Red-faced UPA stops CBI raids on Stalin

New Delhi/Chennai: Hours after the CBI raided the residence of DMK chief M Karunanidhi’s son M K Stalin on Thursday in connection with a case on illegally importing cars, an embarrassed Centre ordered the investigating agencies to stop the raids immediately. The move came as Union Ministers P Chidambaram and Kamal Nath slammed the move. Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram strongly disapproved of the raids. “Normally I do not comment on the working of other departments. But in this case I strongly disapprove of the CBI’s action. It is bound to be misunderstood. I have conveyed this to the minister incharge,” he told TV channels in Delhi. Obviously Chidambaram was addressing his constituency in Tamil Nadu. But the Opposition is not ready to buy the argument that Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde ordered the raid without the approval of higher-ups in the UPA. While minister in the PMO V Narayanswamy refused to comment, Union Minister Rajiv Shukla too joined Chidambaram and Nath in condemning the raids. The CBI raid will also be seen as a warning to Mulayam Singh and Mayawati who are facing numerous CBI cases. The underlying message from the UPA: Stay with us or face the CBI music. This aspect was brought out by BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudi who told reporters in Delhi that the raid should be seen as a warning signal to the SP and BSP. Just two days after the DMK pulled out of the UPA over the war crime resolution against Sri Lanka, the CBI came knocking at the doors of Stalin at 7.15 am. Sources said the CBI has booked a case against Stalin’s son Udayanidhi. The raid was ordered by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence in New Delhi. While the raid may be legal, the timing is suspect as it comes just days after the DMK pullout that reduced the numbers of the UPA. Moreover, the case is a 9 year old one and questions are being asked why the files were dusted and resurrected just two days after the DMK withdrew its support to the UPA.