Congress protests ED action in Chhattisgarh's Sukma, burns effigies
RAIPUR: The Congress party on Saturday staged protests across all district headquarters in Chhattisgarh, burning effigies of the BJP government and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The protests were held to condemn the ED's attachment of the Congress office in Sukma district.
Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee President Deepak Baij criticised the ED's action, stating the agency is acting as an "associate organisation" of the BJP. He made these remarks while addressing media persons on Saturday.
Baij said the ED's move was taken at the behest of the central government and the BJP, despite the Congress providing all financial details for the construction of the Sukma office.
He termed the action an "attack on democracy".
The City District Congress Committee in Raipur also staged a protest at Rajiv Gandhi Chowk. Congress workers gathered, raising slogans against the BJP government and the ED. A brief scuffle occurred between party workers and the police during the effigy burning.
Speaking at the protest, City Congress President Girish Dubey stated that the sealing of the Congress office in Sukma by the ED is a direct attack on democracy, the Constitution, and the freedom of the opposition.
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He added that despite all relevant documents being submitted to the ED previously, the attachment of the building indicates the central BJP government is misusing central agencies to intimidate and suppress political opponents.
Former MLA Vikas Upadhyay warned that if the Congress Bhawan is not reopened immediately and the ED's politically motivated action is not investigated, the Congress party will intensify its protests from "street to Parliament".
The ED had attached the Congress party office in Sukma district on Friday. Assets linked to former Excise Minister and MLA Kawasi Lakhma and his son were also attached. The action, taken under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), is part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged Rs 2,000 crore scam during the previous Congress government.
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