Congress leaders slam ED action against Sonia & Rahul Gandhi, blame BJP for unrest in Maharashtra

Nagpur: The Congress launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led government at the Centre, accusing it of misusing central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to target opposition leaders. The party also termed the recent ED action against senior leaders and MPs Sonia and Rahul Gandhi as "politically motivated."
The remarks emerged during the party's Sadbhavna Shanti March, organised to promote peace and communal harmony following last month's riots in the city.
Maharashtra Congress in-charge Ramesh Chennithala alleged that the BJP government is selectively targeting Congress leaders who are challenging the regime. "This is not the first time Sonia and Rahul Gandhi have faced ED questioning. These actions are designed to harass and intimidate our leadership, but Congress will remain steadfast. The entire organisation stands united against such vendetta politics," he stated.
Ahead of the march, Congress leaders visited Deekshabhoomi, Hazrat Baba Tajuddin Dargah, and Tekdi Ganesh Temple to offer prayers for unity, harmony, and interfaith solidarity. The peace march commenced from the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Gandhi Gate in Mahal — the epicentre of last month's disturbances — and concluded at Rajwada Palace after passing through several affected areas.
However, the route was slightly altered at the request of the police, skipping sensitive areas like Bhaldarpura, Badkas Chowk, and Narsing Talkies, which were at the heart of the recent communal violence, according to party chief spokesperson Atul Londhe.
The march witnessed participation from several senior leaders, including MPCC chief Harshwardhan Sapkal, legislature party leader Vijay Wadettiwar, Goa in-charge Manikrao Thakare, AICC secretary Kunal Choudhary, former ministers Nitin Raut, Sunil Kedar, and Anees Ahmed, along with Chandrapur MP Pratibha Dhanorkar, Nagpur City Congress president Vikas Thakre, MLC Abhijit Wanjari, and other party functionaries.
Chennithala criticised the BJP-led govt in Maharashtra for its failure to prevent the violence, highlighting that chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio, hails from Nagpur. "If the intelligence department failed to anticipate the unrest, it reflects a serious lapse. An impartial inquiry must be conducted, and those responsible should be held accountable," he demanded.
Addressing the gathering, Sapkal alleged a broader conspiracy behind the riots, claiming that the violence was used as a distraction while public land and resources were being handed over to corporate interests. "Even BJP MLAs admitted that the police were unresponsive during the violence. This raises serious questions about those in power," he said, calling for a statewide Sadbhavna Yatra to uphold peace and the values of the Constitution.
Wadettiwar criticized the state government's handling of the situation and condemned the use of bulldozers against the accused. "Even the Supreme Court has expressed dismay at the government's actions. It is deplorable that ministers are stoking communal tensions while hiding behind constitutional authority," he remarked.
Congress leaders reaffirmed their commitment to secularism, social justice, and the principles of leaders like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Shahu Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, and Dr BR Ambedkar. They called for an end to divisive politics and urged unity across communities.