Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Monday vehemently denounced the arrest of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Raman Arora by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau, labelling it a “sham operation” and a “political spectacle” engineered by the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP administration to deceive the electorate ahead of the Ludhiana (West) by-poll. Khaira compared the incident to the earlier detention of former AAP Minister Dr Vijay Singla ahead of the 2022 Sangrur Lok Sabha by-election, noting that despite grave corruption allegations, no formal chargesheet was ever presented against Singla.

“Dr Vijay Singla still enjoys unwavering support from AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and the party, which clearly indicates that such detentions are nothing but theatrics aimed at fabricating a false image of integrity,” Khaira remarked.

The Congress leader also criticized the AAP government’s selective inaction against its own members, referencing cases involving Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak and MLA Sarabjit Kaur Manuke. “Despite clear video evidence implicating Minister Kataruchak in the exploitation of a minor, no steps have been taken against him. He continues to hold office without accountability. Similarly, MLA Sarabjit Kaur Manuke, found guilty of unlawfully occupying a valuable NRI-owned property in Jagraon, remains untouched. These examples reveal AAP’s duplicity and its protection of dishonest and unlawful elements within its fold,” Khaira alleged.

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Khaira maintained that a fair and unbiased probe into the conduct of AAP legislators would lead to the arrest of many, as they are “deeply embroiled in corrupt practices.” He accused the Mann government of safeguarding its own, while putting on a show of anti-graft measures for electoral advantage.

“The detention of Raman Arora mirrors the same strategy used during the Sangrur by-election. The AAP regime is frantically trying to distract the public from its governance failures and widespread internal corruption. The people of Punjab are no longer falling for these manipulative tactics,” Khaira said, urging citizens to recognize the “political charade” and hold the AAP government accountable for its betrayal of public trust.

Reaffirming his dedication to uncovering AAP’s “double-dealing,” Khaira pledged to persist in voicing public concerns. He called for an impartial investigation by an autonomous agency into the alleged misconduct of AAP lawmakers, to ensure justice for the people of Punjab.