'Have to save country from dictatorship': Delhi CM Kejriwal as he walks out of Tihar on bail
NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Friday thanked Lord Hanuman as he stepped out of Tihar Jail on interim bail and sought people's support in his "fight against dictatorship".
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor was granted interim bail till June 1 by the Supreme Court earlier in the day.
He walked out of the prison in the evening amid dhol beats and sloganeering by AAP workers and leaders.
Standing through the sunroof of a car, Kejriwal then addressed AAP workers and supporters amid slogans of 'Jail Ke Tale Toot Gaye, Kejriwalji Chhoot Gaye'.
Beginning with slogans of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', 'Vande Mataram' and 'Inquilab Zindabad', the Delhi chief minister said, "I am fighting against dictatorship with all my might but 140 crore people (of the country) will have to come together to fight against it."
He further said that he would visit the Hanuman temple at Connaught Place at 11 am on Saturday and address a press conference at the AAP office at 1 pm.
"I am feeling great to be with you. I had told you that I would come out soon. First of all, I want to pay obeisance to Lord Hanuman. I am among you because of the blessings of Lord Hanuman," Kejriwal added.
The AAP leader also thanked people for their love and blessings and asked them to come together to fight against dictatorship.
"I want to thank you all. Crores of people of the country sent their blessings to me. I want to thank the Supreme Court because of which I am here," he added.
Workers and leaders of his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had gathered outside the prison complex to welcome him.
The Delhi CM also thanked the Supreme Court judges for granting him interim bail.
Kejriwal left from Tihar in his convoy.
He was accompanied by his wife Sunita Kejriwal, his daughter Harshita and AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak.
In a major relief to the AAP national convenor, the Supreme Court on Friday granted him interim bail till June 1 to campaign for the ongoing Lok Sabha election.
Arrested in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam, Kejriwal will have to surrender and go back to prison on June 2.
June 1 is the last day of the seven-phase Lok Sabha election.
Votes will be counted on June 4.