AAP Goa cadre rallies behind Kejriwal after arrest by ED

Armed with party flags, the slogan-shouting AAP leaders and workers first assembled near the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, before they marched to the KTC bus stand.

AAP Goa State leader Adv Amit Palekar, MLAs Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva, party leader Valmiki Naik, Siddesh Bhagat, Gerson Gomes, Cecille Rodrigues, Prashant Naik and many others participated in the protest.

Speaking to the media, Adv Palekar said the entire country is protesting over the arrest of Kejriwal by the ED, exuding confidence that people will give a befitting reply to the BJP in the coming election by voting for the opposition under the banner of INDIA bloc.

“Arvind Kejriwal is not just a man; he is a thought process for governance, health, education, et al,” he said.

Terming the ED as the Extension Department of the BJP government, Palekar said the BJP is rattled by the response the INDIA bloc is gaining across the country ahead of the coming election. “The BJP is stitching alliances and inducting political leaders who have been accused in so many scams. This only goes to show that they are rattled with the growing support for the INDIA bloc,” he added.

AAP Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas said Kejriwal has been targeted by the BJP since the Delhi Chief Minister has come from the system and knows the prevailing system. “Kejriwal has come out of the system due to frustration and fought against the system to save democracy. The BJP has been facing a threat from Kejriwal over his successful health and education model in Delhi,” Venzy added.

Velim MLA Cruz Silva said the AAP and its volunteers will not be "cowed down by the intimidating tactics" of the Enforcement Directorate. “The BJP has arrested Avind Kejriwal, but there will be hundreds of Kejriwals who will come up across the country, including Goa, to defeat the BJP in the upcoming election,” Cruz said.