Last Updated: October 19, 2023, 22:23 IST
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. (File photograph/News18)
Asserting that the central investigating businesses had been performing in a partisan method, he referred to the ‘Sanjeevani rip-off’, alleging the identify of one of the union ministers had cropped up in it
Senior Congress chief Ashok Gehlot on Thursday alleged the BJP-led Centre is misusing probe businesses to goal opposition leaders even after the enforcement of the mannequin code of conduct, and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Election Commission to intervene.
Addressing a press convention right here, the Rajasthan chief minister mentioned Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax raids are being performed towards opposition leaders even after the announcement of meeting polls, and these businesses are dropping credibility among the many individuals of the nation. They ought to undertake some code of conduct throughout polls, they mentioned. “Raids are being conducted even after the model code of conduct is in force. These raids must stop,” he informed reporters.
He, nevertheless, mentioned he was not in favour of bringing these businesses underneath the purview of the Election Commission of India throughout elections. “Common people should continue to have faith in the agencies and in the judiciary, only then will the democracy survive. The model code is in force, yet the raids are continuing. This shows that they are helping them (the BJP). The Election Commission should come forward and intervene to stop these raids immediately,” he mentioned.
Gehlot additionally demanded there be Right to Social Security within the nation on the sample of a number of developed nations. He mentioned the ruling dispensation and the opposition used to share good ties prior to now however now there was a deterioration within the discourse within the nation. He recalled the instances of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajapyee when the ruling and opposition events labored in a cordial and democratic method regardless of how intense and extreme the political rivalries had been. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his number two Amit Shah consider the opposition their enemies. The entire country is watching and time will teach them a lesson, as the common sense of people in the country is extraordinary.
“The ED and the centre are in collusion and motion is being taken towards Congress leaders and every part is going on in collusion and your complete nation is watching,” he alleged. Claiming that he is a bigger ‘faqir’ than the prime minister, Gehlot said, “The PM ought to cease the ED, Income Tax raids. If he’s sincere, he ought to intervene.”
The chief minister quoted figures to claim that during the 10 years of the UPA rule, there were only 112 raids and charge sheets were filed in 93 per cent of these cases. In sharp contrast, he said, during the past nine years of the present regime, as many as 3,010 raids were conducted but charge sheets were filed only in 29 per cent cases. This, he said, was sheer harassment of political opposition.
Gehlot observed that in a democracy it is the duty of the government to respond whenever the opposition speaks. “But underneath the present regime no person responds.” The prime minister does not speak even to the media, he claimed. The prime minister and the home minister should know time will teach them a great lesson, he said.
Asserting that the central investigating agencies were acting in a partisan manner, he referred to the ‘Sanjeevani scam’, alleging the name of one of the union ministers had cropped up in it. He said his government wrote to the Financial Intelligence Unit at the centre but there was no response. He also pointed out that he has sought a meeting with the chiefs of ED, CBI and IT, but he is still awaiting a response from them. He said he wanted to bring to their attention the public perception growing against the agencies.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)
