Chandigarh, August 12, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Finance Minister and senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday accused the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) of acting as a political spokesperson for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and central investigative agencies, while attacking the Akali-BJP government’s record in Punjab between 2007 and 2017.
Addressing a press conference, Cheema criticised recent SAD statements concerning communication between the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP). He alleged that the communication was being used by the Akali Dal to target the AAP government politically.
“The SAD has completely abandoned its principles and is now acting as a spokesperson for the BJP and central investigative agencies,” Cheema said, alleging that the party was functioning as an “extended wing” of the BJP.
The Finance Minister also revisited the 2007-2017 tenure of the SAD-BJP government, accusing the then government of allowing the drug menace, commonly referred to as “Chitta”, to proliferate and of presiding over widespread corruption and other problems that, he said, damaged Punjab’s social and economic fabric.
Cheema also referred to incidents of alleged desecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji during that period and said the people of Punjab had not forgotten the circumstances that led to the state being associated with the “Udta Punjab” tag.
He further alleged that many families were compelled to sell land, houses and savings to send their children abroad because of concerns over the future of the youth amid the drug crisis.
Targeting the BJP-led Union government, Cheema alleged that central agencies, including the ED, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Income Tax Department, were being used to intimidate opposition leaders and put pressure on opposition-ruled states.
“Whenever elections approach or an opposition government stands firm, the machinery of central agencies is unleashed to threaten political opponents and break governments,” he alleged, citing developments in West Bengal and Bihar as well as action involving AAP leaders.
Cheema said the Akali Dal was now adopting narratives allegedly dictated by the BJP and central agencies to protect its political interests. He asserted that people in Punjab would not be misled by what he described as political tactics aimed at weakening the AAP government.
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