Modi government selectively using agencies against opposition: CPI-M

The Narendra Modi government is misusing state agencies like the CBI, ED and IT to harass the opposition while turning a blind eye to cases of corruption where BJP people are involved, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury alleged on Tuesday.

Yechury said that "blatant misuse of constitutional authorities and institutions" was being done which is "undermining the very foundation of our Constitution".

Referring to the recently released film "Mersal", which has certain dialogues taking a dig at the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Yechury said pressure was being mounted on the producers of the film to chop off these scenes despite clearance by the Censor Board.

"The actor Vishal was questioned by the GST intelligence officers," he said.

"Agencies are doing very, very selective investigations. Various scams that have come over the last three years like Birla-Sahara diaries, Lalit Modi, Panama Papers, Vyapam scam, Bihar land scam, in these cases no investigation has begun or ordered," he said.

Recently, the Rajasthan government brought an Ordinance by which the media is prohibited by law to report cases of corruption against officials. The Reserve Bank of India's autonomy is being eroded, he said.

"For the first time, the credibility of the Election Commission of India (ECI) has come under question. If the EC has decided the date before which Gujarat assembly elections will be completed then why no dates of polls announced yet?" Yechury said.

"All this is blatant misuse of constitutional authorities and institutions... undermining the very foundation of our Constitution," he said.

--IANS

mak/him/bg