AAP Punjab president and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora has alleged that the BJP-led Central government is using the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to defame Punjab and the state government in the 66-2 case.
Arora said Punjab Police has written to the ED seeking evidence related to the case, and according to him, the agency has not provided the evidence required for the investigation or any electronic data.
The AAP leader claimed that the absence of the required material raises questions about the case and alleged that the action was part of a conspiracy to defame Punjab and the state government.
“Punjab Police has made a written request to provide evidence,” Arora said and added that the ED had not supplied the necessary evidence or electronic data for the investigation.
Arora also referred to a statement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister. He said Modi had at that time described central agencies as “parrots” of the Central government.
The remarks come amid an ongoing dispute between the ED and Punjab Police over the registration of an FIR in connection with the case.
The ED has sought registration of an FIR based on information shared with the Punjab Police and the agency has maintained that the information provided is sufficient for registration of a case and further investigation.
The Punjab government, meanwhile, has sought supporting material from the central agency. Arora said the police had specifically asked the ED to provide evidence so that the matter could be investigated.
The AAP Punjab chief alleged that the developments showed that the objective was to target Punjab and its government, however, the allegations made by Arora are his political claims, while the ED has maintained that its request for an FIR is based on information gathered during its investigation.
The 66-2 case is among the matters that have led to a public exchange between the Punjab government and the central agency over the procedure to be followed before registration of an FIR.
