Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi attacked Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Friday, saying that “those involved in burglary should be afraid of the police,” in reference to his comments criticizing Enforcement Directorate (ED) searches in Rajasthan.
“Who among us is scared of the Income Tax Department (IT) and the ED? The police are someone that burglars should be wary of. The ED and the IT should be feared by those who have amassed black money through theft. Why would others who are not participating in this feel afraid? Lekhi stated in an interview with ANI in Raipur.
“We have been revolting against the Congress for decades. Neither we nor our ancestors ever got afraid, because we never did anything wrong. The fear towards the ED and IT is fair. This means that those who have hidden black money are afraid of being caught”, she added.
Following the ED raids at the residence of Rajasthan Congress Chief, Govind Singh Dotasara, in connection with the Senior Teacher 2nd Grade Competitive Examination, 2022 Paper Leak case, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday said, “Not only iron is found in Chhattisgarh, in fact, the intentions of Chhattisgarhi people are also steely. Don’t try to scare…”
The raids which came even as Rajasthan is gearing up for the assembly polls, took a political tone with several Congress leaders attacking the central government, claiming that the “atmosphere” in Rajasthan is in favour of the Congress party, hence the BJP made its “last move”. Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday also attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the raids.
Taking to ‘X’, Kharge wrote, “As elections are around the corner, ED, CBI, IT etc. become the real ‘Panna Pramukh’ of BJP. Seeing its certain defeat in Rajasthan, the Bharatiya Janata Party made its last move! After Chhattisgarh, ED has also started action against Congress leaders entering the assembly election campaign in Rajasthan”.
“The dictatorship of the Modi government is fatal for democracy. We will continue to fight against the misuse of agencies, the public will give a befitting reply to the BJP,” he added.
The ED also summoned Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s son, Vaibhav Gehlot, for questioning in a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) case.
The Rajasthan assembly polls are to be held on November 25.
