Congress speaking on corruption, vindictiveness a shame: Sitharaman

The ED conducted searches at multiple locations in Chhattisgarh, including on the premises linked to Congress leaders

Rejecting the Congress' charge linking Enforcement Directorate's raids against its leaders in Chhattisgarh to vendetta politics, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 20 accused the Opposition party of indulging in "spit and run" tactics.

She said the Congress should not speak on corruption as it lost power on the issue and asserted that the probe agencies do their homework and investigate only when they have necessary prima facie evidence.

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The ED conducted searches at multiple locations in Chhattisgarh, including on the premises linked to Congress leaders, as part of an ongoing investigation into the coal levy money laundering case, officials said.

The raids come ahead of the plenary session of the Congress party from February 24-26 in the State capital Raipur. The State is ruled by the party under Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

"If anything, these raids have increased our determination. If anything, these raids have given us a booster dose to be even more aggressive against the Prime Minister and his third-rate politics of vengeance, vendetta and harassment," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh told reporters in Delhi.

Ms. Sitharaman hit back at the Congress, alleging it is only "concerned about the welfare of family, dynasty and party".