Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has launched a strong political attack on the BJP after senior AAP leader Raghav Chadha and six others reportedly joined the saffron party calling the move a result of “pressure tactics” and accusing the BJP of indulging in “tikdambazi” instead of genuine politics.
‘BJP can’t win, so it uses pressure tactics’
Mann alleged that the BJP is unable to win elections fairly and instead resorts to strategies aimed at breaking opposition parties and referring to multiple issues like the farmers’ protest and BBMB disputes & much more he claimed these instances reflect a pattern and said the Centre had to take a “U-turn” during the farmers’ movement, showing that public pressure forced decisions, not political strength.
Allegations of agency misuse and ‘washing machine politics’
The Chief Minister accused the BJP of misusing central agencies like ED and CBI to intimidate opposition leaders “Wherever elections come, ED, CBI and other agencies suddenly become active,” Mann said and also took a dig at what opposition parties often call the BJP’s “washing machine” suggesting that leaders facing investigations suddenly become “clean” after joining the party.
‘These traitors’ are not Punjab’s representatives’
In a strongly worded remark Mann called the seven leaders who left AAP “traitors of Punjab” saying they do not represent the state and said that an individual can never grow bigger than the party itself. He added that those who could not stand with Punjab earlier will not be able to do anything meaningful now either.
Highlights AAP’s work
Mann defended his government’s performance saying visible development work in Punjab is making opponents uncomfortable and cited the closure of 19 toll plazas as a major achievement and said such decisions directly benefit the public “Work is happening at such a level that they cannot tolerate it” he said.
‘BJP is not a party of the people’
The Chief Minister claimed that BJP is not truly a “Bharatiya Janata Party” but rather a party of “imported and sidelined leaders” and talking further he referenced leaders from other parties alleging that BJP gathers leaders from elsewhere.
Targeting individual leaders
Without holding back, Mann made personal remarks on defectors as said that Raghav Chadha “felt suffocated” in AAP despite being given opportunities at such a young age and questioned the consistency of leaders saying even a “cycle has a stand but they don’t” and further adds that these leaders joined BJP to “save themselves.”
He also mentioned businessman-turned-politician Ashok Mittal claiming he was pressured through ED action.
Questions over BJP’s internal dynamics
Mann raised questions about internal contradictions within BJP pointing out that leaders who criticised each other earlier are now in the same camp and referred to Ravneet Singh Bittu and Raghav Chadha questioning how they would now work together after past criticism adding to this he also mentioned Captain Amarinder Singh claiming that even senior leaders like him in BJP are not being heard.
‘Try buying Bhagwant Mann if you can’
In a direct challenge Mann said he cannot be bought and says that the currency to buy Bhagwant Mann hasn’t been made yet” he said and asserted that AAP leaders entered politics by leaving behind their careers to serve the country unlike those switching sides.
Support for AAP & Kejriwal
Mann expressed confidence that the people of Punjab continue to stand with AAP and Arvind Kejriwal “Punjab is with AAP & Punjab is with Kejriwal” he remarked.
Warning to defectors
Calling the defectors “betrayers” Mann said the people of Punjab will “teach them a lesson” and maintained that the exit of a few individuals will not impact the party “Two-four people leaving does not make any difference to AAP” he said.