Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took a direct swipe at the BJP-led central government on Thursday, accusing them of waging a war against state governments led by opposition parties. This remark came during a protest staged by leaders and lawmakers from the Left Democratic Front of Kerala, led by CM Pinarayi Vijayan, against the Union government at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.

Kejriwal, who participated in the protest, stated, “Governments led by opposition parties represent 70 crore people in the country. The BJP has waged a war against the opposition-ruled states. They have created an India-Pakistan situation with us. The Centre is using all tactics to harass the opposition governments,” according to PTI.

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Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann also participated in the protest with legislators raising slogans against the central government and holding a banner that read “Fight to protect Federalism.”

Kejriwal alleged that the Centre is withholding funds from state governments, utilising Governors and Lt Governors to interfere in their functioning, and deploying central agencies against opposition leaders.”It is depriving them of valid funds and obstructing work through Governors and LGs. It is also harassing them by using central agencies to arrest the opposition leaders. How will the government work?” he questioned.

“I have come here to ask for the rights of two crore people. If you do not give us funds, how will we build roads, provide electricity, and work for development? How can you snatch people’s rights?” the Aam Aadmi Party national convener stated.

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Kejriwal further highlighted how governors are interfering in state matters in opposition-ruled states, and agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are being employed to target opposition leaders and that probe agency serves as a new weapon for them.

He claimed that previously, legal processes were followed, including investigation, trial, and due process before sending someone to jail. Now, they arbitrarily decide whom to imprison and subsequently determine the charges.

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“They have arrested Hemant Soren, without anything being proved against him,” he claimed. “They can even arrest me, Pinarayi Vijayan, or MK Stalin. They can arrest anyone and send him to jail to topple the government. They even tried to topple the Jharkhand government, but they could not,” he said.

Fight to protect federalism: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan

Addressing the protesters at Jantar Mantar, Chief Minister Vijayan claimed that the ongoing fight aims to restore balance in Centre-State relations. “Today, we are at a historical juncture of the Indian republic. A democracy that was envisaged as a ‘Union of States’ is slowly and steadily being crippled into an undemocratic ‘Union over States’. We are seeing its manifestations around the country, especially in opposition-ruled states,” Vijayan said, as ANI reported.

“We have all come together to register our strong protest against this and to preserve the federal structure of India. Today, we are marking the beginning of a renewed fight that would herald a dawn of ensuring equitable treatment of the States. This fight would also strive to maintain a balance in the Centre-State relations. Thus, February 8, 2024, is going to be a red-letter day in the history of the Republic of India,” he added.

Chief Minister Vijayan expressed gratitude to the state governments and opposition parties participating in the LDF-led protest. Welcoming representatives from various states, he emphasised the prolonged struggle to uphold India’s sovereignty as a secular democratic republic with federalism as a core principle. He urged everyone to seize this opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to the ongoing struggle.

(With inputs from agencies)