Kejriwal hits out at Modi govt for "shamelessly unleashing" CBI on Akhilesh

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday slammed the Modi government for "shamelessly unleashing" the CBI on Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and said it is time to throw out "this dictatorial and undemocratic regime".

According to reports, the Central Bureau of Investigation is likely to quiz the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister in an illegal mining case. "In its last weeks in office, Modi govt shamelessly unleashing CBI on @yadavakhilesh is a reminder to all that we must not forget what Modi's political opponents have faced during last five years. Time to throw out this dictatorial & undemocratic regime (sic)," he tweeted. On Sunday, Yadav said he is ready to face the probe agency, but people are also ready to answer the BJP.

The CBI carried out searches at 14 locations Saturday in connection with its FIR against 11 persons, including IAS officer B Chandrakala, SP MLC Ramesh Kumar Mishra and Sanjay Dixit (who unsuccessfully contested the 2017 assembly election on a BSP ticket) to probe alleged illegal mining of minor minerals in Hamirpur district during 2012-16. Yadav, who was the chief minister of the state between 2012 and 2017, held the mining portfolio during 2012-13, apparently bringing his role under scanner, according to the FIR. AAP senior leader Gopal Rai last month hinted at the possibility of the party becoming a part of the Grand Alliance of opposition parties in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. "Besides playing our role in the Lok Sabha election, we will cooperate with others to remove the (Narendra) Modi government." Rai had said.

(With inputs from agencies.)