New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday lashed out at Narendra Modi government over the arrest of former finance and home minister P Chidambaram in the INX Media case and demanded to place before the public, the nature of the charges against the senior party leader instead of engaging in a media trial through selective news channels to assassinate his character.
"Over the last two days, India witnessed the broad daylight murder of democracy as also the rule of law, by government hellbent upon using CBI and ED as personal revenge-seeking departments for the party in power as also those ruling the country", alleged Randeep Singh Surjewala, while addressing media persons at AICC headquarters.
Mr. Chidambaram was arrested on Wednesday night after the Supreme Court did not hear his anticipatory bail application, which was earlier rejected by the Delhi High Court, and postponed to be heard on Friday.
"The vindictive, malicious and selective manner in which Mr. Chidambaram has been persecuted and prosecuted is nothing short of brazen personal and political vendetta by Modi government", Mr. Surjewala alleged.
Also Read: P Chidambaram's arrest can lead to collapse of Modi government, Past incidents prove it
He said that after five years of investigation, authorities are unable to come out with any allegation or a compelling case against Mr. Chidambaram and added that "this leads to only one conclusion - false charges are being heaped upon senior political rivals to silence anyone and everyone".
"Despite the hostile atmosphere prevailing under the patronage of the BJP Government, there was no allegation against Mr. Chidambaram vis-?-vis either influencing a witness or tampering with the evidence in any manner", he added.
Referring to the way former Union Minister has been arrested, Mr. Surjewala said Mr. Chidambaram is one of the most respected economists and politicians of the country and has cooperated fully with investigating authorities on every occasion.
"A senior advocate of Supreme Court, he has the highest regard for Constitution and never evaded any proceeding nor has he intended to", he said, adding, "except for the blatant intent of the BJP government to humiliate and tarnish the reputation of Mr. Chidambaram, there was no occasion or hurry to arrest him in the middle of the night by sending CBI and ED sleuths".
Pointing out to the details of the case, the Congress spokesperson said that "the case seems to rely solely upon the testimony of one approver, currently in prison, being prosecuted for the murder of her daughter".
"What is the deal that has been done in prison with an approver is something that the people of this country need to determine", he asked.
"A seasoned man with 40 years of dedication to public life has been arrested on the statement of a jailed woman who is being charged with murdering her own daughter and the approver's statement has been given from jail", Mr. Surjewala further said.
The Congress spokesperson repeated that neither Mr. Chidambaram nor his son has been accused of any offense in the INX Media case.
"Karti Chidambaram was raided four times in connection with the same case, arrested and released on bail. He appeared in response to over 20 summons. Yet investigating authorities lack any evidence to present a charge sheet to court, placing any evidence against Mr. Chidambaram", he added.
He also pointed out that the matter pertains to 2007 and arrest of Mr. Chidambaram has been made after a dozen years, six years after Prime Minister Modi came to power.
"Neither have those been arrested who have been given so-called FIPB permission, nor officials of the company that committed the crime", he stressed.
He alleged that the government is attempting to divert the nation's attention from other serious issues like economic slowdown, which is 'spiraling out of government's control'.
"With narrative on sinking economy spiraling out of their control, unprecedented job losses, shocking devaluation of rupee and unfathomable crisis in all sectors, we now see the depths to which a desperate Modi Government 2.0 will stoop to divert the nation's attention".
According to reports, the investigating agencies are currently questioning Mr. Chidambaram at CBI headquarters in Lodhi Road. He will be produced in court to seek his custody for further interrogation.