'IPL-Like Auctions For Plum Postings...': Former Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh Defends ED, CBI Raids

BJP said the ED and CBI are independent agencies which act only on the basis of evidence and added that if the state governments had acted on time, such "corruption" could be prevented.

Former Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing raids by central agencies across various states in India, the BJP on Friday said the ED and CBI are independent agencies which act only on the basis of evidence. Weighing in on the Opposition furore over the ongoing central raids in Chhattisgarh, former chief minister and senior BJP leader Raman Singh said that if the state agencies had acted on time, such corruption as are allegedly coming out in the ongoing central raids could have been prevented.

Bringing allegations of serious graft against the Congress government, the BJP national vice president said, "ED and IT Department come in only in cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). If the (state) government acts on time, such corruption could be prevented. But if the government itself is involved in corruption, if there is a liquor scam worth more than Rs 2000 crores, with liquor sold illegally in government shops, if Rs 25 per ton is being illegally collected publicly for coal, agencies have to act. They have presented evidence and documents (to support their corruption claims)."

#WATCH | On raids by central agencies in Chhattisgarh, BJP national vice president and former Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh says, "Why are you scared? Stop corruption. Stop collecting money for coal. Stop selling illegal liquor...If an IPL-like auction takes place in the posting of… pic.twitter.com/gTY8wDVmhB

— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2023

Tearing into the Bhupesh Baghel government amid the ongoing raids, the former CM said, "Why are you running scared? Stop corruption. Stop collecting money for coal. Stop selling illegal liquor. If an (Indian Premier League) IPL-like auction takes place for the postings of Collectors and SPs, if posts are sold for Rs 5-10 crores, could there be a bigger act of corruption than this?"

Meanwhile, claiming that the BJP-led Centre was resorting to witchunts against Opposition leaders as it senses defeat in the Chhattisgarh polls, CM Baghel told reporters, "The BJP is clearly worried and flustered as it has sensed defeat in the elections. They are raking up 12-year-old cases to target Opposition leaders, which only goes to show their desperation."

#WATCH | Raipur: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel says, "BJP is flustered. They are going to lose in Rajasthan. Look at the condition, if they are doing raids for a 12-year-old case then it certainly means they want to disturb," pic.twitter.com/4BzZLmqD13

— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) October 27, 2023

Claiming that the ED and CBI are independent agencies that act only on the basis of solid and irrefutable evidence against the accused, BJP MP PP Chaudhary told ANI, "The ED and CBI are independent agencies that conduct their proceedings only on the basis of solid evidence. They are only doing what they are mandated to, they are conducting further proceedings only on the basis a preliminary investigations (against those accused of graft). If someone has indulged in corruption, there is no provision in our laws that enables him to seek cover or exemption (from criminal proceedings) citing elections."

#WATCH | Delhi: BJP MP PP Chaudhary says, "ED and CBI are independent agencies. They do their proceedings after proofs... ED and CBI are doing their jobs. They are conducting the proceedings after a preliminary investigation. You do corruption and then say that you are immune to… pic.twitter.com/IgTznpEx8c

— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2023

Hitting out at the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the BJP, amid the ongoing central raids in Opposition-ruled states, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said, "What's happening in the country? Our democracy is under threat. The Constitution is being shredded and trampled upon as the ED and CBI are acting at the behest of the BJP. These agencies are being used as political weapons by the central government over the last 9 years to target Opposition leaders and governments."

#WATCH | Jaipur: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot says, "What's happening in the country? Democracy is under threat. The Constitution has been tattered. ED, Income Tax and CBI are following instructions (of the Central government)...They have become political weapon for the past 9 years… pic.twitter.com/9anuLBG09o

— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2023

Congress leader Tariq Anwar said, "The ED and CBI are working as frontal organisations of the BJP. Whenever they face or sense a political challenge, they set these agencies loose on the Opposition leaders and parties. This (ongoing raids in Chhattisgarh) isn't the first time this has happened. This has been a recurring pattern with the central government."

VIDEO | “These (ED, CBI and IT) agencies are working as the frontal organisations for the BJP. Whenever they encounter political challenges they resort to using the ED and CBI. This is not the first example of such actions, since 2014, it has become a recurring pattern,” says… pic.twitter.com/1lDCxRubH5

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 27, 2023

Also, gunning for the BJP-led Centre after the arrest of West Bengal minister Jyotipriya Mallik in connection with an alleged ration scam, on Thursday, TMC leader and minister Shashi Panja alleged vendetta, saying, "We (TMC) are being targeted by the Centre. They think they can scare us by unleashing the ED and CBI on us. They don't see scams in (BJP-ruled) Madhya Pradesh. They are selectively targeting leaders in states where the BJP is not in power."

#WATCH | Kolkata: West Bengal Minister and TMC leader Shashi Panja says, "TMC is being targeted by the BJP... They think that by showing ED and CBI, they can scare us... They don't see these scams in Madhya Pradesh... When the ruling party is not the BJP, then only they… pic.twitter.com/BfrF8rJsfF

— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2023