a case relating to his government’s now scrapped liquor policy. The party workers applauded each and every line he uttered that day. His speech, a no-holds-barred attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party, set the tone for his campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.

During the speech, a party worker said, “kal shaam aandhi aayi thi” (there was a storm last evening). Kejriwal could not hear him properly. Party workers then repeated the line in a chorus. He smiled broadly. A severe thunderstorm had hit Delhi the previous evening, the strong winds uprooting trees and causing flight delays and cancellations. But, the storm they were referring to was Kejriwal.

That very day, Kejriwal hit the ground running— out of jail, straight into electioneering. He has been at his aggressive best during his campaign, unflinching in his attack on Modi and the BJP.

Amid the punishing campaign schedule, Kejriwal gave a detailed interview to THE WEEK. He exuded confidence that the INDIA bloc would form the next government by winning more than 300 seats. He said that while the focus of the INDIA parties was on issues such as unemployment and price rise, Modi had not even uttered these words.

Kejriwal spoke in detail about his time in jail, saying he was housed alone in a cell and that all his movements were monitored 24x7 through CCTV feed. He claimed the prime minister’s office, too, monitored the live stream. He said every attempt was made to break him psychologically and emotionally.