Backing the Chandrababu Naidu government in Andhra Pradesh on barring the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) from conducting raids in the state, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said his counterpart should not allow even the Income Tax Department in the state.
"Chandrababu has done the right thing. Modi is misusing the CBI and Income Tax Department. Why the CBI has not caught those behind the scams of demonetisation, Vijay Mallya, Rafale, Sahara Birla Diaries etc?" Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi.
He also advised Naidu "to not allow the Income Tax Department in the state".
In an unprecedented move, the Andhra Pradesh government on Friday barred the CBI from conducting raids or carrying out investigations in the state without its permission.
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government issued the orders withdrawing 'general consent' to CBI officers to exercise jurisdiction in the state to investigate corruption charges against officials of the Central government and private persons.
BJP lashes out
BJP's Rajya Sabha MP GVL Narsimha Rao on Friday hit out at the Andhra government for barring the CBI from conducting raids in the state, calling it a "mala fide exercise to protect the corrupt".
Rao said the Chandrababu Naidu-led government has cited recent happenings in the CBI as a "lame excuse" to save the corrupt and criminal by extending them political patronage.
"The decision to withdraw general consent to the CBI for investigating various cases under the Central acts is a mala fide exercise of its executive power to protect acts of corruption, financial embezzlement and other acts of criminality," Rao said.
Rao also criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee for supporting Naidu, saying "it's not surprising to see a new coalition of the corrupt parties" taking shape in the country.
"Chandrababu Naidu, the new entrant to the 'club of the corrupt parties' seems to enjoy the company of Lalu Prasad in jail, Rahul-Sonia Gandhi on bail and others being probed for tax evasion, misappropriation and financial embezzlement," Rao said.
He said the Modi government will continue to pursue its policy of "zero tolerance" against corruption.
The YSRCP also lashed out at the Chief Minister and said that Naidu had become ‘paranoid’ and accused him of pushing the state ‘towards decay’.
Stating that the orders issued shows the state in poor light, the YSRCP demanded its withdrawal.
Background
The Principal Secretary (Home) in Andhra Pradesh, A.R. Anuradha, issued the orders dated November 8, exercising powers under Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946,
The state government on August 3 this year had issued orders giving its general consent to the CBI to exercise its powers and jurisdiction in the state. The same has now been revoked as per Section 6 of the DSPE Act.
It is under this Act that CBI exercises its jurisdiction in states. The state governments every year issue notifications to give a ‘general consent' to the investigating agency to probe corruption cases.
The latest move by the TDP government is seen as another flash-point between the state and the Centre after TDP pulled out of BJP-led NDA in March this year.