‘Opposition was not targeted in such manner even during Emergency’

MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena on Tuesday slammed BJP over the arrest of Sanjay Raut by ED, saying such targeting of the Opposition did not happen even during the Emergency imposed by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi.

In an editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana, the Sena said democracy and a country perish if the Opposition is not treated with respect.

Raut was arrested by the ED on Sunday night in connection with a money laundering case emerging from a chawl redevelopment scheme in Mumbai. He was remanded in ED custody till August 4.

The Sena said Raut, Raya Sabha MP and Saamana executive editor, was arrested out of political revenge and many “false proofs” were produced to frame him in the alleged Patra chawl case.

Had Raut aligned with the BJP, he too would have got cleaned in its washing machine, the edit said.

Questioning the “haste” in arresting Raut, the Sena said he had submitted a letter to the ED stating he will appear before the anti-money laundering agency post the monsoon session of Parliament and the Vice Presidential elections, but the ED didn’t consider it and raided his residence on Sunday morning.

People in power have decided to chop off the tongues or strangle those who speak truth. This never happened even during Emergency imposed by Indira ji, it said.

Many Opposition leaders, political workers, and journalists were arrested during the Emergency in 1975-77.

In another swipe at BJP, the Sena said when notices were issued by Central agencies to Opposition leaders, alleged economic offenders like Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, and Vijay Mallya fled the country.

It also slammed the rebel group led by CM Eknath Shinde, saying MPs and MLAs who are now speaking the words of courage are under the radar of ED and Income Tax.