Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Punjab Education Minister Daljit Singh Cheema on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, challenging his criticism of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and accusing the AAP-led Punjab government of failing on corruption, law and order, and the state's worsening energy crisis.

Cheema Challenges Kejriwal on ED Raids

Cheema's remarks came directly in response to Kejriwal's earlier claim that the ED was 'harassing small Hindu traders in Punjab' and targeting members of the trading community. Cheema dismissed the framing, arguing that Kejriwal had no standing to criticise central agencies without first accounting for raids against his own party's members.

'First of all, Kejriwal should answer why the ED conducted raids against his minister. Was the raid carried out on religious grounds or on allegations of corruption?' Cheema said, referring to Punjab Minister Sanjeev Arora.

He also cited a separate raid at a property developer's home in Kharar, during which, he alleged, ₹22 lakh was reportedly thrown from the ninth floor. Cheema claimed that the name of AAP's state president and officials from the Chief Minister's Office had surfaced during that investigation — an allegation NationPress could not independently verify.

Credibility and Accountability at the Centre of Attack

Cheema argued that AAP's credibility on anti-corruption rhetoric had been fundamentally undermined by the legal troubles of its own leadership. He pointed to the arrests of Kejriwal, former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and former minister Satyendra Jain as evidence of a pattern.

'He is a leader of national stature who came to power promising to end corruption. However, what was the reason behind the raids and jail time of Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Satyendra Jain?' Cheema questioned.

He also flagged that the CBI had raided Punjab's own Vigilance Bureau — a detail he said made it impossible to credibly link enforcement actions to religious targeting. 'When the CBI raids your own government, specifically your state's Vigilance Bureau, how can you link that to religion?' he said.

Law and Order 'Only on Paper', Says Cheema

Turning to governance, Cheema painted a stark picture of Punjab's security situation, arguing that public confidence in law enforcement had collapsed. 'The very concept of law and order has disappeared on the ground. No person, woman, or elderly citizen feels safe sitting at their gate or even inside their home,' he said.

He cited a series of recent attacks on public institutions — including police headquarters and stations, the Chandigarh BJP office, several temples, and the homes of political leaders — as evidence of a deteriorating security environment. He also alleged that cross-border smuggling of drugs and arms had continued unchecked under the AAP administration.

Energy Crisis Adding to Punjab's Woes

Cheema also trained his fire on the state's energy situation, arguing that rising fuel costs were squeezing both businesses and farmers. 'Running a business has become difficult, and the heavy use of diesel in farming is placing a massive burden on farmers,' he said, calling on the state government to reduce fuel taxes to provide immediate relief.

He urged the Punjab government to absorb the financial burden rather than pass it on to citizens already struggling with rising costs of living.

Warning Against Divisive Politics

Cheema closed with a broader warning, arguing that attempts to frame enforcement actions in religious terms would not resonate with Punjab's electorate. 'Politics based on such divisive narratives doesn't work anymore. People of Punjab understand these things,' he said, adding that voters were 'discerning enough not to be swayed by such rhetoric.'

The SAD's broadside reflects an intensifying opposition effort to corner AAP ahead of the next electoral cycle in Punjab, with corruption and governance increasingly becoming the central battleground.