'Upset' PM says Govt. had no role in CBI action against Stalin

New Delhi, Mar. 21 (ANI): Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Thursday distanced the Congress-led UPA Government from the CBI raid conducted at DMK leader M.K. Stalin's Chennai residence, saying he was upset over the entire incident and would find out the details.

"We are all upset at these events. The government had no role in this that I am sure of. We will find out the details. This should not have...(happened). The timing of the raid is most unfortunate," Dr. Singh told the media here as a political conspiracy broke out over the CBI action against Stalin.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Prasad commenting on the issue said that the government was surviving on the shoulders of the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED).

"If any DMK leader has committed any corruption that ought to be investigated, but it seems very curious that day before yesterday the DMK party has withdrawn support. In the last nine years, there was no CBI raid on any of its leaders except the 2G case because of the Supreme Court and suddenly this morning there is a raid. This only confirms this government is surviving in the chair upon the shoulders of CBI and Enforcement Directorate," he said.

Meanwhile, DMK leader T.R. Baalu confirmed that neither Stalin nor his family were part and parcel of the FIR (First Information Report).

"CBI is misusing their position neither Stalin nor his family members are part and parcel of the FIR. Where is the chance for them? Why should they go there," he said.

Senior Congress Minister, including Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath, also strongly condemned the CBI action.

"I was told about it a little while ago. I am trying to gather facts. Normally I don't interfere with the work of the other department. But in this case, I have to say that I strongly disagree with the action of the CBI. It is bound to be misunderstood," Chidambaram said.

"I thoroughly disapprove the CBI raids and condemn it. However much we condemn it, would be less," Nath added.

Stalin, whose residence in Chennai was searched by the CBI in connection with alleged illegal import of cars here this morning, termed the latest developments to be a 'political vendetta'.

The raids at Stalin's residence took place two days after the DMK formally withdrew its support to the UPA alliance.

The DMK on Tuesday withdrew its support to the UPA over the issue of alleged human rights violations of Sri Lankan Tamils, and ruled out any reconsideration.

A five-member DMK delegation headed by T.R. Baalu handed over a letter by party supremo M. Karunanidhi to President Pranab Mukherjee at 10.30 p.m. at Rashtrapati Bhavan withdrawing support of its 18 Lok Sabha MPs to the UPA government.

This move of the DMK has made the UPA Government vulnerable despite its assertions of having a parliamentary majority. The ruling coalition will now eye for support from the regional parties, which includes the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party.

With the pullout of the 18 DMK MPs in the Lok Sabha, the strength of the UPA Government declines from 295 to 277 in the Rajya Sabha. (ANI)

The government is is the habit of using the CBI, ED and Income Tax department against people/parties who oppose it.

Do you believe the prime ministers claim of innocence?

I don't.

As soon as P Chidambaram returned from Chennai with an empty hand, he must have instructed the CBI to raid Stalin's house.

The CBI must have had all the papers ready but had not taken any action because the DMK was a part of the UPA.

As soon as the DMK decided to part ways with the UPA, the had to face the wrath of a woman spurned.

It could not be otherwise.

The Congress is habituated to take this type of action.

Both Mulayam and Mayawati are supporting the Congress just because of these threats.

Some public spirited lawyer, should go into the basis on which the CBI had raided Stalin's place.

They would find that the documents were more than one year old.

It would confirm my above point.