Sachin Pilot accuses BJP-led Centre of misusing agencies for political gains

Sachin Pilot

Senior Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Sachin Pilot, on October 26, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre of misusing India’s premier agencies against its opponents to intimidate them.

Pilot, who has been nominated by the party from his home turf, Tonk, for the Rajasthan assembly polls, made these remarks in the backdrop of raids conducted by the Enforcement Directorate at the official residence of his party’s state president, Govind Singh Dotasra, in Jaipur in connection with a paper leak case.

The central agency has also summoned Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s son, Vaibhav Gehlot, to appear for questioning on October 27 in connection with a probe under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) linked to a Mumbai-based firm of hotels and resorts.

“Rajasthan is an election-going state, and the Model Code of Conduct is already in force. The exercise of the Enforcement Directorate is suspicious. The government is using all central agencies to intimidate Congress leaders in Rajasthan and other political opponents,” said Pilot.

The ED has not released any official statement, but leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party are justifying it, which clearly indicates that the raids have been carried out at the behest of the sitting government at the Centre.

“These raids are politically motivated, as the BJP is trailing in all five states, and Congress is doing exceedingly well. Had the BJP been confident of winning these polls, no raids would have taken place,” Pilot added.

Vaibhav Gehlot has been summoned in a 12-year-old case; it shows that agencies are being used as political weapons. Earlier, Rahul Gandhi was also questioned, Pilot remarked.

“We must take inspiration from Mr. Rahul Gandhi, who has faced all these challenges. There is nothing for Congress leaders to fear or feel intimidated about. It's an open secret now that these raids are being done because elections are around the corner,” said the Congress leader.

He said that the raids were conducted without issuing any summons, and they were done to convey that if the BJP becomes politically weak, they have central agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation, Income Tax, and the Enforcement Directorate with them.

“The Congress is not against taking action in corruption cases. We are against agencies being used by the government. In the last five years, the BJP didn't feel any need to initiate a probe,” said the former Deputy Chief Minister.