New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal has sharply criticised the Centre over the Enforcement Directorate searches linked to Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora, comparing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Mughal ruler Aurangzeb and accusing the BJP-led government of targeting Punjab through political intimidation.
In a strongly worded post on social media, Kejriwal said Punjab has a long history of standing against oppression and warned that the state would once again rise to resist what he described as “atrocities” being carried out through central agencies.
Invoking Punjab’s historical legacy, Kejriwal said the land of the Gurus has repeatedly fought against injustice and authoritarian rule. Drawing a parallel with the Mughal era, he alleged that just as Aurangzeb expanded power through force and suppression, the present government was attempting to tighten its hold over states through pressure tactics.
He claimed that Punjab had previously forced the Centre to retreat during the farmers’ movement and asserted that the state would continue to resist any attempt to weaken its democratic spirit.
The remarks came as ED teams continued search operations at premises connected to Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora in Chandigarh, triggering a fresh political confrontation between the AAP and the BJP.
Kejriwal alleged that the action was politically motivated and accused the Centre of using investigative agencies to force opposition leaders and businessmen into submission.
He claimed that Punjab has faced repeated pressure from the Centre over the past few years, including disputes related to water sharing, delays in the release of rural development funds and attempts to interfere in state-linked institutions.
According to him, the latest ED action is part of a larger effort to destabilise Punjab politically.
The AAP chief also cited earlier enforcement action against businessman Ashok Mittal, alleging that such operations are often aimed at compelling individuals to join the BJP rather than uncovering wrongdoing.
He claimed that similar pressure was being applied to Sanjeev Arora and suggested the repeated searches were linked to his refusal to bow to political pressure.
Kejriwal concluded by saying Punjab would not be intimidated and would continue to defend its democratic values, adding that the state has historically shown resilience in the face of political challenges and would do so again.
