New Delhi, August 26 (PTI) - The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused the Modi government of using central investigation agencies to target its leaders, following Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on the premises connected to senior leader Saurabh Bharadwaj. According to AAP, these actions aim to divert attention from growing questions about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's educational qualifications.
Grappling with allegations linked to an alleged health infrastructure scam dating back to the tenure of the previous AAP government in Delhi, the ED conducted searches at 13 locations in the National Capital Region under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). These searches involved properties related to Bharadwaj and several private contractors.
AAP's national convenor, Arvind Kejriwal, strongly condemned these raids as an example of the government’s alleged misuse of investigative agencies, stressing that they were a response to AAP's vocal opposition to the ruling BJP's policies. "AAP is being targeted because it has been the strongest voice against the Modi government's wrong policies and corrupt practices. The Modi government wants to silence our voice, but that will never happen," Kejriwal asserted in a post on X.
Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia echoed Kejriwal's sentiments, describing the raids as a "diversionary tactic" pointing out that the case predated Bharadwaj's involvement as a minister. The initial corruption complaint had been registered by Delhi's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) in June. It included Bharadwaj, former health minister Satyendar Jain, and other contractors and officials.
Commenting on the political motivations behind the case, Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Atishi, referenced ongoing national inquiries into PM Modi's degree, questioning the timing of the raids. "This clearly shows that the case is false," she wrote on X.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh supported this view, questioning the motive behind conducting raids at a time when PM Modi's educational credentials were drawing national attention. "Efforts have been made to make AAP leaders bow down. This case is false and baseless," he said.
These developments came soon after the Delhi High Court set aside a Central Information Commission order, which sought details of PM Modi's bachelor's degree, affirming that holding a public office does not necessitate the disclosure of one's personal information.
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