Stalin, Kejriwal condemn airstrikes, slam Congress for questionable ties with BJP

CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby’s has questioned whether the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government was complicit in the raids on opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan’s residences. His remarks were echoed by several opposition leaders outside Kerala.

DMK leader and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin strongly condemned the ED raids, asserting that “such actions once again raise serious concerns about the growing pattern of central agencies being armed against opposition leaders”. He went on to say that the airstrikes also exposed “the hollowness of the ill-advised allegations of some Congress leaders who repeatedly questioned why Pinarayi Vijayan was not yet a target of the BJP”.

Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal called the raids another example of “blatant misuse of central agencies by the BJP to target regional opposition parties and undermine democracy”. He said the ED’s immediate action after the Congress complained of “inaction” raised “serious questions” about the relationship between the BJP and the Congress,” he said.

CPM workers detained

Meanwhile, Delhi Police detained around 60 CPI(M) activists and leaders who took out a march from Khan Market area to the ED office and condemned the raids. Apart from Mr Baba, veteran leader Brinda Karat, Polit Bureau members Ashok Dhawale, Mariam Dhawale and Vijoo Krishnan, Central Secretariat member Dr Vikram and SFI National President Adarsh Saji were among those detained at three different locations by 7pm.

While in police custody to The Hindu, Mr. Baby said the raids smacked of political vendetta. He said the BJP was demonstrating “neo-fascist” behavior through suppression of democratic rights. Controlled and led by the RSS, the BJP has misused central agencies and various constitutional bodies for narrow, selfish interests. Although the attacks were ostensibly aimed at uncovering wrongdoing, they were actually aimed at Pinarayi Vijayan, he said.

He further alleged that many Congress leaders were working hand in hand with the BJP. Referring to opposition allies like Rahul Gandhi who questioned why Mr Vijayan was not arrested by the central authorities, Mr Baby said such remarks did a “great disservice” to democracy and civil liberties.

Later, in a video released by the CPI(M), Mr Baby said that while several Congress leaders targeted by central agencies eventually joined the BJP, the CPI(M) leaders were “made of sterner stuff”. Referring to opposition allies like Rahul Gandhi who questioned why Mr Vijayan was not arrested by the central authorities, Mr Baby said such remarks did a “great disservice” to democracy and civil liberties.

Published – 27 May 2026 20:52 IST