Raids politically motivated: CM

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday dubbed the I-T raids on Energy Minister D K Shivakumar as politically motivated.

Speaking to reporters, Siddaramaiah said the raids point to the autocratic face of the fascist forces. Warning the Centre, Siddaramaiah said, “We will launch a nationwide campaign against the totalitarianism prevailing in the country.”

Describing the raids as an interference into the state’s affairs, the chief minister called the Centre anti-democratic.

He questioned why the Centre was blind to the charges of corruption against many BJP leaders in the state, including Eshwarappa and BJP state president Yeddyurappa. He warned the Centre of responding to the politically motivated raids with equal force.

The chief minister condemned the pelting of stones on Rahul Gandhi’s car in Dhanera town of Banaskantha district, Gujarat. He said the Gujarat government failed to provide security to Gandhi, resulting in the attack.