Would’ve sacked Jaitley if I was in Modi’s place: CM Kejriwal

Launching a fresh offensive on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said had he been in his place, he would have sacked finance minister Arun Jaitley immediately.

“If I were in place of Mr Narendra Modi, I would have immediately sacked Jaitley ji,” Mr Kejriwal tweeted, continuing his tirade over the alleged irregularities in Delhi and District Cricket Association.

The Prime Minister as well the BJP have rallied behind Mr Jaitley. In a strong show of support for Mr Jaitley on Tuesday, Mr Modi said the finance minister will come through “with flying colours” against charges of corruption levelled against him by the Opposition in the same way party veteran L.K. Advani did in the Hawala case.

The Delhi chief minister also said the sports bodies should be free from politicians and be handled by professionals. “There should be no politician in any sports body. Let sports be handled by professionals,” Mr Kejriwal tweeted.

He also attacked the BJP for suspending its MP from Darbhanga constituency, Kirti Azad, who has been targeting Mr Jaitley publicly with the allegations of “irregularities” with the Delhi’s cricket body. “There is no democracy in the BJP. Honest voices are muzzled to protect corruption,” Mr Kejriwal tweeted. He also wrote on the microblogging site that Mr Azad’s only fault was that he raised his voice against corruption. “Today the BJP has been completely exposed. BJP is steeped in corruption,” he said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Aam Aadmi Party workers and youth wing activists led by several party legislators protested outside Mr Jaitley’s residence on Wednesday morning demanding his resignation over the DDCA row. This prompted the police to resort to use of water cannons and minor lathicharge. The party will hold similar protests in all district headquarters across the country on December 26, senior party leader Sanjay Singh said.

The protestors, who gathered near the Race Course Metro Station, were stopped by a heavy security contingent.