BJP, AAP are two sides of the same coin: Congress

Chandigarh: The Congress on Saturday said the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party were two sides of the same coin and both used "arm-twisting tactics and intimidation" against their political opponents.Reacting to the arrest of Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), AICC general secretary and Punjab in charge Bhupesh Baghel said the BJP uses central agencies like the ED nationally, while the AAP uses vigilance against its political opponents in the state. Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said the two parties, the BJP and the AAP, were playing games to fool the people of Punjab. He said it was strange that CM Mann levelled allegations against the BJP without taking any action. Regarding Arora's arrest, the Ludhiana MP said earlier the ED raided another Rajya Sabha MP, Ashok Mittal, and the next day Mittal joined the BJP. The AAP is meeting its match in the BJP, said Warring. The way the AAP govt misused the vigilance and the police in Punjab against its political opponents, the BJP is doing the same thing with the AAP, he added. Warring said the people of Punjab would not be carried away or misled by these games of the AAP and the BJP, and they would only trust those who had governed and administered Punjab well in the past. He said the Congress party would neither be intimidated by the BJP's ED nor the vigilance bureau of the AAP. Every Congress worker is prepared for the decisive battle ahead in the 2027 assembly elections, Warring added. The party, on Saturday, held a daylong brainstorming session, which was presided over by Baghel and attended by senior leaders from across the state. Later, briefing the media, Baghel announced that the party would hold "yatras" in all 117 assembly segments across the state to reach out to the people. Baghel said it would be a "three-day yatra" in each constituency to reach the maximum number of people, talk to them, and understand their issues, problems, and expectations. He said there were suggestions that the leader of the opposition should attend the concluding programme of the yatras. Earlier, Baghel announced the party would also bring out a chargesheet against the AAP govt in the state. During today's meeting, the party discussed the sorry state of affairs prevailing in Punjab, particularly the widespread corruption and deteriorating law and order situation, he added. When asked about the recent blasts in Punjab, Baghel said both the state and the Centre were responsible, and the onus was on them.MSID:: 130978106 413 |