Tension in the ranks? AAP leaders skip protest against ED raid at MP’s house

Ludhiana: Even as national-level Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders are condemning Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids at the residence and office of AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora, party MLA from Ludhiana has maintained a stoic silence. He was conspicuous by his absence at the protest organised by AAP near the residence of MP Arora to condemn the raids.
The only prominent leaders seen in the protest, staged from 12.30pm to 3.15pm, were city AAP president Sharanpal Singh Makkar and MLA from Ludhiana East constituency Daljeet Singh Grewal Bhola.Other leaders, including MLA West Gurpreet Singh Gogi, MLA North Madan Lal Bagga, MLA South Rajinderpal Kaur Chinna, MLA Atam Nagar Kulwant Singh Sidhu and MLA Central Ashok Prashar Pappi remained absent.
AAP leaders who did make it to the protest raised slogans against the ED, the Centre and PM Narendra Modi. They alleged that central agencies were being misused. City president, AAP, Sharanpal Singh Makkar said, “The Union government is misusing central agencies to threaten and intimidate workers of opposing parties. With panchayat elections round the corner, BJP is deliberately sending ED to the AAP leader’s house to threaten workers working on the ground to support AAP.”
On the absence of prominent leaders in the protest, Makkar said that MLA Atam Nagar Kulwant Singh Sidhu’s team and minister Hardeep Singh Mundia’s brother also participated in the protest as they were not in town. However, he did not comment on the absence of other leaders.
MLA North Madan Lal Bagga said, “I was unwell and remained home all day. I had already informed them that I would not be able to come for the protest. However, I condemn the raid.”