Baghel writes to PM Modi over ‘politically motivated’ I-T raids

Raipur: Chhattisgarh chief minister, Bhupesh Baghel, on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over what he called ‘unconstitutioinal’ and ‘politically motivated’

Published on: Mar 2, 2020, 23:46:15 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Raipur: Chhattisgarh chief minister, Bhupesh Baghel, on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over what he called ‘unconstitutioinal’ and ‘politically motivated’ income-tax (I-T) raids in the Congress-ruled state.

Baghel alleged that the ongoing I-T raids,which began on February 27, coincided with the criminal investigation initiated by the state into acts of corruption under the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.

I-T officials have raided the residential premises of senior bureaucrats and Congress politicians. On Monday, the residence of the deputy secretary in the chief minister’s office, Saumya Chaurasia, was searched in Bhilai on charges of tax evasion. Chaurasia is a Chhattisgarh Administrative Service official.

In the letter to Modi, of which HT has a copy, Baghel termed the ongoing raids as an “affront to the idea of cooperative federalism” that reflect “coercive and insecure centrism”.

“The actions of agencies of the Union government border on political vendetta on one hand and threaten the core of our democracy on the other, for, as a former CM, you should agree that law and order is the state subject and central forces cannot be deployed [in the state] without the consent of the state government. If each one of us fails to adhere to this cardinal principal of constitutional democracy, then we would become an undemocratic anarchy,” he wrote in the letter.

“The Centre’s deployment of a central force to assist in motivated income-tax raids undermines every word of Dr Ambedkar’s caveat and the constitution scheme laid out in List II of the seventh schedule of the Constitution,” Baghel said.

“I take this opportunity to reiterate the availability of the police machinery or any other assistance in the quest to find and prosecute the corrupt,” the chief minister added.

Reacting to the letter, BJP spokesperson, Gauri Shankar Shrivas. said that these are routine raids conducted by the I-T department, which has nothing to do politics . “Why is the Congress rattled by the raids? These are routine raids and were conducted during the BJP rule as well,” Shrivas said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.