Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann launched a sharp attack on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today after Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out fresh raids at residence and linked premises of Punjab Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora following which he addressed a live press conference and alleged that central agencies such as ED, CBI, Income Tax Department & other constitutional institutions are being used as “political weapons” against opposition ruled states and also claimed that similar actions had already taken place in states such as Maharashtra, Odisha, Bihar and Karnataka and claims that now Punjab was now being targeted as well.
The Chief Minister alleged that the purpose of ED raids was not to recover illegal documents or uncover wrongdoing but to create political pressure on opposition leaders and according to Mann leaders are allegedly told to join BJP in exchange for relief from these said investigations.
Referring to recent ED action against Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Kumar Mittal who was earlier in AAP and now joined BJP Mann said raids were conducted at Mittal’s residence and university premises for two days and claimed that after Mittal joined BJP these said raids stopped and he later received security cover from Centre and Mann alleged that this reflected “political misuse” of agencies.
Speaking about latest searches involving Sanjeev Arora Mann said ED officials had reached minister’s residence early in morning and that searches were still underway at the time of the press conference and he further claimed this was third ED raid linked to Arora within a year and second such action within a month Mann also maintained that “nothing was found earlier and nothing would be found now either.”
The Chief Minister said Punjab would not be intimidated by such actions “Punjab does not bow down to fear or threats” he said and also referred to repeal of the ‘three black farm laws’ by Narendra Modi led government saying it was the only time Prime Minister Narendra Modi had to “step back” after public pressure from farmers majority of whom were from Punjab.
Mann further accused Centre of repeatedly trying to weaken Punjab politically and administratively and referred to issues related to Chandigarh, Punjab University, Bhakra dam water management, Republic Day and Independence Day tableaux and pending Rural Development Fund (RDF) dues and alleged that BJP was constantly attempting to “trouble Punjab through every possible method.”
Mann also reacted to recent reports linking Cabinet Minister Aman Arora with a businessman who was recently raided by the ED and dismissed allegations and said politicians often take photographs with many people at public events and cannot verify every individual’s background and aiming at BJP leadership Mann also mentioned fugitive businessman Nirav and former Indian billionaire businessman Mallya claiming PM had photographs with them as well and alleged that opposition leaders were selectively targeted while those linked to the ruling party were ignored along with this he also said that in controversial America’s files many leaders’ photographs are coming out but no one talks about it the same way.
Mann also accused BJP of promoting “polarisation politics” across country and referring to violence in West Bengal ahead of elections he alleged that BJP’s political strategy was to create divisions between communities and later present itself as a protector and said such politics would not work in Punjab.
“Punjab is a fertile land but the seed of hatred will not grow here” Mann said while stressing Punjab’s history of sacrifice and communal harmony and also said Punjabis had seen “dark periods” in the past and would not allow the state to return to instability.
The Chief Minister further defended the Punjab government’s recently passed anti-sacrilege legislation formally known as “Jaagat Jot Shri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026” Mann claimed BJP was unhappy because state government had enacted a stronger law against sacrilege incidents and said thousands of people were participating in “Shukrana Yatras” to support the legislation.
Mann alleged that political pressure ED raids and even incidents of violence were being used as part of preparations for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections however he maintained that Punjab would reject such politics.
The ED raids on premises linked to Sanjeev Arora are part of an ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities and land-related violations involving companies connected to him and his associates and earlier reports said agency was probing alleged misuse of industrial land and suspected violations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
