BJP 'using' Anna Hazare as CBI found nothing against Manish Sisodia, claims CM Kejriwal
New Delhi, Aug 30: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday slammed the BJP following Anna Hazare's letter to him over the liquor policy, alleging it was "using" the social activist since the CBI found nothing in the probe involving his deputy Manish Sisodia.
He claimed the CBI has given an "informal clean chit" to the Delhi deputy chief minister but may arrest him within a week or 10 days under political pressure. Kejriwal also claimed "people don't believe the BJP".
Hazare on Tuesday wrote a letter to Kejriwal, slamming his government's Excise Policy 2021-22 and said it seems the Delhi chief minister has "sunk into the addiction of power." He also said it seems the new policy will encourage liquor sales and consumption and spur corruption.
Last month, Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena recommended a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in the implementation of Delhi's Excise Policy 2021-22. Immediately after that, the Delhi government repealed the new policy.
Kejriwal said the BJP termed him a "terrorist" during the Punjab Assembly elections and "when no one believed them they brought in Kumar Viswas".
"Now they are using Anna Hazare to target my government," he alleged.
The CBI raided Sisodia's residence and checked his bank locker but found nothing incriminating, he said.
"Sisodia has been informally given a clean chit by the CBI but will be arrested in a week or 10 days under political pressure. They (BJP) are using Anna Hazare as people don't believe in their liquor scam charge," Kejriwal said.
A four-member team of the CBI conducted the search at a Punjab National Bank branch in Vasundhara, Ghaziabad, for nearly two hours. Sisodia and his wife were present at the time.
After the CBI team went through his locker for about two hours, Sisodia said the probe agency has given him a "clean chit". The CBI was acting under pressure, he told reporters.
The Aam Aadmi Party leader is among the 15 people and entities named in an FIR registered by the agency in connection with alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Delhi government's Excise Policy 2021-22.
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Trump says EU has until July 4 to approve last year's trade deal or it will face higher tariffs
Washington (AP): President Donald Trump has said in a social media post that goods from the European Union would face higher tariff rates if the 27-member bloc fails to approve last year's trade framework by July 4.
The announcement on Thursday appeared to be a deadline extension after the president said last Friday that EU autos would face a higher 25 per cent tariff starting this week. Trump made the updated announcement after what he described as a "great call" with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Still, the US president was displeased that the European Parliament had yet to finalize the trade arrangement reached last year, which was further complicated in February by the US Supreme Court ruling that Trump lacked the legal authority to declare an economic emergency to impose the initial tariffs used to pressure the EU into talks.
"A promise was made that the EU would deliver their side of the Deal and, as per Agreement, cut their Tariffs to ZERO!" Trump posted. "I agreed to give her until our Country's 250th Birthday or, unfortunately, their Tariffs would immediately jump to much higher levels."
It was unclear from the post whether Trump was implying that the tariff rates would jump on all EU goods or the increase would only apply to autos.
His latest statement indicates he might be backing away from his earlier threat on EU autos by giving the European Parliament several more weeks to approve the agreement.
Under the original terms of the framework, the US would charge a 15 per cent tax on most goods imported from the EU.
But since the Supreme Court ruling, the administration has levied a 10 per cent tariff while investigating trade imbalances and national security issues, aiming to put in new tariffs to make up for lost revenues.
