‘AAP’s growth in Gujarat frustrating BJP’: Atishi slams CBI raids at Durgesh Pathak’s residence

Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi chief minister Atishi slammed the raids by the Central Bureau of Investigation at the residence of senior party leader Durgesh Pathak on Thursday and slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party over the raids. Pathak was recently appointed by AAP as the party’s co-incharge for Gujarat in view of state assembly elections.

The party charged the raids were politically motivated. Slamming the BJP, Atishi tweeted, “As soon as Aam Aadmi Party started preparations for Gujarat elections, CBI reached the house of Gujarat co-incharge Durgesh Pathak to conduct raid!” Atishi claimed only AAP can challenge the BJP in Gujarat. “In Gujarat, only AAP can challenge the BJP and this raid shows their frustration! In all these years, BJP has not understood that we are not going to be scared of their threats,” she added.

 The central agency conducted raids at the residence of Pathak during the early hours of Thursday. According to reports, the CBI has registered a case against him for alleged violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.

Addressing a press conference, AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said, "The BJP's attempts to finish off the AAP have begun once again. They have jailed our leader, arrested our top leadership, and now our PAC member and Gujarat co-incharge Durgesh Pathak has been raided by the CBI. The only reason is that AAP is gaining ground in Gujarat." Singh charged the central agency’s action comes soon after Pathak began groundwork in Gujarat and started holding meetings to strengthen the party in the state which is BJP’s stronghold. The AAP had secured five seats and a 14 per cent vote share in the 2022 Gujarat Assembly polls.