"Democracy In Danger": Ashok Gehlot Rails Against Centre Over 'Misuse' Of ED, CBI

Pali (Rajasthan) [India] : Coming down heavily on the Centre over the alleged misuse of central agencies such as the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), CBI and the Income Tax Department against the Opposition leaders and parties, former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday said democracy was in 'danger'.

Speaking to reporters after attending an event in support of Sangeeta Beniwal, the Congress's Lok Sabha candidate from Rajasthan's Pali, Gehlot said, "Our d emocracy is in danger, the Constitution is being throttled and people are distressed. The ED, CBI, Income Tax are being misused (against tghe Opposition). The prevailing situation is grave. People need to understand what we are going through and be the agents of change."

Beniwal is pitted against sitting BJP MP PP Chaudhary from Pali. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Chaudhury trounced Congress' Badriram Jakhar, winning 900,149 votes.

Rajasthan will go to polls in two phases--on April 19 and April 26. Polling for 12 Lok Sabha seats would be held in the first phase on April, while the remaining 13 seats will poll in the second on April 26.

The BJP won 24 out of 25 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, while the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party won one.