The political confrontation between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has sharpened following a controversial exchange of letters between the state police and the central probe agency.
Addressing a press conference in Amritsar, AAP Punjab chief spokesperson and MLA Kuldeep Dhaliwal accused the ED of politically targeting AAP leaders and attempting to create a negative perception around the Bhagwant Mann government. The AAP leader also accused the BJP-led Centre of using central agencies to intimidate political opponents. The BJP, however, is likely to use the ED proceedings to maintain pressure on the Punjab government and question the AAP leadership over the allegations under investigation. This creates a politically sensitive situation for the Mann government, as any further ED action could trigger another round of accusations of political vendetta from AAP. Punjab Cabinet Minister Aman Arora has also accused the BJP-led Centre and central investigative agencies of trying to defame the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Punjab government. Arora alleged that the entire exercise was aimed at creating a political controversy and tarnishing the image of the Punjab government and AAP.
Because of pressure or the possibility of arrests, asserting that the party had now emerged as a national political force, he said AAP would not retreat. Reacting to the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) third letter seeking registration of an FIR, Arora said Punjab Police had already written to the ED on August 28, pointing out that the documents and information provided by the agency were incomplete and unclear. He said the ED was given time until September 1 to provide the required documents and information, but no ED representative had appeared before the Punjab Police so far.
He alleged that the agency was following a pattern similar to what AAP leaders had faced in Delhi, where, according to him, leaders were targeted through cases and arrests.
