India, April 19 -- Punjab's political temperature rose sharply this week after Enforcement Directorate action linked to AAP Rajya Sabha MP and Lovely Professional University Founder Ashok Mittal, followed by action against former Rajya Sabha MP and current MLA Sanjeev Arora, triggered a fresh confrontation between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and its rivals, with both sides trading charges over the alleged misuse of probe agencies.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann reacted strongly, calling the ED move politically motivated. "Democracy is being strangled," Mann said, alleging that central agencies were being used to target non-BJP governments. He further stated that the BJP was "preparing for 2027 elections through ED," asserting that such acti...