Chandigarh: Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora, whose premises were recently raided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), stated on Monday that he had not communicated with defector Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha for the past six to eight months. He firmly asserted his continued allegiance to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Arora's Stance on Remaining with AAP
Responding to a question about whether he would quit AAP, Arora said, "I am addressing you today as a cabinet minister of Punjab. I represent the AAP and will continue to do so. I am happy wherever I am and will stay here."
Response to Rajya Sabha Defections
When asked about the seven Rajya Sabha members who defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Arora noted that AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had already given their responses on the issue, which he endorsed. "I do not wish to add to what they have said," Arora added.
ED Raids and Cooperation
The ED conducted raids at 17 locations linked to Arora on April 17 while he was traveling to Europe. "When I learned about the ED raids, I posted on my social media that I would cooperate with the central agency. I stand by that," he said. The raids occurred just two days after similar action against AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Kumar Mittal, who later defected along with Chadha.
Political Implications
The raid is reportedly connected to an investigation into money laundering and alleged irregularities in land deals. The timing of the raids sparked a political firestorm, with AAP leadership accusing the central government of using the ED as a tool to pressure its leaders into defecting.
