Cong responds to ED summons against Shivakumar: Modi’s tactics to derail Bharat Jodo Yatra
A Congress leader attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday over his Karnataka unit chief D K Shivakumar being summoned by the Enforcement Directorate to appear before the body, alleging it was part of his tactics to derail the Bharat Jodo Yatra.
In connection with a money-laundering case, Shivakumar has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate. He characterized the ED action as harassment and questioned the timing of the summons during the Congress’ Bharat Jodo Yatra and during the State Assembly session.
In the midst of the #BharatJodoYatra and the assembly session, they have again issued me an ED summon to appear.
I am ready to cooperate but the timing of this summon and the harassment I am put through, is coming in the way of discharging my constitutional and political duties.
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) September 15, 2022
Operation Kichad in Goa was carried out yesterday; today, the ED summons D K Shivakumar in Karnataka. MoSha is trying to derail the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which has generated so much public interest and enthusiasm.
However, we will not be intimidated. It only strengthens our resolve when we engage in vendetta politics! Jairam Ramesh wrote in a tweet.
“This is part of Modi’s strategy to derail the Bharat Jodo Yatra. However, he will not succeed,” he said in another tweet.
MLA Shivakumar said he’s ready to cooperate, but it’s impeding his constitutional and political duties.
The ED has again summoned me to appear in the middle of the Bharat Jodo Yatra and Assembly. I’m ready to do so, but the timing of the summon and the harassment I’ve been put through are making it hard for me to fulfill my constitutional and political duties,” he tweeted.
In his report on Karnataka, AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala said the Modi government brought the ED – “the Election Department of BJP”- to target Shivakumar because of the “overwhelming” public support for Congress and the “resounding” response to the preparations for the yatra.
As a result of such cowardly acts, our resolve to topple the corrupt Bommai government (Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai) is strengthened.
In a period of 19 days, the Bharat Jodo Yatra will cover 450 kilometres in Kerala, reaching seven districts before entering Karnataka on October 1.
