SANGRUR, May 10 — Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann declared Saturday that the state would never surrender to the “politics of intimidation” allegedly being orchestrated by the BJP-led central government. Speaking at a press conference, Mann stated that the repeated Enforcement Directorate raids on Aam Aadmi Party leaders, including the third search of Minister Sanjeev Arora’s home within a year, are part of a broader strategy to settle political scores.
The Chief Minister asserted that investigative bodies such as the ED and CBI are being weaponized against non-BJP ruled states to destabilize democratically elected governments. Mann maintained that the central government’s true objective is not the recovery of illicit funds, but rather to coerce opposition leaders into joining the Bharatiya Janata Party. He noted that leaders who switch parties often see investigations vanish and are subsequently granted central security cover.
Mann affirmed that Punjab has a historical legacy of resisting tyranny, stating that the region did not bow to historical atrocities and will not bend before current political pressure. He maintained that the central government is taking revenge on Punjabis for forcing the repeal of the three controversial farm laws. The Chief Minister asserted that the alliance between the ED and the central leadership would face its eventual decline starting from the soil of Punjab.
Regarding religious matters, Mann stated that the state’s strict new anti-sacrilege law has rattled the central leadership. He affirmed that the legislation, which provides for life imprisonment for beadbi, was enacted following a massive public demand for justice. The Chief Minister declared that there is no question of withdrawing the law, as it has already received constitutional assent and serves to protect the sanctity of all religious scriptures.
