Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab General Secretary and Media In-charge Baltej Pannu on Friday made a series of allegations against Union Home Minister Amit Shah and AAP MP Raghav Chadha claiming there is an attempt to weaken and split the party.
Addressing a press conference Pannu alleged that Amit Shah is trying to break AAP by encouraging the formation of a new political party through Raghav Chadha and claimed that efforts are being made to bring AAP’s Rajya Sabha MPs into this new formation and he further alleged that Amit Shah has promised Raghav Chadha a Union Minister post if he succeeds in bringing over seven AAP MPs with him.
Pannu claimed that for the past few days Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids are being conducted to intimidate leaders and associated businessmen and also alleged that earlier no such raids had taken place on these individuals and talking about the same further said that such actions increase in areas where elections are approaching. According to him agencies like the ED, CBI and other central bodies become active in those regions to create pressure.
Pannu alleged that these actions are aimed at creating a narrative that certain leaders are corrupt and to push them towards joining BJP’s side.
He also referred to past cases involving AAP leaders including former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and claimed that they were targeted under corruption allegations but later got relief from courts.
Pannu said that similar tactics were earlier used in Delhi but did not succeed and are now being repeated in Punjab and also added that AAP leaders had joined the party with a common mission and would not be divided. He further alleged that there is an attempt to break AAP’s Members of Parliament to reduce the party’s voice at the national level.
Pannu said that these efforts would not succeed and issued a warning against trying to create pressure in Punjab, reiterated that Punjabis support people wholeheartedly but also respond strongly if they feel wronged.
