UP polls: Akhilesh tears into BJP over tax raids, says they did the same in other states during elections

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav&nbsp | &nbspPhoto Credit:&nbspTimes Now

Lucknow, UP: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre over the ongoing Income Tax raids on his party leaders in the state.

Speaking to the Times Now, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister alleged that these raids are being conducted on the SP leaders to defame his party ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in the state.

“This is not a new game for BJP. During elections, they did the same in Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. Now, they’re doing it in Uttar Pradesh,” Akhilesh Yadav said.

On Friday, the Income Tax department raided multiple premises linked to certain perfume traders, including a Samajwadi Party MLC, in Uttar Pradesh and other places as part of a tax evasion investigation.

According to official sources, about 30-40 premises spread across the national capital region, Kannauj, Kanpur, Surat, Mumbai, and some other places were searched as part of the operations that started on December 31 with police accompanying the raiding team.

The tax raids have triggered a political war of words, with the SP alleging the searches were launched by the “BJP government” in a bid to intimidate the Opposition ahead of the state polls.

Hitting back at the SP chief, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman hit on Saturday asked if the taxmen returned empty-handed.

“The height of (seized) cash is proof that law enforcement agencies are working honestly…Should we wait for post-poll ‘muhurta’ or catch the thief today itself?” she asked.