Chandigarh, September 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday accused the BJP-led Centre of using central agencies to target the Punjab government and opposition leaders, alleging that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) action at the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) had disrupted government functioning and caused inconvenience to people.
The allegations were made by senior AAP leaders and Cabinet Ministers Harpal Singh Cheema, Lalchand Singh Kataruchak and Harjot Singh Bains, along with AAP Punjab Working President and MLA Amansher Singh Shery Kalsi and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal. The party’s statements came amid ED searches at GMADA and other locations in Punjab. Reports said the GMADA search operation had continued for more than 36 hours.
AAP alleged that the ED action had affected the functioning of GMADA, with officials questioned and records and electronic devices examined or taken into custody. The party said GMADA’s responsibilities include planned development and regulation in Greater Mohali, land acquisition, housing, infrastructure and other development-related works.
Harpal Singh Cheema alleged that central agencies were being used against political opponents when elections approached. He also questioned searches in locked or unoccupied premises, claiming that some searches yielded no recovery.
“Since 2014, the BJP has continuously used central agencies and constitutional institutions against political opponents,” Cheema said, alleging that similar action had been seen in other states. He further alleged that family members were subjected to pressure during a search at the residence of a relative of an AAP minister.
Cheema also raised concerns over electoral rolls and the functioning of constitutional institutions, saying that questions were being raised about their independence.
Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal described the ED action as part of a wider political confrontation between the Centre and Punjab. He alleged that the BJP was attempting to use central agencies to achieve what it could not achieve through electoral politics.
Lalchand Singh Kataruchak also accused the BJP of using agencies such as the ED and CBI to create pressure on opposition leaders and workers. Referring to a previous ED search at the residence of a person close to him, he said the agency had conducted a lengthy search but did not recover anything, according to him.
Harjot Singh Bains said the Punjab government had remained focused on implementing its commitments and highlighted initiatives relating to electricity, education, healthcare and welfare. He alleged that the BJP was attempting to gain political ground in Punjab through central agencies after its political activities had not produced the desired response.
Amansher Singh Shery Kalsi, meanwhile, criticised the BJP’s recent anti-drug rallies and roadshows in Punjab and alleged that the ED action represented an attempt to intimidate AAP leaders, workers and government officials.
The AAP leaders said political parties should seek public support through their work and electoral campaigns rather than, as they alleged, through pressure exerted by investigative agencies.
The ED’s searches at GMADA were part of a wider investigation involving multiple locations. Reports on Thursday said the agency had examined records relating to land acquisition, change-of-land-use approvals and other matters connected with GMADA.
The allegations made by AAP leaders represent the party’s political position on the ED action and do not by themselves establish that the agency acted for political purposes.
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