AAP national convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal strongly criticised BJP led Central Government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids conducted at premises linked to Punjab Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora as ED carried out fresh searches at Sanjeev Arora’s residence and other locations connected to him as part of a money laundering investigation toady and reacting to the action Kejriwal alleged that central agencies like ED and CBI are no longer working independently and are instead being used to pressure opposition leaders and political parties.
Speaking on the issue Kejriwal said that if ED works honestly to stop money laundering in the country then no one should have any objection to it however he claimed that after Modi government came to power agencies like ED and CBI have allegedly been used more for political purposes than for fighting corruption or financial crimes.
Kejriwal said that ongoing action against Sanjeev Arora appears to be moving in same direction and questioned why ED had returned to conduct another raid when searches had already been carried out earlier at Arora’s residence and according to him if anything important was not found during earlier raids then reason behind conducting fresh searches should be questioned.
The AAP leader also referred to recent ED action against Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal and Kejriwal alleged that raids were conducted at Mittal’s premises and that he later joined BJP within a few days and through this statement Kejriwal tried to suggest that central agencies are allegedly being used to pressurise opposition leaders into joining ruling party BJP.
Kejriwal further accused Centre of targeting Punjab after recently concluded West Bengal elections and claimed that Punjab and Punjabis have been “ill-treated” by Central Government in past few years and also made several strong political remarks against Prime Minister Modi while alleging that Punjab has continuously faced pressure from Centre on multiple issues and according to him attempts were made to weaken Punjab’s water rights, take away Panjab University and stop funds meant for rural development in the state.
The former Delhi Chief Minister also referred to farmers’ protest and claimed that Prime Minister Modi had earlier challenged Punjab’s farmers but later had to step back and said that now Centre is allegedly trying to challenge entire state of Punjab and Kejriwal compared Modi to Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and claimed that Punjab inspired by sacrifices of Sikh Gurus would continue to stand against what he called “pressure” and “torture” from Centre.