JOIN USSenior Congress MLA from Gujarat Shaktisinh Gohil on Saturday said I-T raids were conducted on Energy Minister D K Shivakumar for playing host to the Gujarat MLAs.
“It is unprecedented that raids were conducted for three days. It was done because he (Shivakumar) played a host to us,” he told reporters after meeting Governor Vajubhai Vala at Raj Bhavan on a courtesy visit. The MLAs came to Raj Bhavan in a state-owned Airavat bus. They returned to the resort near Bidadi after visiting Vidhana Soudha.
Further, Gohil questioned the timing of the raids and accused the Centre of indulging in dirty politics. “Why the raids were done when we were staying there (resort near Bengaluru)? They (I-T officials) could have conducted the raids before our arrival. Or they could have done it later,” he stated, adding that the raids were meant to instil fear among the Gujarat MLAs.
He said MLAs from Gujarat have come here in order to fight for democracy. The BJP had been trying to woo them by offering a bribe of Rs 15 crore each. Efforts are still being made to reach the MLAs. But, all the Congress MLAs are united. The legislators have been instructed to record phone calls if the BJP tries to induce them, he added.
He said the BJP workers attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who was visiting flood-affected places in Gujarat. “He (Rahul) was attacked despite SPG protection. Imagine what would have happened to us, if we had stayed in Gujarat. The BJP should be ashamed of the cheap politics it is indulging in,” he said.