'No harassment by Central agencies to Cong leaders'

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday rubbished the Karnataka Congress’ charges that the Centre was misusing investigating agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax (I-T) to target its leaders in the state.

Speaking to reporters after chairing the 28th meeting of the Southern Zonal Council, which was hosted by Karnataka this year, Singh said there was no such harassment (to Congress leaders) by the agencies at the behest of the Centre.

“There is no such harassment. Whoever is making such accusations, should stop it. It’s not nice to level such charges,” he added.

Singh’s statement comes on a day the ED registered a money-laundering case against Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar and his associates for alleged tax evasion and hawala transactions. The agency has booked the minister and others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

For several months now, the Congress has been crying foul on the raids being carried out by the CBI, I-T and the ED, especially on the homes and offices of Shivakumar and his associates.