Congress slams centre for 'misusing probe agencies' at all party meet

In a scathing critique, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari on Tuesday accused the central government of the "misuse" of probe agencies, namely the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED), to target opposition leaders. Speaking at the all-party meeting convened ahead of the interim Budget session, Tiwari highlighted the questioning of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav in money laundering cases as instances of this alleged misuse of power.

Tiwari asserted, "An unwritten dictatorship prevails in the country," addressing the media after representing the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge during the all-party meeting.

During the meeting, Congress leaders raised concerns about the "violent attack" on the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Assam. The all-party meeting, chaired by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, is a customary practice before every Parliamentary session, allowing leaders to highlight the issues they plan to address during the session.

The Budget session, commencing on Wednesday with President Droupadi Murmu's address, is scheduled to conclude on February 9. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the interim Budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 on Thursday, describing it as a "vote on account" ahead of the general elections, according to Sitharaman.