Unhappy with names of Punjab ministers Bikram Majithia and Sarwan Singh Phillaur cropping up in the enforcement directorate's (ED's) investigation into the "drug haul" case, deputy chief minister (CM) Sukhbir Singh Badal here on Saturday claimed that the entire investigation was a conspiracy of the Centre government against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
Sukhbir, who was here to inaugurate 108 new Saanjh Kendras, said as the Lok Sabha elections were round the corner, the Congress had been trying to defame SAD's image by adopting "filthy tactics". "Punjab Police have been investigating the matter from day one. It was Punjab Police that arrested Jagdish Bhola. Congress has been misusing central agencies to settle political scores. The enforcement directorate is an agency of the Union finance ministry and now the Congress has been misusing it," said Sukhbir.
He said Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Pratap Singh Bajwa had pressured the Centre to involve the Enforcement Directorate in the case. "But neither the Congress nor Bajwa can change the truth," he said.
On the death of a protesting farmer during in police action in Amritsar on Friday night, the deputy CM said the state would take action against the officers responsible for the death.