CHANDIGARH, February 28, 2026: Reacting to the acquittal of the AAP leadership in the excise policy case, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann stated that the “engine of patriotism” has triumphed over the politics of vendetta. The Chief Minister maintained that the court’s decision to clear Arvind Kejriwal and 22 others exposes a high-level conspiracy by the Union government to defame and eliminate political competition.
“It is a move to hijack democracy,” Mann asserted, referring to the strategy of using central agencies to pressure opposition leaders. He maintained that the Union government has focused on “manipulating the victory of their party” instead of seeking votes through public service. The Chief Minister noted that the forefathers of the freedom struggle would be “peeved” by the current state of institutional interference.
Mann stated that while the BJP-led center focused on an “agenda of hate,” Arvind Kejriwal transformed Delhi through sheer hard work, doubling the city’s budget to provide free power and world-class schools. He affirmed that the court’s verdict proves that “truth prevails over coercion” and that honest leaders cannot be suppressed by false cases for long.
The Chief Minister also took a swipe at the “double engine” governance model, maintaining that India only requires a government rooted in integrity and transparency. He declared that the prayers of common people have been answered, leading to the acquittal of leaders who left lucrative careers to serve the public.
“Every patriot wants the country to be number one and not witness the manipulations in which the Modi-Shah duo is indulging,” Mann asserted. He concluded by stating that the Aam Aadmi Party remains committed to its mission of welfare, noting that the judicial vindication has only strengthened the resolve of every party volunteer to fight against corruption.
