Mumbai: The Shiv Sena today has accused the Centre for targeting the opposition ruled Bengal and Maharashtra. The Income Tax Department on Tuesday morning raided the residence of Shiv Sena office-bearer and Shirdi Trust member Rahul Kanal, Who is also a close aide of Maharashtra Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray.
The Income Tax Department has conducted raids on the close aides Aaditya Thackeray and Transport Minister Anil Parab. On Tuesday morning, the IT Department carried out search operations at the residences of Rahul Kanal, Shiv Sena member Sadanand Kadam, and deputy regional transport officer Bajrang Kharmate. The operation was carried out in 12 locations linked to the three in Mumbai and Pune.
Sadanand Kadam and Bajrang Kharmate are linked to Shiv Sena Minister Anil Parab.
After the raid, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut alleged that “agents” of the Enforcement Directorate are “doing the work of extortion”.
Raut questions that why only Maharashtra and West Bengal people are being targeted. He says “Why are people being targeted only in Maharashtra and West Bengal? Only Shiv Sena and Trinamool Congress are being raided. The government is doing this to create pressure so that the state governments can be toppled.”
“Most of the raids are happening in Maharashtra. There have been raids on 14 prominent people in Maharashtra, seven more in West Bengal. There is no action against BJP people. Are they begging on the streets?” Raut demanded.
He further leveled that Shiv Sena has sent 50 names to Income Tax Department and the Enforcement Directorate, but “no action is being taken against them.”
“Kirit Somaiya himself has given 100 notices to ED about a Union Minister,” he further added.
“Such attacks on Maharashtra have happened in the past and are happening now,” read a statement from Aaditya Thackeray, who is the son of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
Speaking about the raids conducted on Tuesday, Aaditya Thackeray was quoted by ANI news agency as saying, “Central agencies have been misused in the past too – it happened in Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and now it’s happening in Maharashtra too. Central agencies have in a way become publicity machinery of BJP itself. Maharashtra will not bow down.”
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