Dismantle the Enforcement Directorate, says Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, who is on a two-day visit to Bhubaneswar, said the Congress party had “created ED, and is now in trouble because of the same organisation”

Updated on: Apr 16, 2025, 19:20:07 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Bhubaneswar: Samajwadi Party president and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) should be dismantled, arguing that several institutions already exist to investigate economic offences.

The existence of ED undermined other established institutions like the Income Tax (IT) department and Goods and Services Tax (GST) authorities, which are already equipped to handle economic offences, Samajwadi Party president and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav said (PTI)

Yadav, who is on a two-day visit to Odisha’s Bhubaneswar, said the Congress party had “created ED, and is now in trouble because of the same organisation.” This comes a day after the ED filed chargesheet against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and others in connection with alleged money laundering in the National Herald case.

“In my understanding, a department like ED must be abolished. I will ask Congress to ask for the same thing. There are several institutions that look into economic offences. Having ED means that you are not even trusting your own organisations,” Yadav said.

The existence of ED undermined other established institutions like the Income Tax (IT) department and Goods and Services Tax (GST) authorities, which are already equipped to handle economic offences, Yadav added.

Also Read: ED summons Robert Vadra in Shikohpur land deal probe

Speaking on nationwide protests against ED by Congress party, Yadav said, “I would like to speak on ED rather than National Herald. The Congress has created ED, and is now in trouble because of the same organisation. I have earlier told a very senior journalist that there are several institutions like the Income Tax Department to look into economic offences. Therefore, there is no need to have an ED. It should be disbanded.”

The ED has named former Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in its prosecution complaint under various sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act before the court of special judge Vishal Gogne.

Also Read: Congress dismisses ED’s ₹5,000-crore claim in National Herald case

On Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin’s push for more autonomy for states, Yadav said the Narendra Modi-led government should respect federal principles and refrain from undue interference in state affairs. “The Centre should not unnecessarily interfere in States’ affairs and respect federalism,” he said.

Reiterating the demand for a caste census, Yadav said, “Without caste census, it is not possible to get social justice. The biggest fight in last Lok Sabha election was in Uttar Pradesh and I had then said that our PDA’s strategy is caste census is the strategy of backward, Dalits, tribals and minorities.”

Yadav also urged the Centre to not initiate the delimitation process until a proper Census is conducted. “The concerns raised by the chief ministers of southern States are entirely valid. It is likely that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government will explore ways to push for delimitation in a manner that serves its electoral interests,” he said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.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.