Gurpreet Singh :- Political tensions escalated in Ludhiana on Sunday after workers of the Aam Aadmi Party staged a protest against the Enforcement Directorate’s arrest of Punjab Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora. The demonstration, held at Dana Mandi on Gill Road, led to heated sloganeering and a face-off between AAP and Bharatiya Janata Party workers.
AAP supporters raised slogans against the Centre and burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing the BJP-led government of misusing central agencies to target opposition leaders. A large number of women workers also participated in the protest.
The situation turned tense when AAP workers attempted to march towards the BJP office and lay siege to the premises. BJP leaders and workers gathered outside the office and countered with slogans against AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal. Senior BJP leaders, including state general secretary Anil Sareen, district president Rajnish Dhiman and Praveen Bansal, were present at the spot.
AAP Ludhiana Urban president and Planning and Finance Committee chairman Jatinder Khangura strongly condemned the ED action, alleging that the Centre was using investigative agencies to suppress opposition voices. He termed Arora’s arrest “politically motivated” and said it amounted to an attack on democratic values.
Heavy police deployment was witnessed in the area to prevent any untoward incident. Security personnel formed barricades and intervened to stop the two groups from coming face to face.
AAP leaders warned that the party would intensify its agitation if opposition leaders continued to be targeted through central agencies.
