Bengaluru, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday alleged that Income Tax Department officials are targeting the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and threatening the leaders who face the raids by claiming that the money is theirs. And belongs to the party.
The state Congress president also claimed that the department was working like "BJP agents".
IT officials on Wednesday conducted simultaneous raids at a few places around Bengaluru belonging to businessmen and associates of prominent politicians ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka.
Shivkumar said, "The Income Tax Department is being used only to target Congress party people, they have not received money from anyone. The Income Tax people are threatening everyone to say that the money belongs to Shivkumar, It is Congress's money.,
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "They (IT sleuths) have to search for an hour or so and go back; instead, people are being forced to sit with them the whole day, they "Not being allowed to participate in elections." activities. I don't expect such politics from Income Tax."
"Let them go, do searches. Did they go to anyone from BJP? Don't they know where BJP is distributing money? Is there no list? You have kept (IT) people under surveillance, what are they doing? You are working like BJP agents.Yesterday our Congress leaders from Bengaluru rural section were targeted at three or four places."
Shivakumar's brother and sitting MP DK Suresh is the Congress candidate from Bengaluru Rural, where voting is scheduled on Friday.
According to sources, the searches on Wednesday were focused on the premises of a prominent leader who had organized campaign rallies for the Congress.
He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making some recent statements against the ruling Congress in the state out of "frustration".
“But, they will fail once again here (in Karnataka).I have already said that he will not get double digits here." There are a total of 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka.
Criticizing Modi over his 'mangalsutra' comment, the KPCC chief sought to highlight the alleged rise in gold prices under his rule and said, "(The issue is) women wearing mangalsutra are unable (to buy gold) Unable)…Congress snatched away not Mangalsutra.”
Responding to Congress leader Sam Pitroda's "inheritance tax" comment, Shivakuma said no such thing has been decided in the party, and it is not the party's stand, and "we will not allow it."
“This is India.Jairam Ramesh (communication in-charge of Congress) has already spoken on behalf of the party. There is no such tax, whatever we have in this country, our traditions and customs, they will continue...what we have is all that is said in your manifesto, nothing else," he said. Tried to keep away from such comments.
The state Congress president also claimed that the department was working like "BJP agents".
IT officials on Wednesday conducted simultaneous raids at a few places around Bengaluru belonging to businessmen and associates of prominent politicians ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka.
Shivkumar said, "The Income Tax Department is being used only to target Congress party people, they have not received money from anyone. The Income Tax people are threatening everyone to say that the money belongs to Shivkumar, It is Congress's money.,
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "They (IT sleuths) have to search for an hour or so and go back; instead, people are being forced to sit with them the whole day, they "Not being allowed to participate in elections." activities. I don't expect such politics from Income Tax."
"Let them go, do searches. Did they go to anyone from BJP? Don't they know where BJP is distributing money? Is there no list? You have kept (IT) people under surveillance, what are they doing? You are working like BJP agents.Yesterday our Congress leaders from Bengaluru rural section were targeted at three or four places."
Shivakumar's brother and sitting MP DK Suresh is the Congress candidate from Bengaluru Rural, where voting is scheduled on Friday.
According to sources, the searches on Wednesday were focused on the premises of a prominent leader who had organized campaign rallies for the Congress.
He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making some recent statements against the ruling Congress in the state out of "frustration".
“But, they will fail once again here (in Karnataka).I have already said that he will not get double digits here." There are a total of 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka.
Criticizing Modi over his 'mangalsutra' comment, the KPCC chief sought to highlight the alleged rise in gold prices under his rule and said, "(The issue is) women wearing mangalsutra are unable (to buy gold) Unable)…Congress snatched away not Mangalsutra.”
Responding to Congress leader Sam Pitroda's "inheritance tax" comment, Shivakuma said no such thing has been decided in the party, and it is not the party's stand, and "we will not allow it."
“This is India.Jairam Ramesh (communication in-charge of Congress) has already spoken on behalf of the party. There is no such tax, whatever we have in this country, our traditions and customs, they will continue...what we have is all that is said in your manifesto, nothing else," he said. Tried to keep away from such comments.
