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BJP leader Pratul Shahdeo on Sunday took a jibe at Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren after the latter questioned the timings of the recent raids by Income Tax department in the state.
Speaking to ANI on Sunday, BJP leader Shahdeo said, "He is rattled especially because crores of rupees of hawala money was being sent in for the elections and Income Tax raids have ruined their plans, however, we are waiting for the detailed reaction of Income Tax on these raids. But the reaction of the Chief Minister is clearly showing that the arrow has hit the target." He further asked the reason behind CM Soren's "frustration" if he hadn't done anything wrong. "The common people of the country are not afraid of ED, CBI, and IT. These handful of people who have looted the country and exploited the society are the ones who are afraid of them. When IT raided a Congress MP's house, a record recovery of Rs 350 crores was made. ED and NIA are working, as he operates in the militancy-affected areas. Why CM Soren is frustrated if he hasn't done anything wrong, and how an agency can trap him? If they do so, there are courts for such matters," he said. CM Soren earlier questioned the timings of the I-T raids on his associate, highlighting that such actions had become increasingly common since 2014. Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Soren raised concerns about the functioning of investigative agencies in the country, particularly with the state assembly elections round the corner. "Have you ever seen such action in the middle of elections?" Soren asked, referring to the raids conducted. "Income tax raided the premises of my associates. I don't need to say much about this because I have spoken many times about the condition of constitutional agencies. The whole country is watching on which parameters they are working and against whom they are working," Soren said. The I-T department on Saturday raided the residences of Sunil Srivastava, an alleged close aide and personal secretary to CM Soren, in Ranchi and Jamshedpur. Voting for the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly is scheduled to be held in two phases on November 13 and 20 and counting on November 23. CM Soren-led Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), in alliance with Congress, RJD and left parties, will be facing the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA in the state. (ANI)
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