“Poll Bugle Has Sounded”: Bhagwant Mann Blasts Centre Over CBI Raids on OSD
Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has launched a blistering attack on the BJP-led Central government following a series of CBI raids targeting his Officer-on-Special Duty (OSD), Rajbir Singh Ghumman, and several others. Terming the investigative agency’s action as a politically motivated maneuver, Mann suggested that the Centre’s election machinery has officially kicked off in the poll-bound state.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches at multiple locations, including the Chief Minister’s “camp office,” following directives from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The court-monitored probe stems from corruption allegations, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) having previously submitted material that the judiciary deemed prima facie evidence of misconduct by the involved officials.
A Targeted Campaign?
Addressing the media following the launch of the ‘Hunar Punjab’ portal, the Chief Minister dismissed the raids as a well-timed intimidation tactic. Drawing parallels to previous elections in other opposition-ruled states, Mann alleged that the timing of these investigations is rarely coincidental.
“The BJP has started its election campaign. This is their way of doing things,” Mann stated. He noted that in states like West Bengal, Delhi, Jharkhand, and Karnataka, central agencies often ramped up their operations months before the electorate headed to the polls. According to Mann, the intensity of the CBI’s current focus on his office is a clear indicator that the Assembly elections in Punjab are approaching.
When questioned about the delay in the appearance of his OSD, Rajbir Singh Ghumman, before the investigating agency, the Chief Minister maintained that his administration is not evading the law. “We will fully cooperate with the investigation. Whenever we receive a summons through the proper channel, we will appear before the CBI,” he assured.
Questioning the Agency’s Urgency
Mann took a sharp swipe at the CBI regarding its operational priorities, contrasting the rapid action in this case with the long-standing pendency of other matters. “CBI has cases pending for 10-15 years. Do they ever take such quick action?” he asked, implying that the urgency surrounding his office is driven by political considerations rather than legal necessity.
He further challenged the central authorities, asserting that no amount of investigative pressure would uncover evidence of malpractice within his administration. “They can conduct raids, send agencies, and create pressure, but they cannot raid the hearts of Punjabis or silence their voices,” the Chief Minister declared.
Politics of Intimidation
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader emphasized that the people of Punjab have historically been resistant to the politics of fear and intimidation. He insisted that the state’s electorate remains committed to the current government’s agenda of growth and social welfare.
As the political temperature rises in Punjab, this confrontation between the state’s ruling party and the Centre signals an escalating battle ahead of the upcoming electoral cycle. While the CBI continues to act under high court instructions, the Chief Minister remains defiant, portraying the investigation as a badge of his political relevance and a testament to the BJP’s anxiety regarding their standing in the state.
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