Chandigarh, October 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab on Wednesday staged protests in Patiala, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Barnala against what it alleged was the misuse of central investigating agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), by the BJP-led Central government.
AAP ministers, MLAs, leaders and workers took to the streets, alleging that the ED and CBI were being used to pressure Opposition-ruled governments and target the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab government.
Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh, addressing protesters, alleged that CBI raids at eight locations in Punjab were intended to defame the Mann government and claimed that the agency found nothing.
“The BJP got the CBI to conduct raids at eight locations to defame the Mann government, but nothing was found,” he said. Dr Balbir Singh also questioned why the ED and CBI were allegedly silent over what he described as a Rs 650-crore scam in Haryana, claiming that the Punjab action was aimed at diverting attention from questions being raised against the Election Commission and the BJP.
AAP MLA Jeevan Jyot Kaur, who led the protest in Amritsar, alleged that the BJP had “sounded the poll bugle” ahead of the Punjab elections by using central agencies. She claimed the BJP was unable to match the development work of the Mann government and was therefore resorting to pressure tactics.
In Ludhiana, party leaders led by MLA Ashok Parashar organised a protest march, during which an effigy of the Modi government was burnt. AAP workers and supporters carried placards and raised slogans against the alleged use of central agencies against political opponents.
Ludhiana East MLA Daljit Singh Bhola Grewal alleged that the BJP-led government was attempting to target AAP and CM Bhagwant Singh Mann because of the Punjab government’s development work and implementation of its guarantees.
In Barnala, AAP MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer alleged that the BJP uses central agencies as political tools during election periods.
“BJP uses ED and CBI as its party wings to initiate action against opponents ahead of elections,” Meet Hayer alleged, claiming that AAP had anticipated such action in the months leading up to the Punjab polls.
Meet Hayer further alleged that the BJP could not seek votes in Punjab on the basis of its development record. He claimed that AAP’s work in electricity, canal water, hospitals, sports facilities and roads had left rival parties with little to offer voters.
He also claimed that the BJP did not have candidates in all 117 Punjab Assembly constituencies or enough workers to deploy at polling booths.
“Votes will not be cast by the ED or CBI. Votes will be cast by the people of Punjab, and Punjabis cannot be bought or intimidated,” Meet Hayer said. He further claimed that people in Punjab had decided to re-elect Bhagwant Singh Mann as Chief Minister.
The AAP leaders’ allegations come amid heightened political activity ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections. The BJP has previously defended the functioning of central investigative agencies, while the AAP has repeatedly alleged political targeting through such agencies.
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