Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Celebrates Court Acquittal of AAP Leaders in Excise Policy Case
In a significant development on Friday, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann declared that the acquittal of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal and senior party functionary Manish Sisodia in the alleged excise policy case has fully vindicated the party's longstanding position. Mann asserted that this judicial outcome demonstrates how central investigative agencies, including the CBI, have been reduced to "mere puppets" manipulated by the Union government to unfairly target political opponents.
A Historic Victory for AAP Amidst Upcoming Punjab Elections
The court's decision arrives as a crucial morale booster for AAP, which is preparing for state elections in Punjab in less than a year. In an impassioned video message, Mann described the day as "historic in the politics of the country," emphasizing that the court cleared Kejriwal and 23 other individuals who were wrongfully implicated by the CBI. He characterized the case as a "desperate attempt" by the Centre to curb AAP's expanding influence across India, fueled by its agenda of public welfare and good governance.
Mann Accuses BJP of Undermining Democratic Processes
Launching a sharp critique, Mann accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to hijack democracy by creating their own database of votes instead of genuinely seeking public support. "Instead of seeking votes from the masses by folding hands before them, the Union government devised this strategy where the same voters are used to manipulate the victory of their party in any state," he stated. He further targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging them to win hearts through substantive work rather than divisive tactics. "It is alright if you want to rule, but for that you should win the hearts of the people by your work and not through such tactics. They should stop dividing the country on sectarian lines for their vested political interests, as it is not in the favour of the nation," Mann added.
Social Media Posts Highlight Triumph of Truth and Expose Agency Misuse
Taking to social media platform X, the Punjab CM posted, "Truth always triumphs. AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal ji and former deputy chief minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia ji, have been acquitted by the honourable court of Delhi in the liquor scam case. This has brought the truth before everyone. With time, the truth of all other cases will also come to light." In another post, he remarked, "Today, the sun of truth has risen. Thanks to the prayers of millions of people, truth, honesty, and patriotism triumphed today. The order of the court put a serious question mark on the working of the CBI, which is acting like a puppet in the hands of its masters. It exposed the blatant misuse of the central agencies by those in power at the Centre to muzzle the voice of democracy."
Allegations of Political Vendetta and Corruption Benefactors
Mann elaborated in his video that the BJP-led Centre incarcerated AAP's entire decision-making team merely to secure electoral victories in Delhi. He claimed that traditional political parties, namely Congress and BJP, are envious of AAP because it champions the welfare of common citizens. "Earlier, Congress and BJP used to play friendly matches. They used to play musical chairs in power and waited for their turns to plunder the people and the country," he alleged. According to Mann, this corrupt dynamic was disrupted when AAP emerged on the national political stage, prompting established parties to retaliate against anyone opposing corruption. "Anyone who raises a voice against corruption and their nasty tantrums faces their wrath and is put behind bars without any reason. The benefactors of corruption, who have deep roots everywhere, target honest people and slap false cases against them," he asserted.
Concluding his remarks, Mann expressed that Kejriwal's emotional distress reflects the deteriorating state of the nation, and such mistreatment of an honest leader is unacceptable. This acquittal not only strengthens AAP's position but also raises critical questions about the impartiality of central agencies in India's political landscape.
