New Delhi [India], May 27 : Senior CPI(M) leader MA Baby on Wednesday condemned the Enforcement Directorate's raids at the residences linked to Leader of the Opposition and former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, calling the action politically motivated and alleging that the agency was being used by the BJP-RSS government to target opposition leaders.
Speaking to ANI, Baby said, "It is a political move. We very well know that in different parts of our country, including in Delhi, fabricated allegations and arrests of important political leaders, including chief ministers and deputy chief ministers, have happened. In the case of Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, we know that the trial court exonerated them. So it is an extension of the BJP-RSS strategy. The Enforcement Directorate is an extension of the RSS-BJP government and its strategy for political motives."
In a post on X following his remarks, Baby termed the ED raid a "targeted attack" on the opposition leader by the BJP government.
"The CPI(M) denounces the ED raid on Comrade Pinarayi Vijayan's residence. This is a targeted attack on a top opposition leader by the BJP government. Such actions will not intimidate Pinarayi Vijayan or the CPI(M). Is the UDF government complicit in this raid?" said Baby on X.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas, in a post on X, also criticised the ED action, calling it a vindictive move against Pinarayi Vijayan.
"Strongly condemn the brazen ED raids on senior leader and former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. This is yet another example of the systematic misuse of central agencies to harass and target political opponents. Such vindictive actions expose the authoritarian mindset," Brittas said on X.
Brittas further alleged that the CPI(M) would not be intimidated by such "undemocratic tactics" and would continue to fight back with the support of the people.
"Com Pinarayi n CPIM not be cowed down by these undemocratic tactics. CPIM fight back resolutely with the support of the people to defend democracy. It is clear that the Congress leadership actively encouraged the ED to target him, just as they did in the case of Arvind Kejriwal," he added.
Earlier in the day, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at 10 premises in Keralam, including the residences of former Keralam Chief Minister and Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan, in the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) case.
Officials said the raids are underway from early Wednesday, covering all the locations based on specific inputs against the accused linked to the controversial CMRL financial transactions case that had rocked Keralam politics during the tenure of Vijayan.
ED's action comes a day after the Keralam High Court on Tuesday refused to quash the agency's investigation into the CMRL case.
The ED is probing the case after registering an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Though the case does not directly involve Vijayan, the controversy had acquired massive political significance after allegations surfaced that CMRL had made questionable payments to Exalogic Solutions Pvt Ltd, an IT firm owned by Veena Thaikkandiyil, the daughter of Vijayan.