From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Aug 5: Strongly condemning the Income Tax Department and Enforcement Directorate raids on the residence and offices of Congress legislator Z A Zameer Ahmed Khan by taking shelter under the two-year-old IMA scam, State Congress Chief D K Shivakumar lambasted the IT, ED and other Central agencies for not doing anything when BJP leaders spent crores of rupees to topple coalition governments under the ruling party’s ill-famous 'Operation Kamala'.
Addressing a news conference in Delhi on Thursday, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President why the Central agencies remained silent when BJP leaders poured in crores of rupees to topple governments and wondered if the activities of BJP leaders were unblemished.
“I strongly condemn the politically motivated raids by the Central agencies on Congress MLA Zameer Ahmed,’’ Shivakumar said the former Congress minister was competent to legally face the situation.
The KPCC Chief said IT and ED authorities had served notice to Zameer Ahmed in the IMA scam two years ago and the latter had answered all their queries. “Zameer Ahmed has himself informed me that he had provided clear answers,’’ Shivakumar said and wanted to know the purpose behind the raids at this point of time.
“I know how the IT and ED officers are harassing people,’’ he said.
Shivakumar mentioned that former minister Srinivas Gowda had alleged on the floor of the State Assembly that BJP leaders C P Yogeshwar and Ashwath Narayan had tried to entice him by offering Rs 30 crore as part of the Operation Kamala deal and had even left Rs 5 crore in his residence. Another leader Ramesh Jarkiholi had alleged that C P Yogeshwar had sold his house for Rs 9 crore and spent the money to bring down the H D Kumaraswamy-led Congress-JD(S) coalition government.
“When this is in public record, what were the Central agencies doing? Did they raid or at least interrogate any of the leaders,’’ he asked and pointed out that he is referring only to what was disclosed in the Assembly.
“Is there a different law for Congress and another one for BJP leaders,’’ Shivakumar wondered and wanted to know if all BJP leaders were functioning honestly without any underhand deals.
The KPCC Chief attacked the Central agencies for reviving the IMA scam to harass Zameer Ahmed. "Let them investigate and act as per law. But when a person has answered all questions two years back, what is the need for raids now?’’ he asked.
At the same time, Shivakumar said the innocent people who invested in IMA and lost their life savings must get justice and the guilty should be punished instead of dragging the case endlessly and harassing political opponents.
Quoting the example of former minister and 7-times MLA Roshan Baig, the KPCC Chief wanted to know whether there is a clear pattern to target persons belonging to a particular community.
Shivakumar’s brother and Bengaluru Rural MP D K Suresh also criticised the ‘politically motivated’ raids on Zameer Ahmed’s residence and offices by the IT and ED on a case two years after all questions had been answered. Even though there is ED office in Bengaluru, the investigation has been deliberately transferred to Delhi as part of the ruling party’s political vendetta.
DKS discusses Covid situation with Kamal Nath
The KPCC Chief discussed the Covid situation in Madhya Pradesh with the State’s former Chief Minister and Congress president Kamal Nath. The situation in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh were similar and the people have suffered due to the mishandling of the Covid pandemic and the failures on vaccination. The BJP governments in both the States have been giving false information and hiding facts from the people, he said.
“We discussed the problems in the two States and tried to coordinate our efforts by sharing ideas in helping the people,’’ he said.
Let govt implement Mekedatu
Shivakumar challenged the new Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to go ahead and implement the Mekedatu project. “The State Government must exhibit its political will power,’’ he said and pointed out that there was no point in waiting for Tamil Nadu’s permission which will not come even in 100 years.
Describing Mekedatu as a vital project for providing drinking water to Bengaluru, the State Congress Chief offered to give full support to the Bommai government by prevailing upon the BJP ruled government in Delhi.
The State Congress President said the mishandling of the Covid pandemic by the Union government and the State has dented the country’s image. The prestige and reputation of Karnataka and Bengaluru as the Medical Tourism Hub and IT powerhouse has suffered with people unable to travel abroad or even allow people from other countries to visit, he said and pointed out that proper planning and better handling of the pandemic situation would have saved loss of lives and livelihoods of people.