Leaders call it 'fake' case meant to defame party
PANAJI
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Goa turned its latest internal meeting into a show of strength and celebration, flaunting the recent discharge of its national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and other senior leaders by a Delhi court in the controversial liquor policy case.
The closed-door meeting, held in Panaji, was described by the party as a “celebration” of the clean chit.
Photographs released by AAP showed Kejriwal himself in attendance, alongside the party’s Goa in-charge and former Delhi chief minister Atishi Singh.
State president Valmiki Naik, MLAs Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva, and several other leaders joined the gathering, which also saw enthusiastic participation from volunteers.
The mood was upbeat, with leaders hailing the court’s decision as vindication of their stand and a boost to the party’s credibility.
Though the event was not open to the public or the media, AAP’s press release emphasized that the discharge of its top leadership was a turning point.
“This is a moment of celebration for us. The truth has prevailed,” the statement read, underscoring the party’s narrative that the case was politically motivated.
Kejriwal’s presence in Goa was significant. It signaled his intent to energize the State unit and reaffirm AAP’s commitment to expanding its base in Goa.
The former Delhi chief minister also felicitated Jack Sukhija for winning the recent CCP election from a Central Panaji ward. Antonio Leo Fernandes, who won last year's ZP election from the Colva constituency was also felicitated.
The meeting also served as a platform to rally cadres and reinforce unity. Leaders spoke of renewed focus on upcoming political battles, drawing inspiration from the court’s ruling.
Kejriwal who addressed the meeting said that the entire episode was an “agnipariksha” for AAP.
He said that despite allegations of Rs 100 crore corruption, no evidence was found and the 600-page court order confirmed that there was not enough material to even begin a trial.
He highlighted that several top AAP leaders, including Manish Sisodia, spent months in jail, yet none were found guilty.
Kejriwal alleged that the case against him was part of a broader conspiracy to weaken AAP’s rising influence by the BJP leadership, which despite wielding power, money and central agencies, had failed to defeat AAP politically.
"Instead they resorted to defamation and arrests," Kejriwal said, adding that AAP’s governance model -- marked by reforms in education, healthcare, and welfare through initiatives like world-class schools, Mohalla Clinics, free electricity and public services in Delhi and Punjab -- had posed a direct challenge to BJP’s politics.
For AAP, Kejriwal's and its other top leadership's discharge in the liquor case has provided fresh momentum to counter critics and project itself as a resilient force in Goa’s political landscape.
