Stalin, Kejriwal condemn raids, flay Congress for its questionable relations with BJP

CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby’s questioned whether the United Democratic Front (UDF) government, led by the Congress, was complicit in the raids at the residences of Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan. His remarks were echoed by several Opposition leaders outside Kerala.  

DMK leader and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin strongly condemned the ED raids, maintaining that “such actions once again raise serious concerns over the growing pattern of Central agencies being weaponised against Opposition leaders”. He went on to say that the raids also exposed “the hollowness of the reckless allegations made by some Congress leaders who repeatedly questioned why Pinarayi Vijayan had not yet been targeted by the BJP”.  

Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal termed the raids as another instance of “the blatant misuse of Central agencies by the BJP to target regional opposition parties and undermine democracy”. He said the ED’s immediate action after the Congress complained about “inaction” raised “serious questions” about the BJP-Congress relationship,” he said.  

CPM workers detained

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police detained around 60 CPI(M) activists and leaders who took out a march from the Khan Market area to the ED office, condemning the raids. Apart from Mr. Baby, veteran leader Brinda Karat, Polit Bureau members Ashok Dhawale, Mariam Dhawale and Vijoo Krishnan, Central Secretariat member Dr Vikram and SFI national president Adarsh Saji were among those detained at three different locations till 7 pm.  

Speaking to The Hindu while in police custody, Mr. Baby said the raids smacked of political vendetta. He said the BJP was demonstrating “neofascistic” behaviour through the suppression of democratic rights. The BJP, controlled and guided by the RSS, was misusing Central agencies and various constitutional authorities for narrow, selfish interests. Though the raids were ostensibly aimed at unearthing wrongdoings, they were actually targeted at Pinarayi Vijayan, he said.  

He further alleged that many Congress leaders were working hand in glove with the BJP. Referring to Opposition allies such as Rahul Gandhi, who had questioned why Mr. Vijayan was not being arrested by central agencies, Mr. Baby said such remarks were doing “a great disservice” to democracy and civil liberties.

Later, in a video released by the CPI(M), Mr. Baby said that while several Congress leaders targeted by central agencies had eventually joined the BJP, CPI(M) leaders were “made of sterner stuff”. Referring to Opposition allies such as Rahul Gandhi, who had questioned why Mr. Vijayan was not being arrested by central agencies, Mr. Baby said such remarks were doing “a great disservice” to democracy and civil liberties.