ED raids AAP MP Ashok Mittal’s premises; Arvind Kejriwal says PM Modi has kicked off election campaign in Punjab

New Delhi, April 15, 2026: Amid Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids at the residence and university of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal in Punjab, the party has launched a sharp attack on the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The development comes just days after MP Ashok Mittal replaced Raghav Chadha as Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha. The party has linked the action to the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections, pointing to a pattern of raids, political pressure, and coordinated moves surrounding the development.
AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal took to ‘X’ and wrote, “Modi Ji has begun preparations for elections in Punjab, but the people of Punjab will not tolerate this. They will give a befitting reply to the BJP.”
On the other hand, Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The BJP has started its preparations for the Punjab elections. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid at the house and university of AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal is typical Modi style. ‘Hum woh patte nahin jo shaakh se toot kar gir jaayenge, aandhiyon ko keh do apni aukaat mein rahen’ (We are not leaves that will fall after breaking from the branch, tell the storms to stay within their limits.)”
Meanwhile, senior AAP leader and Punjab Prabhari Manish Sisodia stated, “Whenever there are elections in any state, Modi ji sends the first unit of his election army in the form of the ED and the CBI. The drama of raids begins, then the forces that incite riots are sent. After that come the visits of Amit Shah and Modi ji. But Modi ji, remember, this is Punjab. Here, those who hate Babasaheb Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh will not succeed.”
On the other hand, AAP Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “The BJP government’s toolbox is very well known. Raghav Chadha was threatened by the ED and out of fear or temptation, he decided to stab the very party in the back that made him a MP and because of which he is what he is today. When Raghav Chadha was cornered on social media, BJP leaders came out in his defence. The Aam Aadmi Party then appointed Ashok Mittal as Deputy Leader in place of Raghav Chadha.”
He added, “Now instead of targeting Raghav Chadha, the ED has gone after MP Ashok Mittal and is conducting raids at his residence and business. The central government then grants Z Plus security to Raghav Chadha. All of this appears to be deeply connected. It shows that the BJP government is so desperate that it got raids conducted at the residence of MP Ashok Mittal for Raghav Chadha.”
Asserting the party’s stand, senior AAP leader and Delhi Assembly LoP Atishi stated, “Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party will not bow down to the politics of fear and pressure exerted through PM Narendra Modi’s investigative agencies. Every ‘karyakarta’ and leader of the Aam Aadmi Party is committed to fighting for truth.”