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CHANDIGARH/ LUDHIANA/ MOHALI: Political tensions escalated across Punjab on Sunday as the Aam Aadmi Party launched statewide protests against the arrest of Cabinet minister Sanjeev Arora by the Enforcement Directorate, accusing the BJP-led Centre of misusing central agencies to target Opposition leaders ahead of the Assembly elections.

The protests witnessed high drama in several districts, particularly in Ludhiana, where AAP and BJP workers came face to face outside the BJP office, leading to heated slogan-shouting, pushing, and tense confrontations that required heavy police deployment.

Tense scenes outside the BJP office in Ludhiana

The atmosphere turned volatile outside the BJP office near Dana Mandi on Gill Road when workers of the AAP Ludhiana unit gathered to protest against Sanjeev Arora’s arrest and the recent ED raids conducted in Punjab.

As AAP workers burnt an effigy of the BJP-led Centre and raised slogans accusing the BJP of political vendetta, BJP supporters gathered at the site. They countered with slogans against Arvind Kejriwal and the Punjab government.

Leaders and workers from both parties engaged in intense verbal exchanges as the confrontation escalated.

During the protest, one BJP worker reportedly sustained an injury to his hand and suffered bleeding amid the chaos, officials said. BJP workers also hurled brooms at AAP protesters, symbolically targeting the ruling party’s election symbol.

Women supporters of the AAP participated in large numbers during the protest demonstration.

Senior BJP leaders, including State General Secretary Anil Sarin, District President Rajneesh Dhiman and Parveen Bansal, were present at the site and led the party’s response.

A heavy police force remained deployed throughout the protest to prevent the situation from spiralling further after some AAP workers allegedly attempted to move towards the BJP office premises.

AAP alleges misuse of ED

AAP leaders across the state strongly condemned the ED action against Sanjeev Arora, who was arrested on Saturday in connection with an alleged Rs 100-crore GST fraud-linked money-laundering case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The ruling party maintained that the raids and arrests were politically motivated and aimed at intimidating Opposition leaders.

Protesters carried placards bearing slogans such as “ED-BJP gathjod murdabad” while burning effigies of the BJP-led Union government.

Speaking during the Ludhiana protest, Jatinder Khangura, President of AAP Ludhiana Urban and Chairman of the Planning and Finance Committee, accused the Centre of weaponising investigative agencies against political opponents.

“The central government is misusing the Enforcement Directorate to suppress the voices of Opposition leaders. Sanjeev Arora’s arrest is illegal and an attack on democracy,” Khangura alleged.

“We oppose the Centre’s repressive policies and politically motivated actions. The BJP is rattled by AAP’s growing popularity and public welfare work. We will continue taking this fight to the streets,” he added.

Protests spread across Punjab.

Similar protests were organised in Jalandhar, Mohali, Barnala, Hoshiarpur and several other districts.

In Jalandhar, Cabinet minister Mohinder Bhagat joined the demonstrations and accused the BJP-led Centre of trying to obstruct Punjab’s development through “high-handedness” and repeated ED raids.

“It is misusing the ED only against AAP leaders by conducting raids at their premises. This clearly shows that the Union government is indulging in high-handedness. Punjabis never tolerate such behaviour,” Bhagat said while addressing reporters. He also asserted that the entire AAP leadership stood firmly behind Sanjeev Arora.

In Hoshiarpur, AAP leaders alleged that both the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation were being selectively used against Opposition leaders because the BJP was “rattled” by the “public welfare-oriented” governance model of the Punjab government.

Political battle intensifies after Arora’s arrest.

The protests come a day after the ED arrested Sanjeev Arora following extensive raids at multiple locations in Chandigarh, Delhi and Gurugram linked to him and certain business entities.

The ED has alleged that fraudulent GST purchase invoices worth more than Rs 100 crore were generated through non-existent firms to claim fake input tax credit, GST refunds and export-linked benefits.

Meanwhile, Hampton Sky Realty Limited, where Arora previously served as a director, issued a statement saying it has full faith in the legal process and is cooperating with authorities.

The arrest has sharply escalated the political confrontation between the ruling AAP and the BJP, with the Punjab government accusing the Centre of using investigative agencies as political instruments ahead of future electoral battles.

AAP leaders  had also alleged that whenever the BJP senses electoral weakness, it “conspires” to crush Opposition voices through raids, arrests and agency action