'Do not need certificate of honesty from anyone': CM Mann on ED's letter to state DGP

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday rejected allegations referred by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to the state police over alleged interference in transfers, postings and other government matters, accusing the BJP of using central investigative agencies to target political opponents.

Mann's response came days after the ED wrote to Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav seeking registration of an FIR against certain individuals allegedly linked to an officer on special duty (OSD) attached to the Chief Minister.

The agency has alleged attempts to influence transfers and postings of government officials, approvals for arms licences and land transactions.

Asked about the ED's communication at a press conference, Mann dismissed the allegations and accused the Opposition of attempting to manufacture controversies against his government.

“There is no truth in it. The opposition is unable to get any issue. They are just into pointing fingers,” Mann said.

The Chief Minister said he did not require anyone to certify his integrity and hit back at his political opponents, saying those who had “looted Punjab” were now questioning him.

ED letter linked to money laundering probe

The ED's communication emerged from a money laundering investigation involving alleged fake consent letters submitted to obtain Change of Land Use (CLU) approval in a case concerning a housing society.

During the investigation, the agency allegedly came across material pointing towards individuals with links to the Chief Minister's OSD and subsequently approached the Punjab Police chief seeking action.

Mann, however, portrayed the development as part of what he described as a broader pattern of the BJP using investigative agencies against political rivals.

He alleged that central agencies such as the ED and Central Bureau of Investigation were being deployed to “defame, threaten and suppress” Opposition leaders.

The Chief Minister maintained that such actions would not prevent his Aam Aadmi Party government from continuing its work in Punjab.

Mann links Jain arrest to Punjab polls

Mann also targeted the BJP over the arrest of former Delhi minister and senior AAP leader Satyendar Jain, linking the development to Jain's role as the party's co-incharge in poll-bound Punjab.

He described the action as “anti-democratic” and claimed the BJP was resorting to such measures because it had been unable to expand its political base in the state.

Jain and former Delhi Jal Board CEO Udit Prakash Rai are among six people arrested by the Anti-Corruption Branch in a case concerning the tendering process for sewage treatment plant projects of the Delhi Jal Board.

Mann compared the development with the arrests of senior AAP leaders in Delhi ahead of Assembly elections and alleged that targeting the party's leadership through investigative agencies had become an established BJP strategy.

He claimed that similar action had been taken against AAP's senior leadership in Delhi and described the latest case involving Jain as part of the same pattern.

Decision on Hawara parole rests with Centre

Responding to a question on parole for Jagtar Singh Hawara, who is serving a life sentence in connection with the assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, Mann said he had already raised the matter with the Governor.

The Chief Minister said he had written to the Governor and had also met him over the issue.

However, Mann said the final decision in the matter rested with the Centre.

Hawara was convicted in connection with the 1995 assassination of Beant Singh, who was killed along with several others in a bomb explosion outside the Punjab Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh.

‘Punjab needs no patriotism certificate’

Mann also responded to the National Human Rights Commission seeking a report from the Punjab government over allegations that Independence Day celebrations were not held at some government schools in border and remote areas of the state.

Rejecting any questions over Punjab's patriotism, Mann said the state did not require a certificate from anyone.

He invoked Punjab's contribution to India's freedom struggle, saying a large proportion of those who sacrificed their lives for Independence came from the state.

The NHRC intervention followed complaints concerning the alleged non-observance of Independence Day at certain schools, prompting it to seek details from the state government.

Govt monitoring water levels

The Chief Minister also sought to reassure residents amid concerns over the water situation in Punjab.

He said the state government was continuously monitoring water levels in rivers and other water sources and asked people not to panic.

“The state government is keeping a regular tab over the water level in the rivers and water sources. People of the state should not panic about it,” Mann said.

Mann's remarks came as the state administration remained alert to changing water levels and the potential impact on vulnerable areas, with the Chief Minister maintaining that the situation was being closely monitored.