New Delhi:Congress party took a strong stand for its leader and Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar after Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted a raid at his residence on Monday. The party said that ruling BJP attempted to shield Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and his family from corruption charges.
While addressing a press conference, All India Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev said, "It is shocking how BJP repeatedly uses these agencies to target opposition leaders. Why is this happening before every election, CBI suddenly wakes up and starts conducting these raids? Are they not acting as the stooge of this Government?
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She further raised questions on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying, "What justification can you give to the nation for not investigating Yediyurappa Ji and his family? There is ample prima facie evidence to say that they are dripping in corruption."
Earlier, Karnataka Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala also conducted a press conference in the state, accusing the CM of being 'engulfed in corruption', demanding his resignation over the graft charges against his family members in a Bengaluru Development Authority project.
Surjewala had also cited some documents and WhatsApp conversations between the contractor and Yediyurappa's grandson, Shashidhar Maradi, alleging that demand was raised by him to transfer crores of rupees in cash and also through RTGS into a bank account.
Reiterating those allegations, Sushmita Dev said, "Today, BJP is repeatedly using these agencies because they know that it is the only way to divert nation's attention. We condemn this witch-hunt and Congress party stands by DK Shivakumar, who is nothing but a victim of elections which are due to happen in Karnataka."
"It is the shame on Prime Minister, Home Minister and BJP that today you continue to shield your corrupt Chief Minister, his son and grandson in the Rs 662 crore scam which you deliberately do not want to investigate. We demand an enquiry in Yeddyurappa Ji's family corruption and an explanation that why his family is getting a different treatment from what Shivakumar is getting," she further added.
Earlier on Monday, Surjewala also reacted on the matter and tweeted, "The insidious game of intimidation and machinations of Modi-Yeddyurappa duo being executed by a puppet CBI by raiding DK Shivakumar would not deter us. CBI should be unearthing the layers of corruption in the Yediyurappa government. But 'Raid Raj' is the only 'Machiavellian Move'!"
In another tweet, he said, "Let Modi and Yediyurappa government and BJP's frontal organisations, i.e. CBI-ED-Income Tax know that Congress workers and leaders will not be cowed down nor bow down before such devious attempts. Our resolve to fight for people and expose BJP's maladministration only becomes stronger."
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