Chandigarh, May 12
The CBI’s late-night raid on the Punjab Vigilance Bureau headquarters has sparked a storm of political reactions, with Congress leaders themselves offering divergent takes. Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring has blamed the Union Government for misusing the central agency. Warring said that the “chronology of events perfectly fits into the BJP’s standard pre-poll exercise in election-bound states.”
But senior Congress leaders Partap Singh Bajwa and Sukhpal Singh Khaira struck a sharper line against AAP. Bajwa tweeted that the raid was “a damning indictment of the Vigilance Bureau itself, neck-deep in corruption and stripped of credibility.” Khaira echoed this, saying the CBI action “exposed the rot inside Punjab’s so-called anti-corruption wing” and vindicated the opposition claims of misuse and graft.
The split highlights Congress’s divergent narrative on the matter. Warring warned of BJP’s agency misuse, while Bajwa and Khaira underline AAP’s corruption — clearly showing conflicting views.
Meanwhile, rival parties seized the moment to sharpen their attacks. Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar said that Congress President’s support for the government’s stand on the CBI action reflected his own fear. He said that even if Congress surrenders before AAP, whether corruption involves an AAP leader or a Congress leader, everyone will eventually face accountability.
BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh posted on X, “CBI raid + ED arrest = proof Punjab under Kejriwal-Mann has become a den of corruption. AAP’s anti-corruption campaign is a hoax.”
Bikram Majithia of the Akali Dal declared, “CBI seals Vigilance DGP office, ₹13 lakh recovered. Corruption exposed layer by layer. Mann must resign as CM & Home Minister.” SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal added that “CBI raid vindicates SAD’s stand. AAP turned Vigilance into a den of harassment. Mann govt has lost moral authority.”
And Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar weighed in, “Vigilance has become a cancer for poor people. CBI raid shows corrupt officials & ministers running scared. Sab ka hisaab time has come.”
