麻豆约拍

In India, Arvind Kejriwal, the leader of the opposition Aam Aadmi Party has been arrested on allegations of corruption. This party is in power in Delhi but in opposition nationally.

Mr Kejriwal, who is also Delhi's chief minister - has refused to quit his post and pledged to continue working from jail. His party has blamed the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, of conducting a political vendetta.

The BJP denies the allegation, saying investigative agencies were doing their work independently.

His arrest comes ahead of national elections and has prompted international criticism from countries such as the US and Germany.

Newsday spoke to Atishi Marlena a member of Aam Aadmi and Delhi's education minister, to ask whether the episode poses a danger to India's democratic process.

"The only people being investigated by these authorities are opposition leaders. The enforcement directorate is now being used as a political weapon against opposition leaders. It is virtually impossible to get bail in these cases [under the money laundering act]. And so one-by-one... opposition leaders leave their parties and join the BJP."

"Casting a vote is not the only thing that makes a rational democracy. The process by which the election commissioners get chosen has been changed by the government in India... which means the selection process [board] now has a majority of the ruling party."

"All institutions that are responsible for carrying out free-and-fair elections are under threat. People are beginning to be very worried about the deterioration of democratic norms in the country."

(Pic: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi Party, AAP; Credit: Getty Images)

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