On Tuesday, Rekha Gupta made a stinging attack on Arvind Kejriwal, a day after the AAP leader himself appeared in court to appeal to have Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma recused to hear the CBI appeal in the Delhi excise policy case.
In a jibe at Kejriwal, Gupta said, “Kejriwal these days appears to have become a lawyer and asked why he chose to argue in person. She made the allegation that the AAP leader is only selective in his trust because he applauds authorities whenever they make decisions in his favor and cast doubt when rulings turn to his disadvantage.
Gupta also condemned Kejriwal on grounds of weakening democratic institutions more so the judiciary. She responded that casting the doubt over the impartiality of the court is tantamount to a lack of faith in the justice system which, she said, the people of the country have faith in. Instead, she became even more critical as she added, What fear is it that bothers you to-day that you have begun to point the finger of the judiciary?
The comments are made following the fact that Kejriwal appeared in court on Monday and claimed that his recusal plea rested on the ground of reasonable apprehension that he would not get a fair hearing. This has brought about a political argument with the opposition parties arguing that he has the right to do so by enforcing the law in court and those critics have argued that he is trying to manipulate the judicial process.
The trade has also intensified the political issues surrounding the high profile case of the Delhi excise policy that still remains at the centre of a ripe political and legal debate.