The massive public anger against the ‘ED Party’ (BJP), as witnessed during the Jantar Mantar protest, has clearly rattled Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Instead of addressing the growing public outrage, the ED Party (BJP) has chosen to misuse central agencies and pursue political vendetta against its opponents.

The ED Party (BJP) has already deployed the ED, CBI and Income Tax Department against Punjab and CM Bhagwant Singh Mann. Despite repeated investigations, they have failed to find any evidence against him. Having failed to level any credible allegation against the Chief Minister himself, the ED Party (BJP) has now resorted to targeting and maligning people associated with him.

This is nothing but a desperate attempt by the ED Party (BJP) to defame Punjab’s elected government through baseless allegations, without any evidence or factual basis. The ED Party (BJP) is trying to achieve through propaganda what it could not achieve through investigations.

The Aam Aadmi Party strongly condemns this politics of vendetta and intimidation. The people of Punjab and the country can clearly see that these actions are driven not by facts or law, but by political frustration and a desperate attempt by the ED Party (BJP) to silence those who are working honestly for the public.

Emphasising that Punjab already pays some of the highest government pay scales in the country, surpassing the Central Government in several categories, Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday said the State Government has inherited a ₹14,191 crore liability in employee pay commission arrears due to the policies of the previous SAD-BJP and Congress governments. He said the AAP-led Punjab Government has already cleared over ₹6,000 crore under a High Court-approved liquidation plan and remains committed to paying all constitutionally and legally valid dues while examining the recent High Court judgment and the available legal remedies.

Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan, Finance Minister Cheema said the employee pay commission report was originally formulated in 2016 during the tenure of the SAD-BJP government but remained unimplemented for years. “The report was implemented only in July 2021. As a result, Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears from January 1, 2016, to July 2021 were frozen, creating a liability of ₹14,191 crore,” he said.

The Finance Minister further said that although the process of implementing the pay commission recommendations had been initiated under the previous regime, the then Congress government remained in power without releasing even a single rupee towards clearing these arrears, leaving the entire financial burden for the present government.

Explaining the steps taken by the AAP Government, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that after various employees approached the High Court, the Punjab Government prepared a structured liquidation plan, which was accepted by the court. “Out of the total liability of ₹14,191 crore, the AAP Government has already paid over ₹6,000 crore to employees. The High Court accepted the liquidation plan, and its implementation is proceeding smoothly,” he noted.

Responding to the recent High Court judgment regarding current DA disbursements, the Finance Minister said certain constitutional benchmarks and judicial precedents appeared to have been overlooked in the interpretation of the single bench.

Referring to the 2005 Constitution Bench judgment in the State of Maharashtra case, he said Punjab currently offers some of the highest pay scales in the country, exceeding Central Government pay structures in several categories.

Presenting comparisons between Punjab Government and Central Government pay scales for various posts, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “The State Government’s legal argument was that a state could not simultaneously sustain both the highest basic pay scales and the highest Central DA rates when the state’s pay structures were already significantly higher.”

He added that the previous Congress government had itself decided that newly recruited employees would be inducted under the Central Pay Commission guidelines.

Reiterating the Punjab Government’s commitment to employees, the Finance Minister said all constitutionally and legally valid dues would be paid. “Our legal team is examining the recent judgment in detail, reviewing the judicial precedents and consulting legal experts to determine the appropriate legal course, including the possibility of filing an appeal before the Supreme Court,” said Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema.

Concluding the press conference, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that despite inheriting a heavy fiscal burden from the previous SAD-BJP and Congress governments, the Punjab Government remains fully committed to resolving all pending financial liabilities in a systematic and transparent manner.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday raised the issue of E-20 ethanol-blended petrol in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, pointing out that the Centre has forced its rollout despite admitting in Parliament that it reduces vehicle mileage. He said the move is causing financial hardship for vehicle owners, questioned why the implementation has been accelerated, and alleged that it is aimed at serving the interests of a trade deal with the United States under which India will import $20 billion worth of ethanol over the next five years. Asserting that consumers should not be deprived of choice, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha passed a resolution urging the Centre to offer both pure petrol and E-20 at fuel stations and to reduce the price of E-20 to safeguard the interests of the common people.

Taking to X, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated: “During the Punjab Vidhan Sabha session, I raised the serious issue of E20 ethanol-blended petrol being forced on consumers and the damage it is causing to people’s vehicles. This fuel has been imposed by the Central Government without any scientific study. According to a survey, it has reduced the mileage of 67 per cent of vehicles, while 45 per cent have suffered engine damage, placing a direct financial burden on ordinary people.

“The Central Government itself has admitted in Parliament that E20 petrol reduces vehicle mileage. All of this is being done to serve the interests of a major trade deal with the United States and to benefit corporate companies. We demand that consumers be given the choice between pure petrol and E20 at fuel stations, and that the price of E20 be reduced immediately. The Punjab Vidhan Sabha has passed a resolution on this issue and is sending it to the Central Government to protect the interests of the common people. Inquilab Zindabad,” the post concluded.

Winding up the debate on the issue in Vidhan Sabha, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “This is a matter of grave concern for every citizen of the country. E-20 ethanol-blended petrol has been forced upon vehicle owners without any proper research, scientific study or consultation. The Union Government has neither conducted any study nor obtained certification from any engineering college or IIT to establish that E-20 petrol is safe for vehicle engines.”

Slamming the Centre, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Engines designed to run on E-10 petrol were arbitrarily shifted to E-20 despite widespread opposition. According to a survey covering more than 45,000 vehicles, 67 per cent reported a significant drop in mileage while 45 per cent suffered engine damage. This is nothing but an open loot of the hard-earned money of common people, who purchase vehicles after years of savings and through EMIs.”

Referring to the burden on vehicle owners, the Chief Minister pointed out, “The common people buy a vehicle with great difficulty and then bear the additional burden of repairs because of this policy. It is unfortunate that the Union Government is misleading people in the name of E-20. AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal has also raised this issue and collected more than two lakh signatures through a public petition, which he is carrying to the Prime Minister.”

Referring to the Centre’s own admission, he said, “Initially, the Union Government claimed that only automobile manufacturers could determine mileage. But every driver knows the mileage of his or her own vehicle, and modern vehicles display mileage on the dashboard. The Centre has now admitted in Parliament that E-20 petrol can reduce mileage by up to six per cent and that it affects vehicle engines.”

Questioning the motive behind the policy, the Chief Minister noted, “This is not merely about ethanol. It is linked to the trade deal with the United States. Under this agreement, India will increase ethanol imports fivefold, from nearly one billion litres to five billion litres, amounting to nearly $20 billion over the next five years. The United States is the world’s largest producer of ethanol, and India is being made to bear this burden.”

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “What compulsion makes Prime Minister Narendra Modi bow before Donald Trump and accept everything he says? American farmers are disposing of their surplus produce, while Indian consumers are being forced to pay the price.”

Calling out the Union Government’s foreign policy, theChief Minister stated, “The Centre’s decisions are being driven by the interests of big corporate houses. The situation has reached a stage where the United States dictates even where India should purchase crude oil from. Even during Operation Sindoor, America announced developments relating to India and Pakistan before India itself, raising serious questions over our foreign policy.”

Questioning the implementation timeline, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The Centre originally planned to implement E-20 by 2030. What was the hurry to enforce it in 2026? They have started with E-20 and are waiting for the controversy to subside before introducing E-25 and E-50.”

Highlighting the Vidhan Sabha’s stand, he affirme, “The Punjab Vidhan Sabha has discussed this serious national issue in detail. BJP members chose not to participate, but we are leading this fight to protect the interests of the people. Consumers must be given the choice between pure petrol and E-20. Earlier, people had the option of choosing between leaded and unleaded petrol. This decision has been imposed without giving people any choice.”

Drawing a comparison with toll plazas, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Across the world, people have the option of choosing toll roads or non-toll roads. When citizens already pay road tax, why should they pay toll tax separately? The Punjab Government has closed 19 toll plazas, saving commuters nearly ₹67 lakh every day.”

Reiterating the demand, CM Bhagwant Singh Mannconcluded, “People must immediately be given the choice between pure petrol and E-20 at fuel stations, and the price of E-20 should be reduced. I have written to the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and other concerned authorities, urging them to protect the interests of the common people.”