Karnataka Leaders Accuse ED of Targeting Congress Government

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar accused the Enforcement Directorate of trying to tarnish the image of CM Siddaramaiah and destabilize the Congress government. The accusations were made during a protest involving senior Congress leaders. Shivakumar cited threats to state officials and ongoing corruption investigations.

On Tuesday, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar accused the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of orchestrating a campaign to tarnish the reputation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and destabilize the Congress-led state government. Speaking to reporters after a protest near the Gandhi statue by Vidhana Soudha, Shivakumar claimed ED officials were coercing a state official to implicate the Chief Minister and other ministers in the Valmiki Development Corporation case.

According to Shivakumar, “ED officials have threatened a state government officer, demanding he name the Chief Minister to undermine his standing. Despite forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT) that recovered over 50% of the misappropriated funds, the ED intervened prematurely. The implicated officials lodged a complaint against ED officials, leading to an FIR against them.”

Shivakumar further alleged that the BJP was blocking the Chief Minister from speaking in the Assembly to shield past scandals during the BJP's tenure. He cited arrests and financial discrepancies linked to former BJP members. Shivakumar condemned the efforts to target the Karnataka CM through the ED, suggesting a broader pattern of targeting opposition-ruled states.

When asked about potential arrests of accused ED officials, Shivakumar stated that the police would act according to the law and that the government would not interfere in their proceedings.