Kavitha slams BJP for ‘shady, nefarious’ politics, as police deny permission for Jantar Mantar hunger strike

She was to go on a day-long hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on 10 March, demanding the Central government introduce and pass the Women’s Reservations Bill in Parliament.

The MLC later said she would sit in deeksha at Jantar Mantar.

“We will talk to the Delhi police,” she said.

Earlier, accusing the BJP government of indulging in vendetta politics, she said the saffron party has been using agencies such as the Income-Tax Department and Enforcement Directorate (ED) against its opponents.

“The ED sent notices to me to appear before it (in connection with the Delhi liquor policy scam) though I have a programme tomorrow here,” Kavitha said.

Related: People laugh when ED, CBI issue notices these days, says BRS

‘No need for ED to ask me to appear in person’

Kavitha said there was no need for the ED to ask her to appear before it physically when the courts had allowed women to be questioned via video conferencing.

When an investigation agency has to question any woman, it should be done at her house, she said.

“I am not scared of facing the ED. I can fly down to Delhi. But all women cannot appear in person and that is why the courts have given them relaxation. I will face the ED without fear and cooperate with its officials,” Kavitha said during the press conference.

She advised Modi to win the people’s hearts first, rather than scheming and trying to capture power in Opposition-ruled states through backdoor operations.

“You have your priorities wrong. First, focus on keeping the prices of essential commodities under check rather than pouncing on us with the help of your investigation agencies,” she said.

Kavitha said she had told the ED that she would appear before it on Saturday, 11 March.

Related: Summoned by ED, BRS MLC K Kavitha says will go, but on 11 March

‘Part of BJP’s plan to cancel hunger strike’

“It was part of the BJP’s game plan to make me cancel my hunger strike if I turned up at the ED’s office tomorrow as I would have very little time to make necessary arrangements,” she alleged.

“The BJP wants me to cancel the hunger strike as it would expose the government’s hypocritic stand that it is championing the cause of the women,” she said.

She said it has become a habit for the BJP to create red herrings to divert people’s attention from any problem or issue that embarrasses that party.

“For this reason, I have decided to go ahead with my hunger strike. We should expose the BJP’s shady and nefarious politics undermining the Opposition,” she said.

Kavitha said that 19 parties have pledged support for her planned hunger strike.

It was then she was informed that the police have denied permission to hold the strike at Jantar Mantar.

The BRS leader asked why BJP general secretary BL Santhosh did not appear before the Telangana SIT,  which was investigating the saffron party’s alleged attempt to lure BRS MLAs into its fold by offering huge sums and plum positions.

Also read: ED arrests Arun Pillai before questioning Sisodia in Tihar

‘BJP never plays by rules’

The BJP never plays by the rules because it has no support from the people. Hence, it chooses questionable methods to usurp power in states where it is weak, she said.

She said as the Assembly elections are due in Telangana in November-December, Modi has sent as his pilot the ED to the state to turn the heat on the BRS.

The BJP’s modus operandi is to force the Opposition leaders into subjugation with threats but in Telangana, it would never work, she added.

Kavitha also criticised the Congress. “The Congress must decide its role for the people and country as a whole. It needs to think beyond its own party in the national interest,” she said.

“Chief Minister KCR has taken several efforts to bring together a stronger front for Opposition unity, and we will keep trying and ensure that this works for the people of India. The need is to become a team player and work together to defeat the BJP in 2024,” Kavitha said.