Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday lashed out at the Modi government for allegedly using the Enforcement Directorate to suppress its political competitors. Channi's remarks came days after ED conducted raids on his close relative in connection with a Prevention of Money Laundering case pertaining to illegal sand mining in Punjab.
Reacting to the incident, Channi said that central agencies such as ED, Income Tax department and others are being used by Modi government. "Be it West Bengal or Punjab, revolution started in these states. Delhi is trying to suppress (us) but Punjab will hit back," the Punjab CM said.
The Congress leader also alleged that the recent raid by ED at his relative's residence was 'revenge' of PM Modi's security breach fiasco during his Ferozepur visit.
"I have come to know that ED said, don't forget PM Modi's Ferozepur visit. This raid reflects 'revenge'. In order to implicate me, my nephew was interrogated for 24 hours. The agency didn't get any proof against me," Channi added.
Even Congress expressed unhappiness over ED raids conducted at ten different locations belonging to Punjab CM's nephew Bhupinder Singh Honey.
ED team conducted the first raid at the residence of Honey which is at Homeland Heights early Tuesday morning. No one was allowed to leave the house. The ED was scanning various documents and computers.
Congress alleged that BJP is misusing the government agency while expressing confidence that it is ready to take the battle in Punjab and will tell the people how the BJP is trying to harass country's only Dalit Chief Minister.
Congress even said that ED means 'Election Department' of the BJP.
Media reports said gold worth Rs 21 lakh was also recovered from the nephew of Channi. According to sources close to news agency IANS, a total Rs 10 crore in cash was seized in the two-day raid that ended on Wednesday.
About Rs 8 crore from the residence of Bhupinder Singh Honey, the nephew of Channi, who floated a firm to get sand mining contracts.