Chandigarh, September 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia on Thursday accused the BJP-led Central Government of using Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids to put pressure on Punjab ahead of the Assembly elections, alleging that the agency’s actions followed the BJP’s failure to make political gains through its campaign in the state.
Addressing a press conference along with AAP Punjab chief spokesperson Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Sisodia alleged that the ED was being used to target traders, AAP workers, leaders and Punjab government officials.
“The sole objective of the dictator sitting in Delhi is to carry this war against Punjab forward and keep harassing Punjab,” Sisodia said, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and describing ED officials as “employed dacoits” of the Prime Minister.
Sisodia claimed that the BJP had first attempted to make political gains through its campaign in Punjab but subsequently turned to central agencies after failing to attract sufficient public support. He alleged that the response to BJP president Nitin Nabin’s campaign in Punjab had prompted the Centre to deploy the ED against people in the state.
“After that, Narendra Modi deployed 4,000 ED officers across Punjab. And their only task is this: Narendra Modi has told the ED officers to harass Punjab and harass Punjabis as much as they possibly can,” he alleged.
The ED has been conducting searches in Punjab in connection with an investigation into alleged irregularities involving the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA). The agency’s operation at the GMADA headquarters in Mohali continued for around 50 hours and ended on Thursday. Searches were also conducted at other locations linked to the probe.
Sisodia alleged that ED officials were entering the homes of traders, AAP workers and government officials while telling those questioned that they had received “orders from above”.
He further claimed that despite repeated raids, the agency had not recovered any money or documents establishing corruption. “They have not found a single rupee anywhere. Narendra Modi’s ED has not found a single document indicating corruption,” he said.
Sisodia also referred to an ED search at the Chandigarh residence of AAP leader and former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain. The Enforcement Directorate had broken open the locks of the government bungalow after Jain was not present at the premises, according to reports. The search was linked to the investigation into alleged irregularities in GMADA affairs.
“The chairman was not there, but his house was locked, so they broke the lock and entered his house,” Sisodia said, alleging that the incident demonstrated the political nature of the ED’s actions.
The AAP leader also defended the Punjab government, saying it was functioning according to Arvind Kejriwal’s principle of “kattar imaandari” and would not be deterred by investigations.
“Bring not 4,000, but even 400,000 ED officers, and open ED offices in every household if you want. But you will find nothing, because the Aam Aadmi Party does not indulge in corruption,” he said.
Sisodia further invoked Punjab’s religious and political traditions while defending Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, saying the Chief Minister had learnt from the Sikh Gurus not to remain silent when he believed “dictatorship” was being imposed from Delhi.
“PM Modi, the people of Punjab are not going to remain silent. You can impose as much dictatorship as you want from Delhi using the ED and the CBI,” he said.
The remarks came amid an escalating political confrontation between the AAP government in Punjab and the BJP-led Centre over the ED searches. AAP workers also protested outside the GMADA office in Mohali on Thursday, alleging that the agency’s action was politically motivated.
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