NEW DELHI: The Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for over seven hours on Thursday in connection with the National Herald alleged money laundering case.
Kharge, who left the Parliament during the mid-session, arrived at the Herald House at around 12.30 pm to get the temporary seal removed from the office of Young Indian Limited (YIL) before he was questioned by the financial probe agency.
Earlier on Wednesday, ED sealed the office of YIL at Herald Building after none of the office bearers was present during the searches. The ED had summoned YIL principal officer Kharge for questioning.
Meanwhile, the Grand Old Party had slammed the government and questioned the timing especially when the Parliamentary proceedings were on.
This dictatorial regime can be rest assured that I can do this another 100 times. If they want to make the process a punishment, I will embrace it. Resilience is in @INCIndia’s blood just like cowardice is in BJP's.
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— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) August 4, 2022
Addressing media at Vijay Chowk, senior party leader Digvijaya Singh said, “It has never happened in the history of democracy that the Leader of the Opposition, when the Parliament is in operation, is called to record a statement to the Enforcement Directorate or any investigation agency.”
“If the Leader of Opposition had to be called, he should have called before 11 am or after 5 pm,” Singh argued.
“The day the ED went to the National Herald office Kharge Ji was present till 9.30 pm. Today when there is a discussion in Parliament going on, then the ED is calling him to give a statement. We have neither seen nor heard a bigger joke than this inside Indian democracy,” he said.
“Why the government is so scared?” Singh questioned.
Even Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh slammed the government over the questioning of Kharge.
“Mallikarjun Kharge was supposed to be hosting a dinner for the common Opposition candidate for Vice President, Margaret Alva, at 7.30 pm today. And he is still with ED. This is the height of political vendetta by Modi Sarkar!” Ramesh said.
The agency already questioned Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi and former president Rahul Gandhi on multiple occasions in connection with the alleged money laundering case.