Arvind Kejriwal Calls Modi Government ‘Worse Than Emergency’, Demands PM’s Exit

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday, October 10, criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the detention of protesters ahead of a planned demonstration in Delhi, describing the situation as “worse than the Emergency.” In a strongly worded post on X, Kejriwal accused the Modi government of running a dictatorship and alleged that the detention of people arriving by flight reflected the government's fear of dissent. He also demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and called for Modi to step down. 

Kejriwal Slams Modi Government Over Democracy

In his post, Kejriwal wrote, “It’s official… we are living under an absolute dictatorship ruled by Modi.” He alleged that the government was attempting to suppress democratic voices and protect what he described as electoral fraud. Referring to the detention of individuals shortly after they arrived by flight, the former Delhi chief minister said the action demonstrated an unprecedented level of fear. His remarks came amid a political controversy over the detention of people travelling to Delhi for a proposed protest.

‘Gyanesh Must Go, But So Must Modi’

Kejriwal also repeated allegations of “vote chori,” claiming that Modi had won the election through electoral malpractice and was now attempting to protect that alleged fraud by undermining democracy. He called for CEC Gyanesh Kumar to leave office, adding that Modi should also step down. These claims were part of Kejriwal’s political statement and were not established as facts in the post.

The controversy is linked to a proposed demonstration by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar, which sought to demand Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over allegations concerning electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Delhi Police detained several people ahead of the planned protest and tightened security in the national capital. The police had denied permission for the demonstration, citing law-and-order concerns, according to media reports.

Kejriwal’s remarks have added to the political confrontation between the AAP and the BJP-led central government, bringing questions about democratic freedoms, protest restrictions and the Election Commission into focus. While Kejriwal has accused the government of suppressing dissent and questioned the legitimacy of the election outcome, these remain his allegations. The broader dispute centres on the proposed protest, the police action against participants and opposition demands for accountability from the Election Commission.