Did the Govt Fund AAP's Rally in Moga?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Chandigarh, Feb 16 (NationPress) The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has made serious allegations against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), claiming that they have misappropriated government funds to organize a rally in Moga. The SAD has called on Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and the Election Commission of India (ECI) to investigate this issue.
In a statement, SAD senior leader Daljit Singh Cheema accused the ruling AAP of engaging in deceptive political tactics by associating its rally with the government's 'Yudh Nashain Virudh' initiative, even though the real aim was to kickstart their campaign for the upcoming 2027 Assembly elections.
“The use of government resources extended beyond transporting attendees; the entire financial burden of the rally has been billed to the government. This is particularly concerning as the event was led by AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal and other Delhi leaders, who hold no governance role in Punjab,” he stated.
Cheema described this political maneuvering as shameful, highlighting that the rally consisted of purely political speeches and unfounded accusations aimed at opponents.
He urged both the Governor and the ECI to initiate steps to recover all funds expended for the rally from AAP, as it breaches established protocols and cannot be regarded as a government-sanctioned event.
The Akali Dal leader also criticized the manner in which the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police were compelled to participate in a political rally, warning that this could lead to the politicization of the state bureaucracy, which is detrimental to democracy.
“If this continues, the Punjab government may soon pressure district-level officials to engage in political rallies and align with AAP,” he warned, stressing that such circumstances would jeopardize the integrity of free and fair elections.