New Delhi: The Congress has reacted sharply to the searches conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at the premises of its party leaders in Chhattisgarh in connection with the Coal Levy 'Scam'. Party MP Jairam Ramesh launched a scathing attack on PM Narendra Modi and the BJP and said that PM doesn't unleash ED where it is required.
"They have a fair & lovely scheme. Those on whom ED was unleashed in past, became innocent after joining BJP. Congress president described in Rajya Sabha, what was later expunged, as BJP washing machine," Ramesh was quoted as saying by ANI.
Referring to the raids as PM Modi's 'third-grade politics of vendetta and harassment', the Congress leader said these raids have given them a booster dose to be even more aggressive against the Prime Minister.
"I don’t know long the raids will continue. These raids have given us a booster dose to be even more aggressive to the Prime Minister & his third-grade politics of vendetta & harassment," he added.
He said, as quoted by PTI, that this is not 'Amrit Kaal' but an "undeclared emergency". Jairam Ramesh added that 17 opposition parties have already come together against the grant of powers to the ED under the PMLA and the opposition will jointly file the review petition in the Supreme Court against its previous judgement on the issue.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel also hit out at the BJP and said that the saffron party is rattled by the success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the truth of Adani being exposed.
Baghel tweeted, "BJP is frustrated with Bharat Jodo Yatra's success & truth of Adani being exposed. This raid is an attempt to divert attention. After 4 days there's Congress convention in Raipur. Our spirits can't be broken by stopping our people engaged in preparations."
The CM added, "What's this necessity right before the party's Convention? The matter they're mentioning, they could've done it a month or 2 before or after. What does it say if they're doing it right before Convention?"
The Enforcement Directorate on Monday conducted raids at multiple locations in Chhattisgarh, including premises linked to Congress leaders, in connection with the coal levy money laundering case, reported PTI citing officials.
Official sources told PTI that searches were carried out at over a dozen locations including the residential and office premises linked to Congress leaders and some MLAs.
ANI reported that searches are being conducted at the premises of Ramgopal Agarwal, Treasurer, Chattisgarh Congress. ED is also conducting raids on Bhilai MLA Devendra Yadav, Girish Devangan, RP Singh, Vinod Tiwari, Sunny Agarwal, ANI added.
According to ANI, the Enforcement Directorate has strong evidence that Ramgopal Agarwal received Rs 52 crore from Suryakant Tiwari who is currently under judicial custody.