CBI raids on Lalu, family is vendetta, says Congress

The Congress on Friday termed CBI raids on RJD leader Lalu Prasad and his family a "vendetta", and said when law enforcing agencies become captive puppets for exacting revenge on political opponents, it doesn't bode well for democracy.

"The law of the land must take its own course in an impartial and just manner. However, when the CBI and the Enforcement Department become captive puppets of government, acting as the 'Dirty Tricks Department' to seek revenge against political opponents, it doesn't bode well for democracy," Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said in a statement here.

"The matter, as per the Central Bureau of Investigation, dates back to 2004 while the FIR is lodged in 2017. Why this inordinate delay and particular silence maintained by the Bharatiya Janata Party for the last three years?" he asked.

Surjewala said, "As the BJP-led government's failures are exposed vis-a-is farmers, rampant unemployment, silence on corruption, failure on economic front or nationwide protests against Goods and Services Tax, sudden vendetta and spate of criminal cases is unleashed against opposition leaders."

"Does it not establish the mal-intent of the government? Further, allegation is that the so-called lease was given through a tender in 2004. What action has the Railways taken so far? The answer is none," he added.

"Has the lease been cancelled? Has the property been taken in possession by the Railways? Has the Railways filed a criminal complaint to the CBI? What was the anomaly in tender process or how was it wrong? Why has the Railways not cancelled everything for 14 years?"

"Doubts certainly arise on the bona fides of the CBI and the government? While justice must be done, the BJP or any other party has no right to give certificates of innocence or guilt today untill the matter is adjudicated by courts," the Congress leader added.

Questioning the BJP, he asked why no investigation had been ordered in the Sahara-Birla diaries case or no action taken in Rs 20,000 crore petroleum scam in Gujarat.

"Why no action against Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the Vyapam case, or against Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje in the Lalit Modi and mining case? Why no action against Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh in Rs 36,000 crore PDS scam or against his son in the foreign bank accounts case investigated by the International Consortium of Journalists?" the Congress leader said.

He said people wanted answers that the BJP was trying to brush under the carpet as it seeks to throw muck on political rivals.

--IANS

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