The arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi and prominent leader of the AAP by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has triggered a blaze of disagreement among the political leaders in the nation. One day after the Central agency detained him in connection with a money laundering case related to excise policies, a judge remanded him in the Enforcement Directorate (ED)'s custody till March 28. There have been lots of allegations on the government saying that all of this is just a political agenda before the election. A lot of AAP leaders are accusing the Modi Government that he is making democracy dead by letting things like these happen. But that is not True.

If we look into this matter and the facts surrounding it, we will realize that it is not strictly an act of political agenda but rather that it is a deliberate step to safeguard the rule of law and to effect justice in democratic government. So this is not the death of democracy but actually a way to safeguard it by not treating political leaders above the law.

The Excise Policy Scam: The Inside View

ED has identified Kejriwal as the "head of the excise policy "scam," which throws light on the severity of the charges brought against him. Kejriwal's alleged direct participation in the policy-making process and his alleged theft of the crime proceeds is the issue that undermines the legal ground of governance. Kejriwal has not respected his position as the Chief Minister and this has severely degraded the integrity of the post and the trust which the public has placed in him. In addition, his continual disregards of summonses issued by the investigative agencies clearly point to total disrespect to the legal process, sending a clear message that law enforcement requires urgent attention.

Political Agenda or Proper exercise of democracy?

Detractors might say that Kejriwal is arrested for political reasons especially that it is made close to the time of the election. Nevertheless, justice is greater than political identity in this context. Kejriwal's continuous disregard for the law sends a scary warning that the judicial system is not even considered when it comes to elected officials' calls earlier on the democratic system's foundations. The police are bound to observe the concept of the rule of law under which no one is immune to the law and is answerable to the law even when he is a political personality.

Lack of accountability

Kejriwal is not only being looked down upon for his evasion of legal proceedings and established administrative authority but also sets the wrong example for governance. The fact that he failed to attend summonses issued by ED is a worrying sign of disrespect for transparency and accountability - qualities that are necessary for a high-quality government. It also shows that he was afraid of something and the AAP party was hiding something. Therefore, Kejriwal betrays the trust of the electorate by breaking legal norms and by doing this he discourages the principles upon which democratic governance is based. This is the time when law enforcement agencies should take it upon themselves to step in and maintain law and order, no matter who the violator is, be he a political appointee or otherwise.

Effects on Democracy and Policy Making

Kejriwal's arrest affected not just the realm of party politics but went much beyond this. They target the foundations of democratic government and the rule of law. When elected officials come by legal procedures and are not punished, they not only shake the trust of the people in the democratic institutions but also destroy the foundation of democracy itself. When justice is delayed, it can lead to people losing faith in the fairness of democratic rule and result in despotism and tyranny.

Take away and Moving Ahead

Kejriwal's arrest is a warning signal to the country that accountability is not just theoretical but a process in a democratic institution. It shows that no one, be it a political leader or a party can get away with sins they commit. This principle reminds the members of the government to only view the law as supreme and work under it with transparency and accountability. Going forward politicians must recognize that rules of law are made for people of all classes and that abiding by the rules is a vital key to sustainable democratic living.

All in all, even though the issues behind Kejriwal's arrest may be a subject of political disputes, it should not be overlooked that being accountable is the main thing of its sort. This act is nothing but justice for whatever AAP party has been doing behind the curtains.  

By failing to observe the law and doing things without regard for consequences, Kejriwal and his party has broken the very base that sustains the democratic government and has betrayed the electorates. Therefore he should not be considered as a victim of political persecution but a victim of the rule of law and accountability because it is applied to all levels of the government. Together with holding people responsible for the actions they take, we will maintain the public integrity of democratic governance and keep the justice and transparency that we are upholding.