ED, CBI, I-T dept campaigners, frontline warriors of BJP: Cong

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Friday alleged that the Enforcement Directorate, CBI and Income Tax Department were “campaigners” and “frontline warriors” of the BJP who are given “targets” to scare opposition leaders and make them join the ruling party.

The opposition party’s attack at the Modi government came a day after the Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau arrested an Enforcement Directorate officer and his associate for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 15 lakh for settling a matter related to a chit fund case.

Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said the officials who are responsible for stopping corruption are themselves taking bribes.

“In Rajasthan, two ED officers have been caught red-handed taking bribe of Rs 15 lakh to hush up a chit fund case,” Khera said.

If the rate list of small level officers is Rs 15 lakh, then what will be the rate of officers above them, Khera asked.

He alleged that the ED, CBI and IT department all are “government campaigners” of BJP.

“They are given targets to scare the opposition leaders and make them join the BJP. This is (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji’s toolkit,” he alleged.

Khera asserted that the Congress wants the investigating agencies of the country to remain powerful and fearless.

“As long as the leaders are in the opposition, they are corrupt... but as soon as they join BJP, they become clean. We want to tell the Modi government that you should strengthen these agencies, not make them helpless,” he said.

The Anti Corruption Bureau, while doing its work fearlessly, caught ED officers taking bribes in Rajasthan, he said and alleged that the BJP government is trampling impartial institutions.

This is a serious threat facing the country, Khera asserted.