Federalism Under Siege: Punjab's Battle Against Central Overreach

Punjab Minister Aman Arora accuses the BJP-led Centre of misusing central agencies like the CBI and ED for political vendetta, following a CBI raid at the Punjab Vigilance Bureau. Arora insists the federal system's dignity is being compromised, urging the Centre to respect constitutional boundaries.

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau was spotlighted after a CBI raid sparked accusations from state cabinet minister Aman Arora. The minister claimed that the BJP-led Centre is undermining federalism by exploiting central agencies for political purposes.

The Central Bureau of Investigation's action came in response to a complaint implicating middlemen Vikas Goyal and son Raghav in a Rs 13-lakh bribery scheme involving senior departmental officers. State Tax Officer's accusations led to a late-night raid and subsequent arrests.

Arora, also Punjab AAP president, decried the raid as politically motivated, arguing it jeopardizes governance and institutional decorum. The minister emphasized that any corruption probes must follow due process, urging the Centre to respect federal boundaries.