Modi's 'ED' trick to checkmate 'INDIA'
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After the media hunt in the national capital, the Modi government has turned its attention to opposition-ruled states. As usual, it has enlisted central investigation agencies. On Monday, raids were conducted by central agencies in four states, citing various reasons: Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, West Bengal, and Telangana. In Tamil Nadu, the ED and IT conducted raids on the house and over 70 establishments, including those of relatives, of S. Jagathrakshakan, a DMK leader and former Union minister, on allegations of illegal investments abroad. In Karnataka, the IT department searched the house and farmhouse of Manjunath Gowda, a close aide of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. In West Bengal, there were raids on the house and office of the minister for food and public distribution. In Telangana, the ED "hunt" targeted Maganti Gopinath, a BRS leader and MLA, and his family. The new "ED hunt" is not accidental, as central investigation teams have been raiding various cases in Delhi, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. For that very reason the opposition alliance, INDIA, has come forward to protest the incident. Many have responded that an "ED raj" is taking over our country. Meanwhile, the government's argument is that the law will take its own course.
After the media hunt in the national capital, the Modi government has turned its attention to opposition-ruled states. As usual, it has enlisted central investigation agencies. On Monday, raids were conducted by central agencies in four states, citing various reasons: Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, West Bengal, and Telangana. In Tamil Nadu, the ED and IT conducted raids on the house and over 70 establishments, including those of relatives, of S. Jagathrakshakan, a DMK leader and former Union minister, on allegations of illegal investments abroad. In Karnataka, the IT department searched the house and farmhouse of Manjunath Gowda, a close aide of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. In West Bengal, there were raids on the house and office of the minister for food and public distribution. In Telangana, the ED "hunt" targeted Maganti Gopinath, a BRS leader and MLA, and his family. The new "ED hunt" is not accidental, as central investigation teams have been raiding various cases in Delhi, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. For that very reason the opposition alliance, INDIA, has come forward to protest the incident. Many have responded that an "ED raj" is taking over our country. Meanwhile, the government's argument is that the law will take its own course.
The Modi government has been in power for about 3400 days since it took office in 2014. Until a few months ago, Modi and his party were ruling unchallenged, thanks to a weak and divided opposition and a huge majority in Parliament. However, things have changed somewhat since the parties of opposition-ruled states came together to form the INDIA alliance despite differences, in unity. At the same time, the main opposition Congress party has gained momentum after Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, together with a strong anti-Sangh Parivar wave that has also become active in states like Tamil Nadu for various reasons. As a result of all this, public opposition to the central government has begun to manifest itself, even in the face of the unprecedented rise of Hindutva. Alternative media in our country has to some extent succeeded in strengthening this opposition. Elections to five states, including Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, are likely to be announced in the next few days. Parliament elections will also be held within four or five months. The INDIA alliance has made much headway by uniting in as many areas as possible. Its echoes are also evident in the regional parties that are part of the alliance. The release of the caste census report in Bihar is a major blow to the BJP. It is not so easy to overcome the political resistance against the INDIA alliance in a democratic way; the Karnataka election result is a big lesson for the BJP in this regard.
In this context, it is necessary to assume that the Centre has decided to play with the central investigation agencies. It is noteworthy that the ED and IT have entered four states, where the BJP has been defeated despite using all its tactics. The same pattern of raids and arrests also took place in Delhi, ruled by the Aam Aadmi Party, which has often taken a soft approach to the Sangh Parivar. A similar situation is prevailing in Kerala too. It is easy for anyone to understand that there is no other reason for these moves other than outright political vendetta. Eliminating political opponents by clearing all kinds of 'defence' has always been the strategy of Hindutva fascism. In a sense, they are still following the same strategy even while in power. What the central government has been doing all these nine years under Modi is a challenge to the federal character of the country. They are entering the jurisdiction of the states and establishing their supremacy everywhere as if it is a policy. It is now understood that mechanisms like GST, which the Centre implemented in the name of economic reform measures, were an encroachment on the economic power of the states. There is also an unfair political attack from the Centre, which deliberately ignores states like Kerala, which are entitled to financial assistance. When the opposition states are moving ahead despite all this that it is entering the scene with new weapons like 'ED'. It is not to be assumed that the moves to contain ‘INDIA’ will be limited to the use of this weapon. It has already been shown in Manipur and Haryana that the government has strong and sharper weapons in its arsenal that have the potential to divide the people. The sole agenda of Hindutva is to retain power at all costs. Therefore, ‘INDIA’ will have to offer stiff political resistance against the new hunting by the regime.
The Modi government has been in power for about 3400 days since it took office in 2014. Until a few months ago, Modi and his party were ruling unchallenged, thanks to a weak and divided opposition and a huge majority in Parliament. However, things have changed somewhat since the parties of opposition-ruled states came together to form the INDIA alliance despite differences, in unity. At the same time, the main opposition Congress party has gained momentum after Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, together with a strong anti-Sangh Parivar wave that has also become active in states like Tamil Nadu for various reasons. As a result of all this, public opposition to the central government has begun to manifest itself, even in the face of the unprecedented rise of Hindutva. Alternative media in our country has to some extent succeeded in strengthening this opposition. Elections to five states, including Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, are likely to be announced in the next few days. Parliament elections will also be held within four or five months. The INDIA alliance has made much headway by uniting in as many areas as possible. Its echoes are also evident in the regional parties that are part of the alliance. The release of the caste census report in Bihar is a major blow to the BJP. It is not so easy to overcome the political resistance against the INDIA alliance in a democratic way; the Karnataka election result is a big lesson for the BJP in this regard.
In this context, it is necessary to assume that the Centre has decided to play with the central investigation agencies. It is noteworthy that the ED and IT have entered four states, where the BJP has been defeated despite using all its tactics. The same pattern of raids and arrests also took place in Delhi, ruled by the Aam Aadmi Party, which has often taken a soft approach to the Sangh Parivar. A similar situation is prevailing in Kerala too. It is easy for anyone to understand that there is no other reason for these moves other than outright political vendetta. Eliminating political opponents by clearing all kinds of 'defence' has always been the strategy of Hindutva fascism. In a sense, they are still following the same strategy even while in power. What the central government has been doing all these nine years under Modi is a challenge to the federal character of the country. They are entering the jurisdiction of the states and establishing their supremacy everywhere as if it is a policy. It is now understood that mechanisms like GST, which the Centre implemented in the name of economic reform measures, were an encroachment on the economic power of the states. There is also an unfair political attack from the Centre, which deliberately ignores states like Kerala, which are entitled to financial assistance. When the opposition states are moving ahead despite all this that it is entering the scene with new weapons like 'ED'. It is not to be assumed that the moves to contain ‘INDIA’ will be limited to the use of this weapon. It has already been shown in Manipur and Haryana that the government has strong and sharper weapons in its arsenal that have the potential to divide the people. The sole agenda of Hindutva is to retain power at all costs. Therefore, ‘INDIA’ will have to offer stiff political resistance against the new hunting by the regime.