In a significant show of solidarity, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has voiced strong support for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi following his claim that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is planning to raid him. Chaturvedi affirmed that all partners of the opposition INDIA bloc will firmly oppose any such actions by the central agency.
Chaturvedi, addressing the media on Friday, criticized the ruling BJP for allegedly misusing central agencies to target opposition leaders. She remarked, “The people are watching how all the agencies are being misused to target opposition leaders. Today, all our central agencies have bowed down to the central government.”
She emphasized that Rahul Gandhi, as the Leader of the Opposition, is raising critical issues concerning the public. “If ED knocks at the doors of Rahul Gandhi, all the partners of the INDIA alliance will strongly oppose it,” Chaturvedi added.
Her comments come in response to Gandhi’s statement that the ED was planning a raid on him following his critical ‘Chakravyuh’ speech during the Union budget discussion. Gandhi revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that ED insiders had informed him of the impending raid, to which he responded with defiance, stating he would welcome the agency with “open arms” and even offer them chai and biscuits.
Gandhi’s tweet read, “Apparently, 2 in 1 didn’t like my Chakravyuh speech. ED ‘insiders’ tell me a raid is being planned. Waiting with open arms @dir_ed…Chai and biscuits on me.”
During the budget discussion, Gandhi had used the Mahabharata concept of ‘Chakravyuh’ to criticize the BJP, accusing the government of creating a modern-day ‘Chakravyuh’ in the form of a lotus, the BJP’s symbol. He argued that this ‘Chakravyuh’ was entrapping various sectors of Indian society, including youth, women, farmers, and small and medium businesses. Gandhi further claimed that six individuals, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, were at the center of this ‘Chakravyuh’. Although he attempted to name four others, Speaker Om Birla disallowed it, stating they were not members of the House.
Later, in a post on X, Gandhi named the six figures he believes are controlling this ‘Chakravyuh’: “Today a 21st century lotus-shaped Chakravyuh is trapping India and is controlled by six figures: Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Adani, Ambani, Ajit Doval, and Mohan Bhagwat.”