Chandigarh, August 13: Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema addressed political developments involving opposition commentary on recent communications between central investigative bodies and state law enforcement. Speaking at a news conference in Chandigarh, the Cabinet Minister maintained that opposition parties are relying on narratives dictated by central agencies to gain political traction.
The Minister asserted that the Shiromani Akali Dal has increasingly aligned its public statements with the ruling party at the Centre, using letters issued by agencies like the Enforcement Directorate to target the state government. He declared that during the previous administration from 2007 to 2017, the state faced severe socio-economic challenges, including drug proliferation and administrative lapses, which severely affected local youth and families.
Turning to central policy, the senior Aam Aadmi Party leader stated that central enforcement bodies, including the Income Tax Department, the Central Bureau of Investigation, and the Enforcement Directorate, are frequently utilized during election cycles across various states. He affirmed that the people of Punjab remain aware of these political maneuvers and stated that state administrative governance will continue to move forward smoothly without interruption.
