New Delhi: Following an Enforcement Directorate raid at the residence of the health minister in the previous AAP govt, Saurabh Bharadwaj, the party on Tuesday said it was an attempt to distract people from the row over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s degree and claimed that the case was “false”. It added that Bharadwaj, the AAP Delhi convener, was not even a minister when the decisions on hospital construction were taken.Responding to the charge, Delhi BJP said it did not matter who the minister was as the investigation was being conducted into the hospital construction scam, on the decision to build hospitals. In a social media post, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal said his party would not be intimidated by the “misuse” of central investigation agencies by BJP govt and added that no party had ever been targeted the way AAP was.“AAP is being targeted because it has been the strongest voice against Modi govt’s wrong policies and corrupt practices. Modi govt wants to silence our voice, but that will never happen. AAP will not be intimidated by these raids of BJP,” the former Delhi chief minister posted on X. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann also linked the raid to the ongoing national debate on PM Modi’s academic credentials. He also claimed that all cases against AAP functionaries were fabricated and false.Senior AAP functionary Manish Sisodia claimed the case against Bharadwaj was fake as it pertained to the time when he was not holding any ministerial post. Leader of the opposition Atishi asserted that all cases against AAP functionaries were “politically motivated”. She also questioned why Delhi University was shying away from publicly displaying the Prime Minister’s academic record. “What kind of university is this that does not take pride in the fact that the country’s Prime Minister studied there? BJP itself says PM Modi is the world’s most successful leader, yet his own university is not proud to claim him.” She alleged, “The whole country was talking about this, and to divert attention, the fake ED raid at Saurabh Bharadwaj’s home was ordered.” AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh also questioned the timing of the ED raid. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, however, said the raid exposed the “medical scam” under the previous AAP govt. While Bharadwaj may not be in the govt when the decision was made to build the hospitals, Sachdeva said, he was a minister during the actual construction of the health facilities. “We have said it earlier also that the previous AAP govt led by Arvind Kejriwal looted Delhi through scams. Now the party is trying to fool people in other states. The ED raids against Bharadwaj have exposed the medical scam under the previous AAP govt,” Sachdeva alleged. “Can Saurabh Bharadwaj, who calls the ED investigation fake, take an oath and say that as health minister, he never approved any emergency or additional tender purchases related to construction work?” he asked. Sachdeva alleged that AAP functionaries were experts in “spreading confusion to cover up their corruption”. He accused the previous AAP dispensation of failing to complete the construction of even one hospital during its tenure because of “half-baked plans” and inadequate release of funds.
