Panaji, March 17 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal said on Tuesday that his party had successfully "passed the test" with the court discharging him and 22 others in the excise policy case, and added that it was "not easy" due to "difficulties at every step".
The former Delhi chief minister also challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold assembly elections in the national capital, saying that the BJP would not be able to win even 10 seats while the AAP would secure more than 60.
On February 27, a trial court discharged Kejriwal, former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, and 21 others in the excise policy case, criticizing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for its case being wholly unable to withstand judicial scrutiny and being discredited in its entirety.
The trial court ruled that the alleged conspiracy was nothing more than a speculative construct based on conjecture and surmise, devoid of any admissible evidence, and therefore, compelling the accused to face the rigours of a full-fledged criminal trial in the stark absence of any legally admissible material did not serve the ends of justice.
Speaking about it, Kejriwal said, "Some people were asking why Kejriwal has been quiet for the last one year."
"There are politicians who are used to it. But I am an ordinary person like you. If someone says that Kejriwal is a dishonest person, then I feel bad. I had decided that I would remain silent until the court gives its verdict," he said.
Attacking the ruling BJP and the Centre, he alleged, "They have put five of our leaders behind bars and seized power in Delhi. Today, I challenge PM Modi to hold the election now and you will find that the BJP will win not even 10 seats, while the AAP will secure more than 60 seats."
Kejriwal said that the AAP has successfully "passed the test".
"It was not easy. There were difficulties at every step. We faced the worst of the situation...When Lord Ram defeated Ravan and came back to Ayodhya, even Sita Mata had to undergo agnipariksha," the AAP convenor said.
AAP is an honest party, but it had to undergo the trial by fire often after facing false accusations, Kejriwal alleged.
The BJP accused AAP leaders of being involved in the excise policy case, he said, adding, "They (BJP) alleged that we siphoned off Rs 100 crore. They tried to portray us as corrupt, thieves...The BJP tried to create suspicion against the AAP in the minds of people."