The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has strongly condemned the raid on Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s official residence in Delhi’s Kapurthala House by a team from the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Delhi Police. The party has termed the raid as yet another politically motivated move by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), slamming the ruling party for misusing government agencies to target opposition leaders while turning a blind eye to blatant violations of the Model Code of Conduct by BJP leaders.
AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal questioned the selective targeting of opposition leaders, highlighting that while BJP leaders are openly distributing cash, blankets, sarees, shoes, jackets, shawls, and even gold chains ahead of the elections, it is the Punjab CM who is being subjected to a raid. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also strongly condemned the raid, stating that Delhi Police and the Election Commission were working under BJP’s influence to malign the image of Punjab and its people. Senior AAP leaders, including Delhi CM Atishi and Punjab President Aman Arora, have slammed the BJP for resorting to such tactics, asserting that the people of Delhi and Punjab will give a befitting response to this political witch-hunt in the upcoming elections.
Speaking to the media, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal said, “The Chief Minister of Punjab resides in Delhi at Kapurthala House, which is his official residence. It seems that a raid is being conducted on the Chief Minister of Punjab. I don’t understand—it’s BJP leaders who are openly distributing money, blankets, sarees, shoes, jackets, shawls, and even gold chains. Yet, the raid is happening on the Chief Minister of Punjab. What kind of governance is this?”
He added, “There is an old saying: ‘Ramchandra Keh Gaye Siya Se Aisa Kalyug Aayega, Hans Chugega Daana Dunka, Kauvva Moti Khaayega.’ That is exactly the state of governance in our country today.”
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann reacted to the development on X and wrote, “Today, a team from the Election Commission, along with Delhi Police, arrived at my residence, Kapurthala House, in Delhi to conduct a raid. In Delhi, BJP members are openly distributing money, yet neither Delhi Police nor the Election Commission seems to notice anything. No action is being taken against this. In a way, Delhi Police and the Election Commission are tarnishing the image of Punjabis at the behest of the BJP, which is highly condemnable.
Meanwhile, Delhi CM Atishi took to X to say, “Delhi Police has reached CM Bhagwant Mann ji’s house in Delhi to raid it. BJP people are distributing money, shoes, sheets in broad daylight – but that is not visible to them. Instead they are going to raid the residence of an elected Chief Minister. People of Delhi will give their answer to the BJP on the 5th!”
AAP Punjab President and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora also lashed out at the BJP. He wrote on X: “BJP is unable to accept the truth written on the wall about AAP’s victory and their own defeat. The raid on the Delhi residence of the Chief Minister of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann, is next in the series of vendettas by the BJP against Punjab and Punjabis, which neither the people of Punjab nor those of Delhi will tolerate.”