CPI(M) leader slams Centre for using agencies as weapons

Communist Party of India (Marxist) senior leader and Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat on Monday slammed the Centre for arresting Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the Delhi excise policy scam case and said that the government is misusing the agencies as a ‘Trishul’ to target opposition-ruled states and leaders.
Speaking to a news agecy, Brinda Karat said, “We strongly condemn Manish Sisodia’s arrest. “If the BJP is unable to defeat an opposition government politically through votes, the CBI, ED, and IT are used as a Trishul to target opposition leaders or areas where the opposition government is operating.”Brinda Karat further said that Sisodia’s arrest was part of the BJP’s “national policy” of targeting opposition leaders using the probe agencies.
“Manish Sisodia was arrested because it is the BJP’s national policy, if you can’t do anything, then you are targeting the opposition leaders and the governments that are running under the leadership of the opposition,” she said.
Meanwhile, the CBI on Sunday released a statement on Sisodia’s arrest, claiming he was giving evasive replies and wasn’t cooperating in the ongoing investigation in the liquor scam case.
The agency further said Sisodia had been summoned earlier on February 19 in connection with the ongoing probe, but had sought a week’s time, citing the Delhi Budget.
“The Deputy CM was issued a notice under section 41A of CrPC for attending the investigation on February 19, 2023. However, he sought time of one week citing his preoccupation,” the CBI stated.