In a surprising turn of events, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Shanta Kumar, has publicly expressed his support for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia, following Sisodia’s release on bail after 17 months of imprisonment.
Kumar’s stance diverges sharply from his party’s official position, which has been critical of AAP leaders, including Sisodia and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, particularly in relation to the ongoing Delhi liquor policy case.
Addressing the media, the 89-year-old leader remarked, “Many will be shocked, and some of my friends may be displeased, but I openly express my sympathy for Manish Sisodia, who has been granted bail by the Supreme Court. I am genuinely thrilled by his release.” These remarks were shared in a press release, as reported by India Today.
Sisodia, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, was released from Tihar Jail on August 9, after the Supreme Court granted him bail in the money laundering cases linked to the controversial Delhi excise policy. The Supreme Court, through a bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan, highlighted that it would be a “travesty of justice” to deny Sisodia bail at this stage, contradicting the earlier findings of the trial and High Courts.
Shanta Kumar also reflected on the origins of AAP, recalling its emergence from Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement, and lauded the party for winning 67 out of 70 seats in its first electoral battle. He emphasized that AAP’s re-election in 2020, despite opposition from the BJP-led central government, demonstrated the party’s strong performance in governance and its success in gaining the trust of Delhi’s voters.
The AAP, responding to the Supreme Court’s decision, described Sisodia’s bail as a significant blow to the “dictatorship” of the BJP-led central government, though it lamented the year-long delay in securing this relief. The party remains hopeful that other AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal, will also find justice in the ongoing legal battles.
