BJP-ED nexus at play: Punjab CM Mann slams raids on AAP minister, says won’t surrender to such tactics

Following the raids and subsequent arrest of his Cabinet colleague Sanjeev Arora, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said the end of the “BJP-ED nexus” would begin from Punjab itself.

Before the start of his “Shukrana Yatra”, Mann questioned the BJP-led Union Government over repeated ED raids on AAP leaders, asserting that Punjab would never surrender before what he termed “politics of intimidation and vendetta”.

Pointing out that the ED had raided Arora’s residence three times within a year and twice within a month without recovering anything, Mann questioned why such raids were being carried out only in states where the BJP was not in power.

The CM alleged that the Modi government’s real intention was not to recover black money but to pressure Opposition leaders into joining the BJP, citing instances where leaders facing agency action later crossed over to the saffron party and received political patronage.

“Punjab, the land of Gurus and martyrs, did not bow before Aurangzeb’s tyranny and will never bow before Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Mann said.

He further alleged that agencies like the ED, CBI, Income Tax Department and even constitutional institutions such as the Election Commission were no longer functioning independently and were instead being weaponised for political purposes against non-BJP ruled states, particularly Punjab. “The message from the BJP is loud and clear: either join the BJP or face harassment through raids and investigations,” he remarked.

Citing the recent case of Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal, Mann said raids were conducted for two days at his residence, university and business establishments. “But the moment he joined the BJP, the raids stopped and he was instead provided ‘Y’ category security cover by the Centre. What does this expose if not the political misuse of agencies?” he asked.

Mann further claimed that since the AAP government passed the strict anti-sacrilege law, the BJP had become rattled and intensified its attempts to intimidate the state leadership.

“It is unfortunate that despite Punjab’s unparalleled contribution towards national food security and border security, the state continues to be politically targeted,” he said.