The Congress has accused the Modi government of attempting to destabilise the Karnataka government through a series of investigative actions targeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, including cases by the Income Tax Department, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). He termed this a "politics of vengeance and harassment" aimed at intimidating the Congress-led state government.
Speaking on the ongoing political tussle, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "This is a part of a series of incidents. From day one, 25th May 2023, attempts are being made from Delhi to shake and destabilise the (Karnataka)govt, to tarnish it. cases are being registered, Income Tax, CBI, and now ED. This is an attempt to intimidate and scare us. This is the politics of vengeance, and harassment. we won't be scared...whatever needs to be probed, must be probed." He emphasised that despite the pressure, the Congress government would complete its full term and deliver on the guarantees made to the people.
"Truth will come out. The mandate Karnataka govt got from people for 5 years, we will complete it and all the guarantees we promised will be fulfilled," he added.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi, another senior Congress leader, echoed Jairam Ramesh’s sentiments, accusing the BJP of using the ED to target the Congress government. Singhvi said, “It is very clear that the ED is now playing, hitting, and trying its utmost to go below the belt...The ED is nothing but the election department of the BJP. You can also call it the election demolition branch of the BJP."
He further criticised the selective targeting of opposition figures, stating that 95% of ED's political cases are against the opposition. "Those who have switched sides in Maharashtra have seen their cases go cold," Singhvi remarked.
Singhvi also accused the BJP of using its power to harass elected leaders across India, emphasising the registration of a new Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, linking it to political vendetta.
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Question Grounds For ED's Money Laundering Case
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah himself addressed the ED's charges against him, questioning the grounds on which the case was registered. "I don’t know on what grounds it’s a money laundering case...according to me, it does not attract the money laundering case because compensatory sites were given," he told reporters, as quoted by news agency PTI.
The ED had filed an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) against Siddaramaiah in connection with alleged irregularities involving the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). The allegations centre around the allotment of 14 sites to Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi B M. However, Siddaramaiah denied any wrongdoing and ruled out his resignation. “I work with conscience. So there is no need for me to resign,” he said.
Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi, had relinquished ownership of the sites, writing to MUDA on Monday that "no site, home, asset and wealth is bigger than my husband’s respect, dignity, honour and peace of mind."
The BJP, however, argued that the decision to surrender the plots was tantamount to admitting guilt. Karnataka BJP Chief B Y Vijayendra played a video clip from 2011 where Siddaramaiah had criticised then Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa over a similar issue. "If no wrong was committed, why were the sites surrendered?" Vijayendra asked, as quoted by PTI.
In response, Siddaramaiah differentiated his case from Yediyurappa's, stating that while Yediyurappa's case involved land denotification, his case did not involve any direct actions or orders. "There is a vast difference between that case and mine," he clarified.