The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has urgently requested an appointment with the Election Commission to ensure fairness in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, following alleged targeting by central agencies, Delhi Minister Atishi revealed on Saturday.
Despite representations made to the Election Commission of India (ECI) by leaders of the INDIA bloc, including Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal and others, the Income Tax Department conducted raids on the premises of an AAP MLA and sealed the party office in the national capital.
Atishi emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that the AAP office being sealed prevented Lok Sabha candidates and party leaders from conducting campaign meetings, further exacerbating the already tense electoral environment.
The Income Tax Department's searches at the residence of Delhi AAP MLA Gulab Singh Yadav on Saturday only added to the party's concerns. Singh is a two-time MLA representing Delhi’s Matiala seat.
The INDIA bloc, in its memorandum submitted to the ECI, highlighted the alleged targeting of opposition leaders by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) through the misuse of central agencies.
The bloc urged the Election Commission to intervene and ensure that any further raids, investigations, or arrests are approved by the Commission or a committee under its purview.
Moreover, the memorandum called for immediate action against individuals and officers who misuse their authority to harass opposition leaders. It stressed the need for the Election Commission to uphold the constitutional mandate of a level playing field and prevent the misuse of state machinery for political gain.
The arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) intensified concerns over alleged political targeting. Kejriwal's arrest came after he ignored multiple summons from the investigation agency, labeling them as "illegal." He has been remanded to ED custody till March 28.
The case revolves around alleged irregularities and money laundering in the framing and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy 2022, subsequently scrapped due to controversy and legal scrutiny.
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