Senthil Balaji's arrest: Revengeful act’, TN minister Ponmudi lashes out at centre, Congress echoes 'ED misuse'
2 min read 14 Jun 2023, 09:43 AM ISTHours after Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji was taken into custory by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday, Tamil Nadu Minister Ponmudi criticised the centre for doing vendetta politics
PremiumThe Enforcement Directorate raid and custody of Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji turned into a high-voltage drama scene when the minister broke down and was later taken to the hospital for medical examination. Lashing out at the centre, Tamil Nadu minister Ponmudi termed the ED act as a ‘revengeful act’. He also claimed that the centre is using the ED card and doing wrong against states with non-BJP governments.
"This is a revengeful act. The Union government is doing many wrong things against states where there is a non-BJP government like in West Bengal, Delhi, and here," said Tamil Nadu minister Ponmudi.
ED took V Senthol into custody after raiding his property
Last night, V Senthil was taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday, for his involvement in an alleged money laundering case. While being taken into custody by the ED, V Senthil Balaji broke down in between and was later taken to the hospital on Wednesday.
Soon after V Senthil was admitted to the hospital, several Tamil Nadu Ministers including Ponmudi, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Udhyanithi Stalin, Health Minister M Subramaniyan, Public Works and Highways Minister EV Velu, HR and CE Minister Sekar Babu and various DMK supporters arrived at Omandurar government hospital to meet Senthil Balaji.
After the admission of V Senthil Balaji at the hospital, a team of Rapid Action Force (RAF) was deployed outside the hospital on Wednesday morning.
'Misuse of investigative agencies hallmark of Modi govt', Congress
Congress has also criticised the move of Enforcement Directorate and has called it a part of BJP's vendetta politics.
“These are brazen attempts of Modi government at harassment and intimidation. Such gross use of investigative agencies against political opponents has been the hallmark of the Modi government," said the Congress president Malikarjun Kharge in his press release. The press release further stated that the centre's such tactics wont be able to silence to opposition and said that such moves will strengthen parties ‘democratic struggles against the anti-people policies of Modi government’.
‘V Senthol complained of chest pain while being taken into custody’
DMK leaders alleged that Balaji was experiencing chest pain while being taken into custody by the ED officials. They also claimed that Senthil Balaji didn't seem conscious when he was taken to the hospital by ED.
"I saw him (Senthil Balaji) when he was shifted to ICU. Doctors are evaluating his health condition. It is a procedure when a person says he has been assaulted the doctor needs to note down all the injuries and will know after seeing the report. Officially we have not been informed (by ED) that he has been arrested," Elango said.
DMK minister Udhayanidhi Stalin said that Senthil Balaji is undergoing treatment. He assured that the party will deal with the matter legally and the party is not afraid of the threatening politics of the BJP-led central government.