What makes you say the BJP is targeting AAP and, specifically, you?
The phenomenal rise of the Aam Aadmi Party. Many people who meet the PM, some of them are our friends too, they tell us that the PM discusses AAP frequently. And he says that in the future, AAP will challenge them nationally and in many states. They want to nip it in the bud, crush AAP before it grows. They are running ‘operation jhaadu’ these days as part of which they are arresting AAP leaders… Mr Raju (Additional Solicitor General S V Raju) has given a statement that they will seize our accounts after the elections. Proceedings to vacate our office are underway. But they don’t understand that AAP is no longer a party of four people. It is now a thought that is spreading across the country. The kind of work we have done in the fields of education and health, no one has seen before. Why did we win in Punjab? Because our work in Delhi resonated there. Why did people in Gujarat vote for us? Because our work in Punjab and Delhi.

You claim you will run the government from jail. Why and how… what if this is not allowed?
Let me first explain why I am not resigning. People accuse me of being stuck to my chair. I have never been greedy for a chair or a post. When I was Income Tax commissioner, I quit to work in Delhi’s slums for 10 years. When I became CM, I resigned in 49 days without provocation. I did it for my principles. This time I am not resigning because it is a part of my struggle. They (the BJP) understand they cannot defeat Kejriwal in Delhi – we got 67 seats on one occasion, 62 seats on another – so they frame Kejriwal in a false case. So that Kejriwal resigns and his government can be toppled. This is dangerous for democracy. If I resign today, they will topple Mamata Banerjee’s, Pinarayi Vijayan’s governments tomorrow. Wherever the BJP loses, the CM can be arrested and his government toppled. This battle has to be fought. If they put democracy in jail, democracy will be run from jail. We will fight this tooth and nail.

You believe it is the Prime Minister’s call to keep you in jail?
Obviously. They decide who has to be kept in jail for how long. Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain have got messages, saying ‘BJP main aa jao, bail dilva denge (Join BJP, we will get you bail)

You make this allegation of the BJP approaching your party leaders repeatedly. But we are yet to see any concrete proof to back that claim…
Why do we have to give proof? We said what happened. What do you expect — that we walk around with a tape recorder in our pocket?

 What’s it like for your family to see you go back to jail?
They are all very brave and supportive. I am very fortunate to have such a family and such a wife. The kids are very understanding