Chandigarh, April 17 (NationPress) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann accused the BJP on Friday of employing central agencies to initiate its election campaign in Punjab, citing recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids at the residences of two AAP leaders within just three days. He remarked that a party struggling to identify 117 candidates resorts to instilling fear rather than winning public favor.

The Chief Minister highlighted that opposition governments are facing harassment through obstructed funds, governors, ED, CBI, and the Election Commission. He pointed out that leaders joining the BJP seem to emerge unscathed from its 'washing machine.' CM Mann asserted that AAP would stand firm against intimidation, declaring that while Punjabis may face challenges, they would never succumb to fear. He urged the BJP to engage with the people in preparation for the 2027 elections instead of relying on raids and coercion.

In a media briefing, Mann stated, "Our nation is hailed as the largest democracy globally, where citizens elect their preferred government. It is the central government's responsibility to allocate rightful resources to every state, transcending political boundaries. However, we have observed a slow strangulation of democracy in recent times."

Criticizing the BJP, he remarked, "All non-BJP governments are being troubled, either directly through halted central funds or via governors. The AAP has been particularly targeted due to its rapid growth and status as a national party formed in just a decade. The BJP may handle the Congress but does not want a third political force to rise."

CM Mann also pointed out the filing of false ED cases against AAP leaders in Delhi, exemplified by the alleged liquor scam. He highlighted the unjust imprisonment of senior AAP members, including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, and mentioned the intimidation tactics employed against their supporters, compelling them to join the BJP or face serious consequences.

Calling attention to a national trend, he stated, "Across the country, in West Bengal, for instance, we see changes in high-ranking officers as elections approach. The BJP does not rely on public support to win; instead, they depend on the ED, CBI, and other departments for intimidation tactics."

He also noted that a few days ago, the ED conducted raids on the premises of AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal, who operates Lovely Professional University, serving around 4,000 students from over 35 countries. Suddenly, due to his affiliation with the AAP as a Rajya Sabha MP, he was unjustly implicated.