ED has become an extended part of BJP': RS MP Priyanka Chaturvedi slams Centre

Priyanka Chaturvedi. File pic

A day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned the jailed Delhi minister Satyendar Jain's wife Poonam Jain in connection with a disproportionate assets case, Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, in a direct attack at the Centre, said that 'ED has become an extended part of BJP'.

"Nowadays, the ED has become an extended department of the BJP. Wherever the Bharatiya Janata Party is in Opposition in a state, action is taken against the ruling party. However, if the leaders of the Opposition come after bathing in the Ganges of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the action on them stops," Priyanka Chaturvedi said to reporters on Monday.

Recalling the political developments in Maharashtra, she said, "Maharashtra is a classic example of this. The files of many MLAs, who were under the scanner of the ED, have been closed with immediate effect as they supported the Bharatiya Janata Party today. Creating an atmosphere of hampering the basic principles of democracy is the agenda of the ruling party at the Centre."

Chaturvedi also questioned the voting process in the Presidential Elections. She said, "In the presidential election, many Opposition MPs voted for NDA candidate Droupadi Murmu, saying that the powers of the whip does not apply in the Presidential Election. This voting is done to choose the President on the basis of his choice. However, we cannot blame anyone unless and until the results are out."

Just before the commencement of the Monsoon session of Parliament on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that "We always consider the House as an efficient medium of communication, a pilgrimage centre where dialogue and discussion can take place with an open mind. Debates, criticism and a detailed analysis of things also take place to make a very positive contribution to policies and decisions. I would urge all the respected MPs to make the House as much productive and fruitful as possible with deep thinking and a deep and detailed discussion."

Reacting to this statement, Chaturvedi said, "The Prime Minister and the BJP should themselves adhere to this statement. Corruption helped BJP pave the way and win the 2014 General Elections. And you expect us not to hold dharna demonstrations?"

"If there is a dharna in the Parliament premises after the session, inside or outside, a suspension notice is issued against him. Opposition is an important part of democracy. The opposition should not be abolished then only parliamentary democracy will survive," she said.

Notably, in November last year, 12 Rajya Sabha MPs were suspended on grounds of indiscipline for the ongoing Winter session of the House. CPM's Elamaram Kareem, Congress' Phulo Devi Netam, Chhaya Verma, R Bora, Rajamani Patel, Syed Nasir Hussain, Akhilesh Prasad Singh, CPI's Binoy Viswam, Dola Sen and Shanta Chhetri from TMC and Priyanka Chaturvedi and Anil Desai of Shiv Sena were suspended for remaining part of the session.

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