ED being used for character assassination of Opposition leaders: Sachin Pilot

Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Tuesday alleged the Centre was using probe agencies like ED for character assassination of opposition leaders and crushing their voices reported news agency PTIHe also attacked the government over unemployment in the country95 per cent of cases the ED has registered are against Opposition leaders but the conviction rate is just one per cent This means the ED Enforcement Directorate is being used for character assassination of opposition leaders and crushing the voice of Opposition the former Rajasthan deputy chief minister told reporters reported PTIHe said protests by farmers in north India underline the problem of policy and intention of the governmentCountrys assets have gone into the hands of select people because of the policies of the government Pilot added reported PTIEarlier amid some INDIA bloc constituents switching sides to the NDA Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Sunday said the opposition alliance is strong and the BJP is attempting a frantic rejig of the political landscape as it is worried over the collective strength of the coalition reported PTIIn an interview with PTI Pilot also said West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee is very much part of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance INDIA and expressed confidence that a way forward will be found in seatsharing talks with her partyHe also said the BJP talking about 370 seats for itself and 400plus for the NDA was more of bravado and rhetoric than a practical assessment on the groundAs the Rahul Gandhiled Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra travels through Chhattisgarh the AICC general secretary incharge of the state dismissed suggestions that the yatra was adversely affecting the poll preparations of the party and asserted that talks for seatsharing with allies were going on simultaneously reported PTIAs we speak we are finalising seatsharing agreements with most of our allies in different states So it is not a question of eitheror The yatra is going on but other things are being handled by the AICC leadership and the state incharges The Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is himself overseeing all these meetings and negotiations that are being held Pilot said reported PTIOur attempt is to make sure we fight unitedly Yes we have had some that have left our alliance but largely the alliance is intact and very soon we will be announcing the seat sharing and a future roadmap that the alliance will come up with the Congress general secretary told PTIAsked about suggestions that the INDIA bloc is unravelling with JDU chief Nitish Kumar crossing over to the NDA RLDs Jayant Chaudharys imminent switchover and Banerjee attacking the Congress Pilot said Look at the amount of partners that left the NDA Akali Dal Shiv Sena PDP AIADMK So the number of those leaving the NDA is far larger than some of those people who may not be with us todayBut the INDIA bloc is strong and Mamata Banerjee is a part of the INDIA alliance we are having discussions with the TMC the 46yearold leader said reported PTIHe said Nitish Kumars switch over to the NDA raises the question of credibility also and he would have to answer to the people of Bihar when he goes to polls People may come and go one or two moving sides will not make an impact on the effort we are putting in as the INDIA blocA oneonone contest between the INDIA bloc and the National Democratic Alliance NDA is tilted in favour of the opposition coalition Pilot claimed reported PTII can assure you that with regards to the INDIA bloc the final outcome will be a positive one Every political party has its own turf to protect A regional party will not want to cede too much space as a national party we also have an obligation to our state units So there is always going to be some give and take We have to be mindful of the sensitivities of each of our partners but the final objective of the alliance is to come together and present an alternative to the country and we will achieve that he said reported PTIThe INDIA bloc is strong and very soon it will announce the seatsharing arrangements in different states he said adding the alliance will pose a formidable challenge to the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections reported PTIWith inputs from PTI