The Congress has launched an attack on the Union Government over Income Tax raids in Chhattisgarh for the past 4 days and termed it as "Coercive & Insecure Centrism".
The Congress said Constitution has been trampled, federalism demolished and democracy attacked.
"Over the last four days, multiple raids on various locations have been carried out by the Income Tax Department in Chhattisgarh. Unfortunately, for the Modi Government, the clumsy method, manner and timing of these raids have exposed their mal-intentions and designs before the entire nation," alleged Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala.
The meticulously planned raids began on February 27 early hours and were continued till date. Reports said that about 300 officers are engaged in the raids in which paramilitary CRPF troopers were deployed at the raid sites while state policemen were entirely kept out.
The raid was conducted on bigwigs linked to the state government. It began just a day after Congress-ruled state government’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) registered an FIR against former principal secretary Aman Singh, the long-time top associate of BJP leader and former chief minister Raman Singh.
Those prominent figures who have been raided include former chief secretary Vivek Dhand, who is presently chairman of Real Estate Regualtory Authority (RERA), tainted IAS officer Anil Tuteja, Raipur mayor Aijaz Dhebar, liquor baron Pappu Bhatia, former MLA Gurumukh Singh Hora and deputy secretary in CM’s secretariat Saumya Chaurasia.
Dhand, Tuteja, Chaurasia and others hold considerable clout in Chhattisgarh government and speculation was rife in state capital Raipur that raid was directly linked to Rs political funding’ though IT department has not made any statement so far.
Surjewala alleged that the Income Tax raids in Chhattisgarh were carried out after the Bhupesh Baghel government launched an investigation into irregularities of the previous BJP regime in the state.
"Is this a Cover-up Corruption exercise by Union BJP Govt? Can the Modi-Shah government share the basis on which these raids are being conducted?" asked Surjewala.
"Unsurprisingly, and most importantly, the raids have begun only after the economic offences wing of the State Government launched an investigation into alleged acts of corruption that took place under the purview of the previous BJP Government. The persons targeted are also chosen to send a clear message to the State Leadership." said Surjewala.
"We as a country, which have become familiar with these tactics over the last five and a half years. But Modi-Shah duo, in their zeal and desperation to intimidate, have done the Nation a huge disservice," alleged Surjwala.
"When we say that Constitution is a Federal Constitution, it means that the Provinces are as sovereign as the Centre. In other words, barring the provisions which permit the Centre to override any legislation that may be passed by the Provinces, which have a plenary authority to make any law for the peace, order and good government of that Province," the congress leader reminded.