On Tuesday, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann strongly denounced the registration of an FIR against Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi, inquiring as to why the role of the Delhi Police and the Election Commission was merely to target AAP. Mann accused the authorities of being biased and acting selectively against his party and not those who were reportedly violated by the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The FIR registered against Atishi, AAP’s candidate from Kalkaji constituency, was under sections of the model code of conduct (MCC) violation and obstructing public servants on duty. Atishi was present along with AAP supporters when an officer had to be prevented from carrying out his duty at Fateh Singh Marg; it was stated by Delhi Police, alleging that two AAP members assaulted a police constable in the incident.
When the FIR was reacted to sharply, Mann took to social media to slam the Delhi Police and the Election Commission for allegedly taking ‘targeted action’ against AAP. Mann posted on X: “In contrast to taking action against BJP’s hooliganism in Delhi, a police case has been filed on a complaint of the Election Commission against the Delhi chief minister and is highly condemnable.”
Further, the Delhi Police that is run by the central government was being used to harass opposition leaders ahead of elections, he alleged. Mann emphasized that his party has been beaten up unfairly by enforcement agencies while complaints against BJP leaders are ignored.
The incident has further strained relations between AAP and the ruling BJP, which is accusing authorities of an attempt to squelch opposition voices ahead of the upcoming elections.
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