Chandigarh: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday hit out at BJP over ED raids in Punjab, saying the saffron party had lost political ground in the state and was now resorting to central agencies to intimidate Punjabis and AAP functionaries.Calling it an “Aurangzeb-like approach”, AAP said the Centre is trying to disrupt GMADA’s functioning and create hurdles for the Bhagwant Mann govt’s welfare schemes, including the Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna. “Central agencies cannot manufacture political support for PM Modi and the BJP in Punjab,” the party asserted.AAP said Arvind Kejriwal’s exposure of the Election Commission’s functioning had further rattled the Modi govt, which was now resorting to pressure tactics against Punjabis.The party said the BJP and the Centre were simultaneously trying to create hurdles in the functioning of Gmada and obstruct the Bhagwant Mann govt’s welfare initiatives, “The BJP is unable to stop the welfare schemes through political means, so attempts are now being made to create administrative pressure and obstacles. The people of Punjab will not allow these tactics to succeed,” the AAP said. “BJP is particularly targeting welfare initiatives such as the Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna because women across Punjab were happy with the scheme and were directly benefiting from it.”AAP called Gmada an important institution driving Mohali’s planned development and generating resources through development activities. “Creating an atmosphere of fear among its officers can directly affect the pace of development work. The Centre must explain why its agencies are targeting an authority that is working for Punjab’s development,” he said.
