Chandigarh: A political war of words has erupted in Punjab after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal alleged that traders and industrialists were being pressured into making political donations to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Kejriwal claimed that despite having only two MLAs in Punjab, the BJP received around ₹60 crore in donations from traders and industrialists in the state during the past year, while AAP, despite being in power, received about ₹70 lakh in contributions.
In a social media post, Kejriwal questioned the source of the BJP’s donations and alleged that the funds were not voluntary contributions but were obtained through intimidation. He accused the party of using the fear of enforcement actions to pressure business owners into donating money.
The AAP leader further alleged that traders were being threatened with investigations and raids if they refused to contribute. He urged Punjab’s business community not to be intimidated and appealed to them to resist any form of pressure.
The BJP strongly rejected the allegations and accused Kejriwal of making baseless claims. Party leaders said the donation figures reflected the confidence of traders and industrialists in the BJP rather than any coercion.
Responding to the allegations, BJP leaders argued that the limited donations received by AAP despite being in government indicated growing dissatisfaction among traders and business owners with the ruling party. They claimed this sentiment suggested that voters were preparing for a political change in the state.
The exchange has intensified the political debate over funding transparency and the relationship between political parties and the business community ahead of future electoral contests in Punjab.
