Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday strongly reacted to the arrest of Punjab Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora and accused BJP led Centre of using central agencies like the ED, CBI and Income Tax Department to target opposition leaders and states addressing media shortly after Sanjeev Arora’s arrest Mann said Punjab has “always been treated unfairly” by Centre no matter what the issue is and claimed that BJP was now trying to create pressure in Punjab through repeated raids and investigations but added that “Punjab is not a state that gets scared.”
The Chief Minister said Punjab’s people would stop BJP politically and alleged that hatred cannot survive in Punjab “Every kind of seed can grow in Punjab but seed of hatred will never grow here” Mann said during press conference and also alleged that central agencies were being used as political tools and according to Mann opposition leaders are allegedly pressured through ED and CBI cases and then offered relief if they join BJP.
Referring to Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Kumar Mittal Mann claimed that ED raids were earlier conducted at Mittal’s residence and university premises but after he joined BJP raids stopped and he later received central security cover and further alleged that this showed how agencies were being misused politically “If you join BJP it becomes a washing machine and if you do not join them then cases are filed and jail threats begin” he said.
The Punjab CM also referred to AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and claimed similar tactics had earlier been used against him as well and further accused BJP of creating divisions and tension in different parts of the country for political benefit and said Punjab has already suffered through painful and dark periods in past and would not allow such politics to spread again and also claimed that Punjab’s people understand the value of peace and brotherhood and would not support hate politics.
He also accused the Centre of repeatedly trying to weaken Punjab politically and administratively and mentioned issues related to Chandigarh, Punjab University, Bhakra dam water management, Republic Day and Independence Day tableaux and pending Rural Development Fund (RDF) dues and according to him Punjab was being troubled “through every possible method.”
Reacting directly to Sanjeev Arora’s arrest Mann said his government was ready to face pressure from the Centre and fight politically against such actions and also asserted that Punjab would strongly oppose what he called “Modi’s rule of fear” in state and said his government would continue resisting such pressure.