Mallikarjun Kharge being questioned by ED in National Herald case, says Jairam Ramesh
National Herald case: Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate for nearly eight hours in a money laundering case
Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, is being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case linked to the National Herald, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet on Thursday. Mallikarjun Kharge was questioned for around eight hours on Thursday. The Congress Rajya Sabha MP had arrived at the ED headquarters at around 12:30 pm on Thursday.
Slamming the Centre over the ED summons to Mallikarjun Kharge, Jairam Ramesh said, “This is pure harassment. Modi government has created this drama before Congress's protest rally tomorrow in all states against inflation, unemployment and GST on edibles... many security forces were deployed yesterday outside Sonia Gandhi's residence and AICC's headquarters."
Earlier in the day, Jairam Ramesh said, “Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, has been undergoing interrogation by the ED... His ordeal is continuing. The entire Congress party stands with him in solidarity."
The ED has asked Mallikarjun Kharge to appear before it in a money laundering case linked to the National Herald in which Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi and MP Rahul Gandhi are already being questioned over alleged evasion of tax.
Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday informed the Rajya Sabha that the law enforcement agency had issued summons against him amid ongoing proceedings of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. He also accused
Mallikarjun Kharge also accused the Central government of attempting to intimidate Congress.
"I received ED summon, they called me at 12.30 pm. I want to abide by the law, but is it right for them to summon when Parliament is in session? Is it right for the police to gherao residences of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi? They are doing it purposely to afraid us (Congress). We won't be scared, we'll fight," Mallikarjun Kharge said.
GOVT RESPONDS
Responding to Mallikarjn Kharge's complaint, the Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha and Union minister Piyush Goyal said the central government had nothing to do with the summons to the Congress leader in a money laundering case.
"The government does not interfere in the work of the law enforcement authorities. Perhaps during their tenure, when their government was there, they might be interfering," Piyush Goyal said. The union minister also said that the law enforcement agencies were doing their job.
(With PTI inputs)
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