Arvind Kejriwal's first reaction after arrest: 'Even if I'm inside jail, my life dedicated to nation'

New Delhi: In his first comments after Enforcement Directorate arrested him in an excise policy-linked money laundering case, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said his life is dedicated to the nation whether he is inside jail or outside jail even as AAP and other Opposition party workers staged protests across the country.

AAP also announced that it will burn the effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24. The party will also not celebrate Holi on March 25 and gherao the Prime Minister's residence on March 26 to register its protest against Kejriwal's arrest. The Delhi Chief Minister has been sent to 10 days ED custody by the court.

As he was produced in the Rouse Avenue court here, Kejriwal told a TV channel, "My life is dedicated to the service of the nation whether I am inside or outside (jail)", a point his wife Sunita Kejriwal, a former IRS officer, echoed in her post on 'X'.

Calling her husband's arrest a "betrayal" of Delhiites, Sunita said, "Modiji, in the arrogance of power, got your three-time Chief Minister arrested. Trying to crush everyone. This is a betrayal with the people of Delhi. Your Chief Minister always stood with you. Inside or outside, his life is dedicated to the country. The public is supreme and they know everything. Jai Hind." 

Raising slogans "Arvind tum sangharsh karo, hum tumhare sath hain" and "tyranny won't last", hundreds of AAP supporters hit the street.

In a press conference at national capital, senior AAP leader and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant said the the party stood rock solid behind Kejriwal and he would emerge from this episode a bigger leader.

"Where is democracy in this country? In Russia, (Vladimir) Putin got 88 per cent votes. They are following Putin's path," he said adding, "it is an illusion of the BJP that they can derail the AAP through the arrest of Kejriwal. Crores of Kejriwal have been born in the country in the last 10 years." 

Delhi Minister and party convener in the national capital Gopal Rai said workers and leaders were detained throughout the day.

"The whole country is sad and angered by Kejriwal's arrest. At 10 am on Saturday, all AAP MLAs, councillors, office-bearers, INDIA bloc representatives will take a pledge to save democracy. We will gather at the Shaheedi Park on Saturday, the martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev," he said.

"On March 24, effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be burnt in all Assembly constituencies. On the day of Holi on March 25, we will not organise any programme and on March 26, we will gherao the prime minister's residence," Rai said.