Kumaraswamy slams Modi, calls IT raids in K'taka as PM's 'real surgical strike'
K'taka CM said he would use 'Mamata Banerjee's tactics' against any move by Centre to use govt organisations for political vendetta.
Bengaluru: As Income tax officers are searching the premises of politicians of JD(S)-Congress coalition and their associates across Karnataka, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said he would use “Mamata Banerjee’s tactics” against any move by the Centre to use government organisations for political vendetta, reported NDTV.
Chief Minister Kumaraswamy tweeted:
PM @narendramodi's real surgical strike is out in the open through IT dept raids. The constitutional post offer for IT officer Balakrishna helped the PM in his revenge game. Highly deplorable to use govt machinery, corrupt officials to harrass opponents during election time.
— H D Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) March 28, 2019
Hon'ble PM @NarendraModi is misusing the IncomeTax Dept to threaten the political leaders of Karnataka from JDS and Congress during election time
— H D Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) March 27, 2019
They have planned to conduct IT raids on our important leaders.This is nothing but revenge politics.We will not be cowed down by this
The raids are being carried out by I-T officials and Central Personal Force (CRPF) personnel.
Currently, raids are underway at multiple locations in Bengaluru, Hassan, Mandya and, Mysuru, sources revealed.
In addition to this, JD(S) leader Madhu Bangarappa claimed that the BJP is trying to "play political games" ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
"The Chief Minister of Karnataka has already cleared why raids are taking place as he got inputs from the intelligence department. The BJP is trying to play political games before elections. Why are there no raids at BJP leaders' houses? IT raids are common but I am questioning their timing," he told ANI.
The Karnataka government alleged that Centre was using the income tax department to harass lawmakers. On Thursday, I-T officials along with CRPF raided residences of Karnataka Minor Irrigation Minister CS Puttaraju in Mandya district and his nephew’s in Mysuru, reported news agency PTI.
"I'm not deterred by the raids, which are election related. I would like to know which BJP leader's house in Karnataka has been raided?" said Puttaraju.
The raids are also reportedly going on in houses of associates of Public Works Department Minister HD Revanna. Revanna is brother of the Chief Minister and son of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda.
The Congress had made similar allegations when the premises of DK Shivakumar were raided.
In February, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee staged a sit-in protest after a CBI team wanted to question former Kolkata Polcie Rajeev Kumar in chit fund scam cases.
The people of Karnataka will vote in the Lok Sabha elections on April 18 and 23. Results will be out on May 23.
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