Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday strongly criticized the central government after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a chargesheet against senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in connection with the National Herald case.
Labeling the move as an extension of “revenge politics,” Siddaramaiah accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of misusing central agencies to target political opponents and suppress dissent.
“The ED’s action is not just against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, but a broader warning to all opposition parties and democracy-loving citizens that dissent will not be tolerated,” Siddaramaiah wrote in a post on X.
He further claimed that the Congress has consistently been the target of “hatred politics” by the BJP and vowed that the party would counter the allegations with “truth and justice.”
Alleging that the ED was being manipulated for political purposes, Siddaramaiah said, “The Modi government is using ED as a weapon to create hatred and fear among opposition leaders. The chargesheet in the National Herald case is a fabricated story with no substantial outcome from years of investigation.”
He warned of a nationwide protest by Congress workers against what he called the “authoritarian attitude” of the BJP-led Centre, urging citizens who believe in democracy and the Constitution to stand in solidarity.
“The Congress will not be intimidated. Every worker will rise up against this attack on democracy,” he added.
The ED filed the chargesheet in Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday, naming Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, and others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The case is scheduled for arguments on cognisance on April 25. The Congress has denounced the move as “politically motivated.”