Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday took part in the solidarity march in support of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who was questioned by the ED in connection with a money laundering case related to the National Herald newspaper.
Talking to reporters Baghel said, "the whole nation is witnessing the ruling party's dictatorship. Congress workers were being stopped from reaching the party headquarters.
The entire area has been cordoned off and police have been deployed all around in an attempt to crush the democracy. It is the democratic right of the opposition party to hold protests and the BJP is trying to suppress the opposition.
"The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister termed the ED action malicious and slammed the Centre for misusing investigative agencie to "suppress the voice of the opposition."
He added that the charges of money laundering hurled at Gandhi family were baseless and Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were falsely implicated. The Congress leaders are being harassed with political malice.
"When Sonia Gandhi will appear before the ED, there will be a bigger demonstration than this", CM Baghel said further adding that BJP is trying to save its people and suppress the opposition, but I am making clear that we are not going to be suppressed.
It is a "political vendetta" and the case has no grounds for investigation."No matter how much barricading Delhi Police sets up, no matter how hard they try, the truth will prevail.
The BJP-led central government is only following dictatorship, no law of the land is being followed. If you have arrived in front of the ED office, you will be detained by the police", CM Bhupesh Baghel said while talking to the reporters.
Congress leaders and workers staged protests holding placards at AICC headquarters in New Delhi over the summons. Various leaders including Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel and Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot took part in the party's 'Satyagraha' march.