TMC says Centre Violating Principles of Cooperative Federalism by raiding Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary

Expressing disappointment over the raids conducted by central agencies on Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary P.Rama Mohan Rao's residence, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Wednesday asked the Centre if this was the type of cooperative federalism, they have been talking about.

"The TMC and Mamata Di condemn any form of corruption, but having said that what is going on here. This is the BJP government who talks about cooperative federalism there is a system" TMC leader Derek O'Brien told ANI.

"The state government of Tamil Nadu should have been informed; Proper procedure should have been followed. You don't just jump into the state and do whatever you want. So, this is very bad the BJP talks about federalism, but in action whether it is in Tamil Nadu or whether it is in Delhi, Kejriwal's government, they have the same problem. So, Mamata Di has given a strong reaction this morning to follow procedure otherwise, even the bureaucracy, you want to take over," he added.

"Earlier the Principal Secretary of @ArvindKejriwal was raided and harassed. Now i read Chief Secretary TN also raided. Why this vindictive, unethical, technically improper action? Is it only to disturb the federal structure?" Mamata tweeted.

Escalating her attack on the Centre, Mamata asked, "Why don't they raid Amit Shah and others who are collecting money? While corruption needs to be condemned strongly, raid on TN Chief Sec by Central agencies devalues institution of head of civil service."

The Trinamool Congress chief asserted that proper procedure of the raid should have been to take the state leadership into confidence and removing the person in question from his post prior to any preemptive action based on information.

Officials of the Income Tax Department earlier in the day conducted a raid at Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary P. Rama Mohana Rao's residence in Anna Nagar.

Rao, who was appointed the Chief Secretary in June 2016, holds the additional charge of Vigilance Commissioner and Commissioner of Administrative Reforms.

Raids are being carried out across the country by the Income Tax Department in the wake of the burgeoning fake currency racket post demonetisation.