Chandigarh, Oct 8 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raid at his camp office here, saying it signals that the state elections will be held on time, and accusing the BJP of launching its election campaign in the state through investigative agencies.

Pointing to similar raids ahead of elections in Delhi, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh, Mann said no amount of raids would yield “even a rupee” of corruption against the Aam Aadmi Party government, asserting that he had entered politics to serve Punjabis, not to loot Punjab.

“The CBI search at the Chief Minister’s Camp Office itself means that the Punjab Assembly elections will be held on time. The BJP has started preparing for the elections in Punjab and has chosen to begin its election campaign through the CBI,” Chief Minister Mann told the media.

The Chief Minister said that the BJP was trying to create fear and tarnish the image of an elected government through central investigative agencies.

“But no matter how many raids they conduct, they will not find even a single rupee of corruption with us.”

“We are neither afraid of these actions nor will we allow them (BJP) to divert us (AAP) from our commitment to the people of Punjab. We have entered politics to serve Punjabis, not to loot Punjab,” he added.

Chief Minister Mann said, “Our politics is about giving people their rights, creating employment, strengthening public services and putting Punjab back on the path of progress. We have come into politics with a commitment to serve the people and transform the state.”

He added that the people of Punjab had repeatedly rejected politics based on fear and intimidation.

“They (BJP) can conduct raids, send agencies and create pressure, but they cannot raid the hearts of Punjabis or silence their voice. The people of Punjab will continue to stand with truth and development,” he said.

–IANS

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