Oppn alleges CBI, ED being used for political purposes

Opposition Congress on Monday forced two adjournments of Rajya Sabha proceedings in the pre-noon session over alleged misuse of ED and CBI against Chief Ministers belonging to non-BJP parties.

The Congress members sought suspension of business to discuss the alleged "unleashing" of Enforcement Directorate and CBI against Chief Ministers and former Chief Ministers belonging to opposition parties and the enforcement agencies turning a blind eye to alleged "nepotism", "corruption" and "money laundering" by their BJP counterparts.

But when their notices under rule 267 was disallowed, Congress members trooped into the Well of the House raising slogans.

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien first adjourned the proceedings for 10 minutes. But when House reassembled and similar unruly scenes were witnessed again, he was forced to adjourn the proceedings for another five minutes.

When the House met for the day, Anand Sharma (Cong) said bonafide decisions are taken by elected Chief Ministers and the state governments for allotment of land and there is no state which is exception to this rule.

Without naming anyone, he said the central government, in "blatant" abuse of authority, was using ED to target former Chief Ministers belonging to the opposition parties and FIRs are being registered against them.

His reference was apparently to the attachment of properties belonging to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and ED summoning him in connection with an alleged money-laundering case.

"Government is protecting the wrong-doings of its own Chief Ministers" who face accusations of "money laundering, nepotism and corruption," Sharma said.

In states like Madhya Pradesh, land allotted for a newspaper has been converted for commercial use, while in Haryana, land has been allotted to a commercial organisation Patanjali, he alleged, saying change of land use was being allowed in BJP-ruled states.