Punjab BJP chief Dhillon tells Kejriwal: Stop misleading traders with propaganda
Synopsis
Punjab BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon turned the tables on AAP, demanding to know why multiple party leaders face corruption charges instead of letting AAP reframe federal agency probes as political persecution. His direct appeal to Punjab's traders — telling them not to be used as a political shield — signals that the BJP sees the business community as a key battleground in its fight to reclaim the state.
Key Takeaways
Punjab BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon on Tuesday rebutted Arvind Kejriwal and CM Bhagwant Mann over their attacks on central investigating agencies.
Dhillon accused AAP of deflecting from corruption allegations against its leaders by linking legal proceedings to politics and religion.
He urged CM Mann to address gangsterism, extortion, and insecurity threatening Punjab 's business community instead of exploiting traders for political gain.
The BJP chief asserted that central agencies are acting within the law and that 'honest citizens have nothing to fear.' The exchange reflects an intensifying BJP-AAP rivalry in Punjab ahead of future electoral cycles, with the trading community emerging as a key contested voter bloc.
Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Kewal Singh Dhillon on Tuesday hit back at Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national Convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over their public attacks on central investigating agencies, asserting that the state's trading and business community is too discerning to be swayed by political propaganda. The remarks came amid escalating tensions between the BJP and AAP over ongoing federal agency probes into several AAP leaders.
Dhillon's Core Charge Against AAP
Dhillon framed his rebuttal around a pointed question: why are multiple AAP leaders facing serious corruption allegations? He argued that rather than addressing the substance of those charges, the AAP leadership is attempting to conflate legal proceedings with politics and religion to distract the public. 'Defaming constitutional institutions and investigative agencies in an effort to shield corrupt leaders is neither appropriate nor beneficial for democracy,' Dhillon said.
Challenging Chief Minister Mann directly, Dhillon asked why the AAP government appears so uncomfortable with anti-corruption action. 'Central agencies are merely performing their duties in accordance with the law. If a person is innocent, there is no reason to fear; however, those who have violated the law must be held accountable,' he said.
BJP's Pitch to Punjab's Business Community
The state BJP chief described Punjab's traders, businessmen, and industrialists as the pride of the state and sought to position the party as their natural protector. He claimed that under BJP-led governments, honest entrepreneurs have consistently received 'security, respect, and opportunities for growth' — an implicit contrast with the current AAP administration in Punjab.
Dhillon urged Chief Minister Mann to stop using traders as a political shield and instead direct his attention toward the mounting threats of gangsterism, extortion, and insecurity that, he argued, are actively undermining the business environment in the state. 'Traders deserve protection from criminal elements, not political exploitation,' Dhillon said.
Law Is Equal for All, BJP Insists
Reiterating what has become a standard BJP line on federal agency action, Dhillon said the law applies equally to everyone and that honest citizens have nothing to fear. He added that no amount of political maneuvering can shield those involved in corruption. This comes amid a broader national pattern in which opposition-ruled states have accused central agencies — particularly the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) — of being weaponised against political opponents, a charge the BJP consistently denies.
Context and What Comes Next
The exchange is the latest flashpoint in the BJP-AAP rivalry in Punjab, a state the AAP swept in the 2022 assembly elections. With several AAP leaders, including those at the national level, facing active legal proceedings, the party has increasingly framed these cases as politically motivated. The BJP, in turn, has sought to use the corruption narrative to erode AAP's credibility with key voter blocs, including the trading community. How Punjab's business associations respond to both parties' overtures is likely to shape the political temperature ahead of future electoral cycles.
Point of View
A community that historically leaned toward the BJP and its predecessors. The problem for the BJP is that the same central agency argument has been deployed in Delhi, Jharkhand, and Tamil Nadu with diminishing returns; voters in opposition-ruled states have grown increasingly sceptical of its neutrality. For AAP, the risk is different: each new probe forces the party to spend political capital defending leaders rather than governing, which is precisely the dynamic Dhillon is trying to amplify. Whether Punjab's business community ultimately sides with the party promising protection from criminal elements or the one currently in power will be a telling indicator of AAP's durability outside Delhi.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Punjab BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon say about Arvind Kejriwal and CM Bhagwant Mann?
Dhillon accused Kejriwal and Mann of misleading Punjab's trading community by framing central agency probes against AAP leaders as politically motivated. He argued that AAP is deflecting from genuine corruption allegations rather than answering them, and called on CM Mann to stop using traders as a political shield.
Why is the BJP targeting AAP over central agency investigations in Punjab?
Multiple AAP leaders are facing probes by federal agencies such as the ED and CBI. The BJP contends these investigations are legitimate anti-corruption actions, while AAP has publicly argued they are politically motivated. Dhillon's statement is part of the BJP's broader effort to use the corruption narrative against the AAP government in Punjab.
What concerns did Dhillon raise about Punjab's business community?
Dhillon said Punjab's traders and industrialists face growing threats from gangsterism, extortion, and insecurity, and accused the AAP government of failing to address these issues while exploiting the business community for political purposes.
How does this fit into the broader BJP-AAP rivalry in Punjab?
AAP won a landslide victory in the 2022 Punjab assembly elections, marginalising the BJP in the state. The BJP has since sought to rebuild support by targeting AAP on governance failures and corruption allegations, with the trading community identified as a key constituency to win back.
What is the BJP's stated position on central investigating agencies?
The BJP maintains that central agencies such as the ED and CBI operate independently within the law and that their actions against AAP leaders reflect legitimate legal proceedings, not political interference. Dhillon reiterated that 'honest citizens have nothing to fear' from such agencies.
