ED plans to raid me: Rahul; bid to hide Wayanad inaction: BJP

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi claimed the Centre was planning an Enforcement Directorate raid on him because it was angry with his “chakravyuh” comment, a claim which triggered day-long speculation and commentary besides leading BJP to jibe that the leader of opposition’s charge was a gimmick aimed at distracting attention from the criticism he is facing over the Wayanad tragedy.
Rahul wrote on X, “Apparently, 2 in 1 didn’t like my chakravyuh speech. ED ‘insiders’ tell me a raid is being planned. Waiting with open arms, director, ED... chai and biscuits on me.”
The “2 in 1” was widely viewed as a reference to PM Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah. Rahul, who is on bail in a money laundering case related to the National Herald scam, had used the “chakravyuh” metaphor in a scathing attack on the Modi govt and BJP during a speech on Budget.
BJP’s response was swift and hard-hitting. Former Union minister Anurag Thakur said Rahul’s “wild claim” was a gimmick and accused the Congress MP of glossing over the fact that he is on bail in the National Herald case, with the court rejecting his claim of innocence after examining evidence.
“By claiming to have been tipped off by ED insiders, he has reduced himself to be a clone of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal who was notorious for trying similar PR gimmicks. He should pause and see what happened to Kejriwal’s credibility,” he said.
Thakur’s colleague, former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, charged Rahul with raising an “imaginary issue” to avoid questions related to Wayanad. “Rahul Gandhi might have been told that people are asking questions about his accountability so he has sought to create a new narrative,” he told reporters.