CHANDIGARH, May 10— Senior Aam Aadmi Party leader Harpal Singh Cheema affirmed Saturday that the party will gherao BJP offices across Punjab to protest the use of central agencies for political coercion. Cheema stated that the Enforcement Directorate has shifted its focus to Punjab following the West Bengal elections, attempting to replicate a model of intimidation that targets both businessmen and political representatives.
The Finance Minister declared that the central government’s “join or go to jail” mantra was evident in the recent treatment of state leaders. Cheema asserted that while some individuals may have conceded under pressure, others like Sanjeev Arora faced arrest after refusing to switch political allegiances. He maintained that these actions are not genuine investigations but are instead designed to destabilize the democratically elected government in Punjab.
Cheema noted that the misuse of the Income Tax Department, CBI, and the Election Commission constitutes a direct attack on the country’s federal structure. He stated that the central government is attempting to capture power through manipulation rather than the democratic will of the people. The Minister affirmed that such tactics, including the alleged deletion of voters in other states, will face stiff resistance from the unified spirit of Punjabis.
Invoking the names of martyrs like Bhagat Singh and Lala Lajpat Rai, Cheema asserted that the blood of revolutionaries remains a defining trait of the region. He stated that no amount of pressure from central agencies will break the resolve of the Aam Aadmi Party or the citizens of the state. The Finance Minister concluded by affirming that the scheduled protests are intended to safeguard the Constitution and alert the public to the ongoing erosion of democratic norms.
