Congress asks EC to stop 'misuse' of central agencies ahead of Assembly polls

The Congress sought the involvement of the Election Commission to stop the Union government's "misuse" of central agencies to...

Digital Desk: The Congress sought the involvement of the Election Commission to stop the Union government's "misuse" of central agencies to target the governments in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan ahead of the Assembly elections, according to reports. 

While the first round of polling in Chhattisgarh concluded on Tuesday, the second phase will take place on November 17. Rajasthan will vote on November 25.

 

Days before the polls in 20 out of 90 seats in Chhattisgarh, the Enforcement Directorate alleged that Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel was paid Rs 508 crore by the promoters of the now-banned betting app Mahadev App. 

 

The Congress has refuted the charges, claiming that the central agency is attempting to destroy Baghel's image and influence the polls.

 

Reportedly, the opposition party submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission on Wednesday, alleging that the central agency's press release on November 3, just days before the first phase of voting on Tuesday, falsely linked Baghel to the "ill-gotten money being attributed to the Mahadev app case."

 

"The hasty nature in which the press release has been issued without conducting even basic due diligence before its issuance and callously including the name of a sitting CM clearly indicates the malicious and politically motivated nature of ED and misuse of the investigating agencies by the BJP which being in power in Centre remote-controls these agencies to fulfil its political objectives," the party said.

 

The Chhattisgarh Police launched an inquiry into the Mahadev app case eight months ago, and the chief minister has also demanded that the accused be arrested. But the central government did nothing then, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi told reporters.

 

"As soon as the elections approached, BJP leaders, the prime minister and the Enforcement Directorate started bringing new things to the fore," he said "Why didn't the central government ban this app earlier?"

 

In addition to Chhattisgarh, the central agency conducted raids in Rajasthan, where Assembly elections will be held on November 25.

 

On November 3, the Enforcement Directorate conducted raids in Rajasthan on minister Mahesh Joshi and others in connection with a money-laundering inquiry into the state Public Health Engineering Department's execution of the Centre's Jal Jeevan Mission scheme. The initiative attempts to supply safe and sufficient drinking water through tap connections in houses.

 

Bharatiya Janata Party Rajya Sabha MP Kirodi Lal Meena has claimed that tenders worth Rs 900 crore were awarded to two companies based on forged experience certificates in 48 projects under the scheme.

 

The raids on November 3 came after the government agency summoned Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's son Vaibhav Gehlot for questioning in a case involving alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act.

 

According to the Congress memorandum to the polling body, these developments will have an impact on the fair playing field for political parties ahead of elections.