Tamil Nadu CM Slams BJP Over ED Raids; Says It’s “Against The Values Of Cooperative Federalism”

Recently, ED (Enforcement Directorate) conducted a raid against V Senthil Balaji, Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister. Upset over this incident, MK Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu slammed BJP saying the Party’s politics of threatening their political rivals through various methods will not work for long period of time.

He said, “The BJP has been controlling its political opponents through the investigative agencies at its disposal. There have been several examples of this from across the country.”

“Politically motivated raid,” accused Tamil Nadu CM

Tamil Nadu Chief accused the series of raids, of a “politically motivated” move. He further exclaimed, “What does it mean when such action is carried out just days after the visit of the Union Home Minister to Chennai? He criticized the DMK and govt very strongly during his public speech. We had given our clarification too.”

This raid was allegedly conducted by the centre government of the BJP. M K Stalin said that the raids at the secretariat were “against the values of cooperative federalism”.  He further added, “Even when the income tax raided the then chief secretary Ram Mohan Rao in 2016 inside the secretariat, I had issued a statement condemning the same, even when the ruling AIADMK did not do so.”

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I will extend complete cooperation, said Senthil Balaji

He said, “I will extend full cooperation to any kind of investigation. Then what was the need to carry out raids at the official chambers of the minister at the secretariat premises? Was it to show that they are capable of carrying out raids at the secretariat or to threaten?”

ED raids against V Senthil Balaji

The Enforcement Directorate conducted searches against Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji and some others as part of a money laundering investigation.

The minister, a DMK strongman from Karur district, said he was not aware of what the officials had come searching for at his premises and assured total cooperation in the probe.

The raids are being carried out at Balaji’s premises in the state capital Chennai and his native Karur.