AAP vs BJP: Statewide protests erupt in Punjab after ED arrests minister Sanjeev Arora
The AAP on Sunday launched anti-BJP protests throughout Punjab over the ED motion in opposition to state minister Sanjeev Arora, accusing the Centre of misusing investigative companies in opposition to its leaders.
Aam Aadmi Social gathering (AAP) leaders and employees staged demonstrations and gheraoed Bharatiya Janata Social gathering (BJP) places of work at district headquarters throughout Punjab, elevating slogans in opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP authorities.
AAP’s protests got here a day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Arora in reference to an alleged ₹157-crore money-laundering case involving sure entities linked to him.
The Punjab energy minister was taken into custody from his official residence in Sector 2, Chandigarh, on Saturday following recent raids at his residence and the company places of work of Hampton Sky Realty Restricted, a agency run by the businessman-turned-politician’s household.
On Sunday, protests have been held in varied districts, together with Amritsar, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur, Patiala and Mohali, the place AAP leaders accused the BJP of utilizing investigative companies just like the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and revenue tax division as “political weapons” to intimidate elected governments and silence opposition voices
Carrying placards, the protesters raised slogans in opposition to the Modi authorities and accused the BJP of trying to crush each political power that refuses to bow earlier than it.
Additionally Learn: AAP hits streets throughout Punjab over ED motion on Arora
In Patiala, cupboard minister Dr Balbir Singh led the protest march and strongly criticised the BJP for indulging in “politics of concern and intimidation.”
Addressing the protesters, Dr Singh stated, “The BJP’s politics revolves round threats, raids and coercion. They first pressured Punjab’s Rajya Sabha MPs and later focused cupboard ministers when AAP refused to give up earlier than the Centre. They thought Punjab could possibly be bullied via ED, CBI and Earnings Tax raids. However Punjabis have a historical past of standing in opposition to oppression and they’re going to give a befitting reply to the BJP.”
Dr Singh additional stated, “Why did raids in opposition to Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal cease after he joined the BJP? This exposes the actual face of the BJP. Companies change into energetic solely in opposition to those that oppose them politically. The second somebody joins BJP, all investigations disappear.”
AAP, BJP employees conflict in Ludhiana
In Ludhiana, a scuffle broke out between AAP and BJP employees throughout a protest exterior the saffron get together’s district workplace close to the grain market on Gill Highway.
AAP employees have been protesting in opposition to Arora’s arrest close to the BJP workplace when the employees of the saffron get together arrived on the spot and staged a counter-protest. The scenario escalated right into a heated argument and scuffle between supporters of each events.
Additionally Learn: Ludhiana: AAP misusing police, will maintain protest as we speak, says BJP
Punjab BJP basic secretary Anil Sareen alleged that the AAP employees attacked the activists of the opposition get together, leaving 4 of them injured.
Tempers ran excessive in Bathinda as nicely after AAP activists led by get together legislators Balkar Sidhu (Rampura Phul) and Sukhveer Singh Maisarkhana (Maur) reached exterior the district headquarters of the BJP. Police stepped in and prevented a conflict between supporters of the 2 events.
AAP employees, with Fazilka MLA Narinder Pal Sawna and Jalalabad MLA Jagdeep Goldy Kamboj, Abohar constituency in-charge Arun Narang and district AAP president Upkar Singh Jakhar, additionally protested exterior the residence of Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar in Subhash Nagar, Abohar.
In Amritsar, AAP staged an illustration exterior BJP nationwide basic secretary Tarun Chugh’s residence, the place they broke via the barricading in protest.
Face-off between AAP MLA, BJP activists in Balachaur
In Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district’s Balachaur, the AAP employees led by Banga MLA Dr Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi got here face-to-face with BJP employees throughout a protest. Police needed to intervene to pacify the scenario. In a video circulating on-line, the MLA could possibly be seen snatching the cell phone of BJP’s district president Rajinder Singh, who was sitting in his workplace.
Additionally Learn: AAP holds protests, defaces partitions of RS members in Jalandhar, Ludhiana
MLA Sukhi stated the AAP employees have been holding symbolic protest exterior the BJP district workplace in Balachaur when the BJP employees arrived on the spot and began creating nuisance.
“We objected to the microphone introduced by the BJP employees because it was disrupting our protest. At this, the BJP employees acquired infuriated and began passing derogatory remarks. We had gone to the president’s workplace to have dialog with him, however as a substitute of speaking, he began filming a video on his telephone, to which I objected,” he stated.
However, BJP district president Rajwinder Singh, stated it was the AAP employees led by MLA Sukhi, who began utilizing abusive language exterior his workplace. “We solely countered their verbal remarks and requested them to shift their protest to some one other place,” he stated.
He alleged that the AAP employees tried to assault him bodily whereas he was inside workplace. “The AAP employees have been behaving like goons,” he alleged.
Period of ‘misgovernance’ drawing to a detailed: Jakhar
Launching a scathing assault on the AAP authorities, Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar stated the period of “misgovernance” within the state was drawing to a detailed.
Talking with ANI, Jakhar emphasised that the present period was outlined by “Sabka saath, sabka vikas aur sabka hisab (Everybody’s help, growth and accountability).”
He predicted a looming “day of reckoning” for these concerned in monetary irregularities.
Jakhar warned that accountability was inevitable, stating, “Both the ED or the folks will guarantee it…everybody can be held accountable inside six months.”
Punjab BJP working president Ashwani Sharma criticised the “unruly” behaviour of AAP employees and accused the state police of performing underneath political stress whereas facilitating “hooliganism” in opposition to get together employees.
Speaking to reporters in Chandigarh, Sharma warned that the BJP is not going to tolerate political intimidation or a misuse of the police equipment to divert public consideration from corruption allegations in opposition to the ruling get together’s leaders.
Union minister of state for railways Ravneet Bittu demanded police motion in opposition to the get together leaders and employees. “I’ll take up the matter with high management of BJP in case no motion is taken in opposition to AAP MLAs and employees for misbehaving with BJP cadres throughout the state,” Bittu stated.
