Sanjay Singh's arrest: Police use water cannons and tear gas shells to disperse AAP protesters
Chandigarh, October 5: The police resorted to water cannon and tear gas shells to disperse Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers attempting to breach barricades and surround the Punjab BJP office on Thursday. The AAP workers were protesting the arrest of their party leader, Sanjay Singh, in a money laundering case linked to the Delhi liquor policy.
During the protest, the AAP members set an effigy on fire to express their discontent over Sanjay Singh's arrest. The arrest came after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid on Sanjay Singh's residence in connection with a money laundering case related to the Delhi excise policy.
Barricades had been set up to prevent AAP leaders and volunteers from reaching the Punjab BJP office. When the protesters, including several senior party leaders, attempted to breach the barricades, the police used a water cannon and fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, speaking to the media earlier, criticised the BJP-led Central Government for Sanjay Singh's arrest, alleging that it was misusing investigative agencies to stifle opposition voices.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, on Wednesday, accused the Prime Minister of using the ED to intimidate opposition leaders.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal deemed Singh's arrest "completely illegal" and said more opposition leaders would be arrested in the run-up to the 2024 General Elections. He described the ED raids on Singh's residence as a "last desperate attempt" by a party facing the prospect of defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls
- With inputs from agencies
