Khushi Bhuta, Pune
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had issued summons to Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee President K Meghachandra Singh to question him in connection with an investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. In protest, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has denounced the agency’s decision, terming the move as “political vendetta” orchestrated against Singh for his outspoken criticism of the BJP-led government.
This will further intensify the political tensions between the Congress and the BJP, and it raises questions about the use of central agencies in political matters. Ramesh said that the summons was to ensure Singh remained silent: Singh has called spade a spade-bashing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh. On October 3, a summons issued to Singh instructed him to report, on Monday, to the offices of New Delhi’s Enforcement Directorate for questioning and to provide documents that may assist in investigations.
Ningombam Bupenda Meitei is Meghachandra’s lawyer besides an executive member of the AICC and advocate in the Manipur High Court. He said that Singh could not appear before the court on the very day he received the summons, as he came to know about it only on October 7.z In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, Ramesh stated, “This is nothing but the politics of vendetta, vengeance, harassment, and revenge.”. This is to cover up colossal failures of the Union Govt in the state – reflected in PM Narendra Modi’s reluctance to visit the state since it blew up 17 months back.
Singh was further perplexed by this summons while he was in Imphal, not knowing why the ED had wanted to summon him. “I am just an Opposition MLA in the Manipur Assembly,” Singh said, adding that this is an example of the Union government using its resources to harass him. “But this is an example of the Union government harassing me as it has been doing with the tools at its disposal,” he said.
Manipur Congress spokesperson N Bupendra Meitei wished the former legislator through a Facebook post, stating that the party will definitely take up the issue through law in the court. Meghachandra Singh has earned popularity for his active criticism against BJP and Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh.