BJP, AAP two sides of same coin; both use arm-twisting tactics to intimidate opponents: Congress

Chandigarh: The Congress on Saturday alleged that the BJP and AAP are two sides of the same coin, with both using arm-twisting tactics to intimidate their political rivals.

Speaking on the sidelines of a party meeting here, Congress general secretary in-charge of Punjab Bhupesh Baghel alleged that while the BJP was using central institutions like the ED at the national level, the AAP was using the Vigilance Bureau against its political opponents in the state.

These remarks came after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday arrested Punjab industries minister Sanjeev Arora following a series of raids in connection with the Rs 100 crore money laundering probe linked to alleged fake GST transactions.

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Commenting on the arrest, Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring stated that the ED had earlier raided AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal, who joined the BJP the next day.

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“AAP has been abusing vigilance and police against its political opponents in Punjab and the BJP is now doing the same to them. AAP has found its counterpart in the BJP,” Warring said.
“But the people of Punjab will not be fooled or fooled by such tricks; they will only trust those who governed and administered Punjab well in the past. Congress will not be intimidated by either the ED of the BJP or the vigilance bureau of the AAP,” he said. Warring added that every Congress worker is preparing for the decisive battle in next year’s Punjab elections.

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The ED on Saturday arrested Sanjeev Arora in connection with a fresh money laundering case involving him and various entities allegedly linked to the Punjab industries minister, officials said.

Arora (62) was detained under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) following early morning raids on his official residence in Chandigarh.

Authorities said he was “uncooperative” during the investigation and would be taken to Delhi.

The ED carried out searches at five locations in northern India, including two premises in Delhi and a company called Hampton Sky Realty Ltd in Gurugram.

Officials said the raids took place after the central agency registered a fresh case under crime branches of PMLA.

On April 17, ED raided Arora and his affiliates under civil provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act.