Amid ED raids, AAP alleges trader harassment, BJP cries communalisation

Chandigarh/Amritsar/Jalandhar: The Enforcement Directorate's (ED) searches in a money laundering case involving Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora triggered a sharp political confrontation on Tuesday, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accusing the BJP-led Centre of targeting Hindu traders through central agencies and the BJP alleging that AAP was communalising the issue.Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann alleged that the BJP was misusing central agencies to pressure the state's business community. "Punjab's Hindu traders are the backbone of our state's economic development and have made a tremendous contribution towards building a ‘Rangla Punjab'. The ‘ED Party' wants to harass our traders by misusing central agencies. Through such actions, they are trying to exert political pressure and compel them to join their side, something that Punjabis will never tolerate. We stand firmly with our traders," Mann posted on X.AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal also targeted the BJP, alleging that traders were being harassed through repeated enforcement actions. Referring to reports of a possible BJP-SAD alliance, he said, "I have heard that the ED Party is extremely eager to form an alliance in Punjab with the Sacrilege Party/Chitta Party, but the ‘Beadbi Party/Chitta Party' is not giving them any attention."AAP functionary Manish Sisodia said, "Traders have been ruined through ED raids and young people through examination scams. Modi Ji, you are truly remarkable. But the country needs an innovation economy, not an ED economy."Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon hit back, accusing the AAP govt of shielding corruption and politicising the issue."Why is the AAP govt so troubled by action against corruption? Central agencies are only doing their job according to the law. The traders of Punjab are our crown jewels. Chief minister, stop using traders as a political tool and provide them protection from gangsters in Punjab," Dhillon posted on X.He further alleged that Punjab's business climate had deteriorated under the AAP govt. "Instead of attracting even a single rupee of investment in four and a half years, due to your govt's failures, traders here are wrapping up their businesses and moving to states like UP and Haryana," he said.Punjab BJP spokesperson Sarchand Singh accused the AAP leadership of attempting to give a communal colour to the ED action. "In Punjab, a trader is identified by enterprise, hard work, entrepreneurship and contribution to the economy, not by religion," he said.Sarchand alleged that the AAP leadership was attempting to divide Punjab's trading community on religious lines for political gain. Defending the ED's action, he said the agency was a constitutional institution that should be allowed to function independently and impartially. He maintained that law-abiding citizens need not fear investigations and that no individual, irrespective of position or influence, was above the law.Cong attacks bothCongress functionaries also entered the fray, accusing both the BJP and AAP of misusing agencies and attempting to polarise voters.Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira hit out at Kejriwal, posting on X: "@ArvindKejriwal, don't try to camouflage corruption with religion! All these corrupt leaders of @AamAadmiParty and their henchmen are being probed for mega corruption in Punjab."Congress MLA Pargat Singh wrote, "As elections approach, the BJP sees Sikhs among farmers and the Aam Aadmi Party sees Hindus among traders. The people of Punjab clearly understand the intentions of those trying to divide them for political gain."Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa alleged that while the AAP government was misusing the Vigilance Bureau, the BJP was misusing the ED. Referring to action against Trident Group after Rajya Sabha member Rajinder Gupta joined the BJP, Randhawa questioned whether the AAP leadership would explain its actions.