In his first remarks after being released from the Tihar Jail, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said he will continue to fight "anti-national" forces working to weaken the nation, and asserted the incarceration has only strengthened his resolve.
Hours after the Supreme Court granted him bail in the Delhi excise policy case, Kejriwal stepped out of the jail to a resounding welcome by his party leaders and supporters.
Addressing party workers from the sunroof of a vehicle, Kejriwal raised slogans of 'Inquilab Zindabad' and 'Vande Mataram'.
"I want to thank people who prayed for my release. You have braved rain to come here and I am thankful to you. Every drop of my blood is dedicated in the service of my nation. In my entire life, I have faced difficulties but the God has always been with me," he said.
Kejriwal stressed that the jail time has strengthened his resolve.
"They put me in jail to break me but my resolve has only grown stronger. Jails cannot break me. I will continue my fight against anti-national forces," he said.
Hundreds of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers and senior party leaders, including Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, were waiting outside the prison to welcome Kejriwal.
Drenched in rain, Mann, Sisodia raised slogans from atop a truck hailing Kejriwal. Slogans like "Jail ke taale toot gaye, Kejriwal chhoot gaye", "Bhrastachaar ka ek hi kaal, Kejriwal, Kejriwal" rent the air.
Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.