Daijiworld Media Network-Bengaluru (RJP)

Bengaluru, Mar 19: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday March 18 accused the central government of targeting the Congress ministers and leaders in Karnataka by misusing the Income Tax (I-T) department.

When asked by reporters on his reaction on the I-T department conducting raids on the Congress ministers and leaders, Siddaramaiah said, “These raids on ministers and party leaders are politically motivated. The Centre is conspiring against the Congress government,”

“Why the raids were not done against the BJP leaders? There are not any taxpayers in the BJP? Or is it that I-T officials cannot see anything except the Congress leaders?” he asked.

D K Shivakumar

Meanwhile energy minister D K Shivakumar also spoke about the I-T raids and controversial diary reportedly seized by the I-T department from Congress MLC K Govindaraju’s residence.

“How the BJP leaders can access documents that are in possession of the I-T department?” Shivakumar asked while speaking to reporters here.

The BJP had charged that the diary has names of ministers, including Shivakumar, who paid huge donations to the Congress high command.

“The I-T officials had served a notice on me on the diary issue. They asked me about my name in the diary and I replied to their queries. DKS may mean many things. There are 20 men named?D?K?Shivakumar in my village alone,” he said.

D K Shivakumar’s residence was raided by the I-T department a few months ago.

However, Shivakumar refused to reply to a query whether the Centre is misusing the I-T department, Enforcement Directorate and CBI.