ED crackdown against AAP leaders justified: Congress

CHENNAI: Rajeev Gowda, chairman of the research wing of the Indian National Congress (INC) on Monday defended the Enforcement Directorate (ED) crackdown against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal among the AAP leaders in the Delhi excise scam.

Distinguishing between the ED offensive against Congress and AAP leaders, Rajeev Gowda said, “There is a political motivation in ED questioning us. They are misusing the agencies for political mileage. So, we are asking them not to attack us. In the case of Manish Sisodia and Arvind Kejriwal, They (AAP leaders) are deeply involved in the Delhi excise or rather a liquor scam.”

“Ask them how they are funding candidates, what happened to the anti-corruption movement and who they are giving Rajya Sabha tickets to. Then you will realize,” remarked Rajeev, talking to media persons at TN party headquarters Sathyamurthy Bhavan.

“When we oppose ED, we are opposing based on misuse. When ED is going after corrupt people, why will we oppose it? In the case of Sisodia and Kejriwal, it is justified. There is golmal in it,” the Congress leader remarked.

Elaborating on the Bharat Jodo Yatra against the ‘burning’ price rice issue, the Congress leader from Karnataka said, “Price rise has worsened in the last eight years of Modi sarkar. MMS govt put in a lot of effort and provided a lot of subsidies to shield the people. Under the Modi regime, it is the exact opposite. They do not care about people and their families.”

Comparing fuel prices of UPA-II and the incumbent Modi regime, he said, “If people’s income had also gone up by 40 or 75% like the petrol and diesel price, it would not hurt them. But, people are losing jobs and income, while prices are rising.”

Accusing the Modi regime of transferring the benefits of international crude price dip to its corporate cronies and taxing the ordinary people, he said that across the board, prices of commodities consumed by every poor family have gone up considerably. "The government has done nothing to save the people of India. But it has done enough to damage the people of India," he added.

Adding that the ruling BJP was spoiling communal harmony by dividing people on religious lines, Rajeev said the Congress yatra will demonstrate the party’s commitment to a harmonious and united India and it will open people’s eyes to the failures of the NDA govt. Reasoning that it is the time for every person who benefitted from the congress and cares about India to stay and fight against fascists and anti-democrats and people who divide others on religious lines, Rajeev said that it was unfortunate that Ghulam Nabi Azad chose the time to leave the party.