Chandigarh, Sep 24 Punjab’s ruling AAP on Thursday called out the BJP-led Centre over the Enforcement Directorate’s recent search operations in Punjab and held a protest, accusing it of misusing probe agencies ahead of the state assembly polls.
Punjab will not be “intimidated, coerced or silenced”, said Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, while AAP leader Manish Sisodia alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought “special kind of dacoits” from Delhi, in the form of ED officers, to “harass” Punjab.
On Tuesday, the ED conducted survey and search operations at the offices of Punjab’s GMADA in Mohali; IAS officer and Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development, Vikas Garg; and a Delhi-based realty company as part of a money laundering investigation.
On Wednesday, ED sleuths searched a residence in Chandigarh where former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain often resides. Jain was not present when the ED reached the residence in Mohali Sector 39, and its officials broke open the locks to gain entry, sources said.
The agency also searched the residence of the nephew of Punjab minister Hardeep Singh Mundian in Sahnewal in Ludhiana on Wednesday.
The ED is examining alleged irregularities in land acquisition, change of land use permissions, property auctions and alleged financial concessions granted to private realtors, sources said.
The ED’s search and survey operation concluded on Thursday afternoon.
Earlier in the day, AAP workers protested at the GMADA office in Mohali, where the Enforcement Directorate conducted a search operation as part of a money laundering investigation.
Some protesters allegedly damaged the windshield of an SUV belonging to ED officials and also deflated its tyres.
The protesting workers forced their way through police barricades and entered the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) complex despite the presence of Punjab police personnel.
Several protesters jostled with policemen to force their way into the GMADA office, but were stopped by the police. A few stones were also hurled, damaging the glass window of the GMADA office.
The ED search and survey operations drew sharp reactions from the AAP, with many ruling party leaders and ministers including Sisodia, Cheema, Harjot Bains, Lalchand Kataruchak, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Amansher Singh, Sherry Kalsi, and Hardeep Singh Mundian, holding back-to-back press conferences to slam the BJP-led Centre.
Cheema said the Modi government’s “use” of the ED, Income Tax Department and Election Commission against opposition states had become its “trademark”, but Punjab would not be intimidated, and the three crore Punjabis would give the BJP a democratic reply.
“Over the past two-three days, officials have even entered locked and unoccupied houses by breaking locks. But nothing has been recovered from these premises. If nothing was found, then what was the purpose of breaking into closed houses?” he asked.
AAP leader Sisodia launched a blistering attack on the BJP-led Centre and the prime minister over the ED searches.
Sisodia further alleged that Modi has understood that the BJP cannot win Punjab through votes, which is why he is resorting to “capture” the state through the ED.
Calling Modi a “tanashah” (dictator), the former Delhi deputy chief minister alleged that the prime minister has begun a “war” with Punjab and brought “special kind of dacoits” from Delhi, whom they call ED officers.
“They (ED officers) are Modi ji’s ’employed dacoits,'” who have been sent to harass traders, government officers and AAP leaders, alleged Sisodia.
He said the BJP was turning to the agency after failing to make political gains through its campaign ahead of the Assembly elections.
He accused the BJP of trying to exert pressure on Punjab by targeting traders, AAP workers, leaders and government officials, with ED officers repeatedly citing “orders from above”.
Additionally, Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian accused the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of pressurising his nephew’s family during a search of their Ludhiana residence, and claimed the officials asked his relatives to tell him to leave the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
He further claimed that the ED found no incriminating evidence during their operation at his nephew’s home.
(PTI News)
