‘India transitioned from being democracy to autocracy’: Joint Oppn’s letter to PM against MANISH Sisodia’s arrest
Arrest of Manish Sisodia In a bid to unify the opposition’s voice, nine leaders from eight political parties wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (March 5) alleging the arrest of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the Excise Policy case. that the misuse of central agencies shows that the country has “transitioned from democracy to dictatorship”.
The leaders alleged that the timing of the filing of cases or arrests of opposition leaders “coincided with the elections” which made it clear that the action was “politically motivated”.
Opposition leaders who signed the letter include BRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao, JKNC chief Farooq Abdullah, AITC chief Mamata Banerjee, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, RJD Leaders are involved. Tejashwi Yadav, and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. However, there was no representation from Congress, JDS, JD(U), and CPI(M) in the letter.
The leaders wrote, “We hope you will agree that India is still a democratic country. The blatant misuse of central agencies against members of the opposition indicates that we have shifted from a democracy to a dictatorship.” ” wrote the leaders. Terming the proceedings against Sisodia, who was arrested by the CBI on February 26, as a ‘long blackmail’, the letter alleged that the charges leveled in connection with the excise policy were a political conspiracy. He claimed that Sisodia’s arrest had “outraged” people across the country and alleged that his arrest would “confirm what the world only suspected” of India’s democratic values under BJP rule. “Danger” was a given.
“The allegation against Sisodia is completely baseless and smack of a political conspiracy. His arrest has angered people across the country. Manish Sisodia is globally recognized for transforming school education in Delhi. His arrest will be held up around the world as an example of a political wizardry. And confirm what the world was only suspecting – that India’s democratic values are under threat under a dictatorial BJP rule,” the leaders said. wrote
The letter accused the government of softening the probe against opposition leaders who were being probed in various cases after joining the BJP.
Example of ‘Sharada Chit Fund Scam and Other Matters’:
Citing the example of Assam Chief Minister Himant Biswa Sarma, a former Congress leader who joined the BJP in 2015, the letter said he was being investigated by central agencies over the Saradha chit fund scam, though , the case did not proceed. After joining the BJP. “Of the total number of key politicians booked, arrested, raided or questioned by investigative agencies under your administration since 2014, the largest number are from the opposition. Interestingly, in the BJP “Investigating agencies move at a slow pace against joining opposition politicians,” the letter said.
“Former TMC leaders Suvendu Adhikari and Mukul Rai Narada were under investigation by ED and CBI in the sting operation case but the cases did not proceed after they joined the BJP before the assembly elections in the state. There are many such examples. That of Narayan Rane of Maharashtra.” Referring to the arrests of opposition leaders including Lalu Prasad Yadav, Azam Khan and others, the leaders wrote that central agencies were acting as an “extended wing” of the BJP.
“Since 2014, the number of raids, cases and arrests of opposition leaders has increased. Be it Lalu Prasad Yadav (Rashtri Janata Dal), Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena), Azam Khan (Samajwadi Party), Nawab Malik, Anil Deshmukh. (NCP), Abhishek Banerjee (TMC), central agencies have often raised suspicions that they were acting as extended wings of the ruling central government. Coinciding with the elections. Which made it clear that they were politically motivated,” the opposition leaders wrote.
“The manner in which prominent members of the opposition have been targeted vindicates the allegation that your government is using investigative agencies to target or eliminate the opposition,” he alleged.
Reimagining the role of governors, opposition leaders alleged that their offices in the country were becoming “frequent obstacles in the governance of the state”. The letter said, “Governors’ offices across the country are violating constitutional provisions and frequently obstructing state governance. They are deliberately undermining democratically elected state governments and arbitrarily and are choosing rather than obstructing governance at will.” said
Naming the governors of various states and Union Territories, the leaders alleged that they have become the face of the “widening rift between the Center and the states being run by non-BJP governments”. The Lt. Governors of Bengal, Punjab, Telangana or Delhi have become the face of the growing rift between the Center and the states run by non-BJP governments, threatening the spirit of cooperative federalism, despite continuing statecraft. keep As a result of the lack of expression by the Centre, the people of our country are now questioning the role of Governors in Indian democracy.
(with inputs from agencies)
Also Read: Delhi Excise Policy Scam Case: Court Extends Manish Sisodia’s CBI Remand Till March 6
Also Read: ‘BJP to award Bharat Ratna to MLA’s son over corruption but Sisodia to be arrested despite good work’
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