‘Not a routine action’: Congress says Tamil Nadu chief ‘confined’ under pretext of IT ‘search’ ahead of poll rally | India News
New Delhi: The Congress on Monday said its Tamil Nadu president K Selvaperunthagai was “illegally” imprisoned. Income Tax DepartmentThe central agency accused him of obstructing his political duties Rahul GandhiCampaigning in constituencies.In a social media post on X, the Congress termed the probes as “clear misuse” of central agencies, claiming that Bharatiya Janata Party Intimidation and obstruction of opposition leaders before the polls.“A shocking incident unfolded as LOP Rahul Gandhi came to Tamil Nadu to campaign. Tamil Nadu PCC president K Selvaperunthgai G was illegally detained at Sriperambudur on the pretext of ‘investigation’, ‘preventing him from performing his political duties,'” the party said.“This is not a routine action. This is a clear abuse of BJP’s central agencies to intimidate and obstruct opposition leaders at a crucial moment. Such acts strike at the very heart of democracy. Silencing dissent and targeting political opponents through state apparatus is unacceptable. India’s democracy cannot be reduced to intimidation and coercion.” And the people will respond, they added.The Income Tax department is raiding the residence of the Congress leader following allegations that cash was stashed there for distribution to voters.Selvaperunthagai also targeted the BJP saying the move was a clear and calculated attempt to obstruct democratic functioning and undermine opposition activities.“As Rahul Gandhi ji came to Tamil Nadu today to conduct an important election campaign, the Income Tax Department along with Hindi speaking officials, on the pretext of an ‘investigation’, illegally detained me inside the Sriperambudur Assembly constituency, effectively preventing me from performing my political duties and engaging with the people. This is a deliberate move, carried out at a politically sensitive moment,” he said in a social media post on X.“The timing of this intervention reveals its true purpose – not enforcement, but intimidation. It reflects a disturbing pattern of using central agencies as instruments of political pressure to silence dissent, limit political participation and create an atmosphere of fear among opposition leaders and activists,” he added.Leader of the Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi will campaign in the southern districts of Kanyakumari, Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli on Monday, marking his second visit to Tamil Nadu ahead of the assembly elections.The high-voltage campaign is set to end at 5pm on April 21, marking the end of the public campaign. Leaders lined up their final campaign events across key constituencies.
