Conspiracy, witch-hunt: Siddaramaiah on IT raids

BENGALURU: Hours after Income Tax officials raided several places belonging to energy minister, D. K. Shivakumar, and his associates including his astrologer, Dwarakanath, Chief Minister, Siddarmaiah, and several senior leaders of Congress lashed out at Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and BJP president, Amit Shah, for unleashing political vendetta on the minister.

Mr Siddaramaiah told the media that use of Income Tax Department as a weapon of political vendetta was not only a blatant misuse of power, but was against principles of democracy and "co-operative federalism". "IT raids aimed at my cabinet colleague D. K. Shivakumar is clearly a political conspiracy. The use of Central Para-Military Forces in an IT search is condemnable," he added.

According to the Chief Minister, investigation must always follow due procedure to unearth the truth. "Violating rules exposes political motivations behind raids. The Congress run Government in Karnataka will neither budge to such political blackmail nor stoop to vindictive politics," he added.

Endorsing the views of the Chief Minister, KPCC working president, Dinesh Gundu Rao, alleged that the IT raids on Mr Shivakumar were prefect case in point wherein institutions like - IT, Enforcement Directorate and CBI - have become frontal organisation of BJP to silence leaders of Opposition parties. 

"This is an assault by the BJP on federalism and democracy. It is unfortunate that these institutions are being used as political weapons," he added.

He charged that repeated raids on many of ministers and offices were to intimidate people and legislators of Gujarat. 

"Mr Modi and Mr Shah are trying to destabilise the government here," he charged while condemning the assistance of CRPF personnel during the raid. "This is unheard of and an assault on the federal structure of the country as law and order is a state subject," he remarked.

The AICC spokesperson quipped that this was the price the country was paying for these leaders. "The BJP does not want an opposition and anyone going against them including the media are being targeted. It is has become a dictatorial rule. The Congress is united and we will fight it out. We will not be cowed down by BJP’s cheap tactics," Mr Rao contended.

Meanwhile, KPCC president, Dr G. Parameshwar, condemned the raid and termed it as political conspiracy hatched at the behest of Mr Modi and Mr Shah.