MP defends raids as routine action on tax evaders

Handlooms Minister OS Manian distanced the state government from the I-T raids on the houses and business establishments of sidelined AIADMK leaders VK Sasikala, TTV Dinakaran and their relatives. Rajya Sabha MP and AIADMK’s Deputy Coordinator R Vaithilingam in Thanjavur dismissed the raids as routine ones against tax evaders. 

Answering questions from the media, the Handlooms Minister said, “The raids have nothing to do with the state government and there is no link between the recent meeting of Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”  He also added, “Those who do not carry any burden, need not fear. I do not know why the raids are taking place. I do not know if this is an action to eradicate black money.”

Meanwhile, R Vaithilingam said that it is usual for the I-T Department to search premises of those whom they suspect of evading taxes.  “Connecting the raids with politics is unhealthy. There is nothing political in this issue,” he said. He also played down the allegations that the raids were aimed at threatening Dinakaran as he was claiming the ‘Two Leaves’ symbol as baseless. “The symbol will obviously be given to the EPS-OPS group,” he added.