Opposition political parties recently wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing the central agencies of abusing their power by targeting political opponents. The letter, signed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and several other opposition leaders, claimed that the central agencies, such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), were being used to silence dissent and intimidate opponents of the ruling party.
The letter was prompted by the recent arrests of senior leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi. The AAP, which rules the national capital, has been at loggerheads with the central government over several issues, including the ongoing farmers’ protests and the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines.
The arrest of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s former adviser, Vinay Mishra, in connection with a money laundering case, sparked outrage among AAP supporters. Mishra, who was arrested by the ED, had been accused of running an extortion racket and using the money to fund the party’s election campaigns.
The AAP reacted strongly to Mishra’s arrest, accusing the central agencies of political vendetta. The party’s leaders claimed that Mishra was being targeted because he had exposed corruption in the BJP-led central government.
A day after Mishra’s arrest, the Delhi Police also arrested AAP MLA Akhilesh Pati Tripathi, who had been named in a case of rioting and criminal conspiracy in connection with the northeast Delhi riots last year. AAP leaders have called Tripathi’s arrest a “blatant misuse of power” and an attempt to silence dissent.
The arrests have raised questions about the impartiality and independence of the central agencies. The opposition parties have accused the government of using the agencies to target political opponents and stifle dissent.
The letter to the Prime Minister also highlighted the recent case of former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh, who had accused Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh of corruption. The CBI, which reports to the central government, is currently investigating the case.
The opposition parties have alleged that the central government is using the CBI to target Deshmukh, who belongs to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a partner in the ruling coalition in Maharashtra.
The opposition parties have also pointed out that several opposition leaders, including former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and former Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, have been targeted by the central agencies in the past.
The letter to the Prime Minister calls for an end to the “politicisation” of the central agencies and urges the government to ensure their impartiality and independence.
The government has dismissed the allegations of political vendetta and defended the actions of the central agencies. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar has said that the arrests were made based on “solid evidence” and were not politically motivated.
The government has also accused the opposition of trying to “politicise” the issue and of trying to protect corrupt politicians.
The arrests of AAP leaders have also sparked a political row between the ruling party and the opposition. The opposition parties have accused the BJP of trying to topple the AAP government in Delhi by targeting its leaders.
The AAP has alleged that the BJP is using the central agencies to destabilise the party’s government in Delhi. The party has also accused the BJP of trying to divert attention from the farmers’ protests by targeting the AAP leaders.
The BJP has denied these allegations and has accused the AAP of trying to shift the blame for its own “wrongdoings”.
The arrests of AAP leaders have also led to protests by the party’s supporters. Several AAP workers staged protests outside the ED’s office in Delhi, demanding the release of Vinay Mishra.
The party has also threatened to launch a statewide protest if its leaders are not released soon. The AAP has accused the central agencies of working as “agents” of the BJP and of trying to “muzzle” the voice of the opposition.
In conclusion, the recent arrests of senior leaders of the AAP have raised questions about the impartiality and independence of the central agencies. The opposition parties have accused the government of using the agencies to target political opponents and stifle dissent.
The letter to the Prime Minister is a wake-up call for the government to ensure the impartiality and independence of the central agencies. The government must take steps to address the concerns raised by the opposition parties and restore the public’s faith in the integrity of the central agencies.