BJP following in Congress's footsteps by misusing central agencies: Akhilesh Yadav

LUCKNOW: Lashing out at the ruling BJP for the income tax department’s raids on the premises of SP leaders, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday said the BJP is following in the footsteps of the Congress by using central agencies to threaten political adversaries.
Akhilesh said the income tax department has jumped into the poll fray and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will follow suit.
“BJP Congress ke hi raaste par chal rahi hai. Congress ka purana itihaas utha kar ke aap dekhenge to jab kabhi bhi darana hota tha … inhi sansthaon se unhein daraya jaata tha. Aaj usi raaste par Bharatiya Janata Party chal rahi hai … BJP ke paas koi naya raasta nahi hai (BJP is following in the Congress’ footsteps. Congress has the history of using central law enforcement agencies to intimidate others… Today, BJP has taken the same route),” the former UP CM said.
He was replying to a media query on I-T raids during a press conference in Congress bastion, Rae Bareli, hours after I-T sleuths swooped down on half a dozen premises of SP supporters in Lucknow, Mainpuri and Mau districts.
Akhilesh’s attack on the Congress is being seen in reference to the disproportionate assets case that the CBI recommended following a preliminary enquiry (PE) against SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav and his wife Dimple Yadav in 2007.
In 2013, the CBI closed the case stating that the charges could not be substantiated. Allegations are that the then Congress-led UPA government at the Centre used the CBI probe to armtwist the SP to wriggle out of the vote of no-confidence over the Indo-US nuclear deal.
“I have always said as the elections will draw closer, ‘seniormost leaders’ of BJP will visit UP. The income tax department has jumped into the fray. Now, the ED, CBI and all other central agencies will follow. Allegations will be heaped,” Akhilesh said.
“Income tax department searches have confirmed that even the BJP leadership has realized that their party will be wiped out in polls. They have done this in the West Bengal and Maharashtra elections and see what happened there,” he added.
He said such tactics would not stop SP and its bicycle (election symbol) from surging ahead.
Questioning the timing of the searches, the SP chief said the same action could have been initiated a month ago but it came right before the elections which raises suspicion on what prompted such an exercise. “This is being done to engage us in talking only about the searches and forget about BJP’s failure to give jobs to youths, double the income of farmers, and provide safety to women and children. We will not forget these issues and will talk about them. Lawyers will respond to I-T department’s queries,” he said.