Akhilesh Yadav Demands Abolition of ED, Alleges BJP Misuse Against Opposition

Bhubaneswar, Apr 16 – Samajwadi Party (SP) Chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday called for the abolition of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), alleging that the central agency is being used by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to harass opposition leaders and suppress dissenting voices.

Speaking to reporters in Bhubaneswar after offering prayers at the Sri Jagannath Temple in Puri, Yadav said the existence of the ED is redundant since the Income Tax Department already handles economic offences. “The ED was set up during the Congress era, and even then, many parties, including ours, had opposed it. Today, our fears have come true. The ED is being misused by the BJP as a political weapon,” he stated.

The SP leader’s remarks came in the wake of the ED filing a prosecution complaint against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case. Citing examples from Maharashtra, Yadav alleged that individuals and leaders who speak against the BJP are routinely targeted by central agencies like the ED, CBI, and Income Tax Department.

On the issue of delimitation, Yadav expressed solidarity with the concerns raised by Tamil Nadu and other southern states. “I stand with the people of Tamil Nadu. Delimitation should only be done after a nationwide caste census,” he asserted, warning that any arbitrary move could be manipulated to serve the BJP’s interests. He further alleged that the BJP is ignoring geographical and demographic realities, pointing to Jammu and Kashmir as an example of flawed implementation.

The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also accused the BJP of undermining democratic values and attempting to weaken the Constitution. “The BJP is fostering communal disharmony and creating a climate of fear,” he said, urging all political parties to refrain from using religion and caste in their political rhetoric.

Criticizing the BJP’s much-touted “double-engine government” model, Yadav claimed that it has failed in Uttar Pradesh. “In UP, there is no coordination between the Centre and the state. The engines are colliding instead of pulling together,” he quipped.

Yadav’s visit to Odisha comes at a time when political activities are heating up ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, with opposition leaders increasingly voicing concerns over the alleged misuse of central agencies.