Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday strongly defended the state’s business community, describing Hindu traders as the backbone of Punjab’s economy and key contributors to the vision of a “Rangla Punjab.”
In a post on social media, Mann alleged that the BJP-led Centre was misusing central investigative agencies, particularly the Enforcement Directorate (ED), to harass traders in Punjab. He claimed that such actions were aimed at exerting political pressure and persuading businesspersons to align with the ruling party at the Centre.
“The Hindu traders of Punjab are the backbone of our state’s economic development and have a major role in building a ‘Rangla Punjab’. The ED party wants to trouble our traders by misusing central agencies. Through such actions, they are trying to create political pressure and force them to join their camp, which Punjabis will never tolerate,” Mann said.
Backing the Punjab Chief Minister, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal also launched a sharp attack on the BJP. In a separate social media post, Kejriwal alleged that the BJP was eager to forge an alliance in Punjab but was not receiving a positive response.
Without naming any political party directly, Kejriwal referred to a rival party using terms such as “Beadbi Party” and “Chitta Party,” claiming that the BJP was keen on partnering with it despite being ignored.
The remarks come amid heightened political activity in Punjab and ongoing exchanges between the AAP government and the BJP over the use of central agencies in the state.
