Pilot: Raid on Baghel exposes central govt’s political vendatta

Raipur:As soon as news of ED searches on former CM Bhupesh Baghel's residence became public, his supporters, along with former deputy CM T S Singh Deo, former home minister Tamradhwaj Sahu, senior Congress leader from Raipur Pramod Dubey, and other political figures, gathered at his house to show their support.
Congress leaders, including Baghel himself, have labelled the ED's action as politically motivated.
Chhattisgarh Congress in-charge Sachin Pilot and former deputy CM Singh Deo criticised the central govt over the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid at the residence of former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel.
Taking to social media platform X, Pilot wrote that the ED raid at Baghel's residence clearly exposed the central govt's intent of political vendetta. He accused the BJP of misusing central agencies like the ED and CBI to intimidate and suppress opposition leaders, calling it a "systematic pattern" of abuse. "The BJP is using agencies like the ED and CBI to intimidate and suppress opposition leaders, and the misuse of these agencies has now become a well-planned pattern," he wrote.
Reacting strongly against the move, Singh Deo said, "Their actions are targeted to suppress our leaders. You (BJP) are using a central agency as your own part. Why are all the investigations happening only against anti-BJP people across the country or has there been any probe done against BJP people? We are standing with our leader. It's now unfortunately believed that any act taken by ED is targeted."
If Baghel was prevented from going to Vidhan Sabha session, then it is a violation, Singh Deo said.
Leader of opposition Charandas Mahant took to X, stating, "The ED action is yet another example of the ruling BJP's malicious politics. BJP is using agencies like ED, I-T and CBI to intimidate and suppress opposition leaders. It is misusing govt agencies for political gain, which is a threat to democracy. All Congress members stand with Bhupesh Baghel ji and will not be intimidated by this. We are followers of Bapu's path of truth and non-violence, and we will overcome this struggle."
The BJP-led govt said they had nothing to do with the central probe.
Deputy CM Arun Sao said, "How can one deny that there were big scams during the tenure of Bhupesh Baghel? ED action has been going on for a long time. It is not that any sudden action has been taken today. ED has been investigating it for a long time. In the process of investigation, they must have found some facts and suspicions, and on the basis of that, ED has taken this action, and if you have no role, then there should be no reason to be afraid or panic."