Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann criticized the Central government, led by the BJP, for conducting repeated Enforcement Directorate raids on Aam Aadmi Party leaders. Mann stated that Punjab would not yield to the “politics of intimidation and vendetta” carried out by central agencies. He questioned the necessity of raids specifically in states where the BJP was not in power, highlighting instances of leaders pressured to join the BJP after facing agency actions.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the ED raids were not aimed at recovering black money but at coercing Opposition leaders to align with the BJP. Mann declared Punjab’s resilience against such tactics, drawing parallels to historical resistance against tyranny. He expressed confidence that the nexus between the BJP and the Enforcement Directorate would crumble starting from Punjab.
Mann criticized the politicization of central agencies like the ED, CBI, Income Tax Department, and Election Commission, accusing them of being weaponized against non-BJP states, particularly Punjab. He condemned the BJP for using these institutions to intimidate leaders, businessmen, and public representatives for political gains, rather than functioning independently and impartially.
The Chief Minister highlighted a pattern of raids across the country aimed at political pressure rather than combating corruption. He pointed out instances where raids ceased once individuals joined the BJP, illustrating the political agenda behind such actions. Mann reaffirmed Punjab’s resilience against such tactics, stating that the state had always stood firm against intimidation and would continue to do so.
