'BJP misusing state's powers to malign Congress leaders'

The BJP at the centre, in order to strengthen its party base in the Congress-ruled states, is trying to malign the democratically elected governments of these states by implicating them in false cases, a Congress leader said on Wednesday.

The BJP is misusing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) for political gain, especially in view of the assembly election in Bihar, Himachal Pradesh Youth Congress president Vikramaditya Singh said.

His reaction came after his father and state Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh's houses were raided on September 26 by the CBI in a disproportionate assets case against him and his family.

Vikramaditya said it would be for the first time in the history of the country that raids were conducted at the residence of a sitting chief minister.

He said that the way the central government had targeted Virbhadra Singh, misusing the government machinery, was not a good sign for the country.

"Today it was the Himachal Pradesh chief minister and tomorrow it may be the chief ministers of other Congress ruled states too," he added.