Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today condemned CBI searches at DMK leader M K Stalin's residence, saying that the Congress-led UPA government is "misusing" the probe agency to settle scores with its political opponents.
"It was most unfortunate that the Central government is using the CBI for its arm twisting tactics to crush the voice of its political opponents," party MLA from Rupnagar, Daljeet Cheema said during a debate on the budget in the Punjab Assembly here.
Cheema alleged that the Centre was making all out efforts to usurp the powers of the state and interfering in the concurrent list particularly on law and order, health, education and other sectors.
Searches were carried out at 19 places across Tamil Nadu, including at Stalin's home yesterday in a case of alleged tax evasion of imported cars prompting strong reactions even from the Centre and opposition parties.
