Enforcement Directorate being used to 'harass' Opposition parties: Congress

Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also said that the party is not being allowed to raise the issue of alleged "misuse" of the Enforcement Directorate by the Centre in Parliament.

The Congress on August 3 alleged that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has become a "tool" in the hands of the BJP-led Centre to "destroy" the Opposition parties.

Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also said that the party was not being allowed to raise the issue of alleged "misuse" of the ED by the Centre in Parliament.

Mr. Chowdhury's remarks came a day after the ED raided the head office of the Congress party-owned National Herald newspaper in New Delhi and other locations as part of an ongoing money-laundering investigation.

He said Congress leaders in Lok Sabha had given three adjournment motion notices to raise the issue of alleged "misuse" of the ED. "The ruling party is not allowing us to raise this issue. Why is the government scared of us putting our point in Parliament," he told reporters.

Mr. Chowdhury had tried to raise the issue of investigation into the National Herald newspaper in Lok Sabha, but was disallowed by the Chair.

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 p. m. amid protests by Opposition members over various issues, including raids on the premises of National Herald newspaper in connection with a money-laundering investigation.