Punjab CM Criticises ED Raid on AAP’s Bharadwaj

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann strongly denounced the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, labeling them a calculated move to shift focus from nationwide debates over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s educational credentials. The raids, conducted on Tuesday morning, targeted Bharadwaj’s residence and 12 other locations in the Delhi-NCR region as part of a money laundering probe tied to alleged irregularities in health infrastructure projects under the former AAP-led Delhi government.

Mann, in a fiery post on X, alleged the ED action was timed to suppress discussions about Modi’s degree, which has faced scrutiny following the Delhi High Court’s Monday ruling against disclosing details of the Prime Minister’s bachelor’s degree. “The raid on Saurabh Bharadwaj is a tactic to divert attention from questions about Modi ji’s degree authenticity,” Mann stated, pointing to the case of AAP leader Satyendar Jain, who was jailed for three years before agencies filed a closure report. “This proves all cases against AAP leaders are baseless,” he added.

The ED’s investigation stems from a June FIR by Delhi’s Anti-Corruption Branch, accusing Bharadwaj, Jain, private contractors, and unnamed officials of corruption in health projects. AAP’s Punjab unit president, Aman Arora, echoed Mann’s sentiments, noting the case pertains to a period when Bharadwaj wasn’t a minister, calling it “fabricated.” Arora criticized the ED’s pattern of targeting AAP leaders whenever Modi faces public scrutiny.

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The raids have intensified political tensions, with AAP leaders rallying behind Bharadwaj, accusing the central government of weaponizing agencies to stifle dissent. As investigations continue under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the controversy underscores the ongoing clash between AAP and the BJP-led central government.

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