DMK chief MK Stalin dubs I-T raids as political vendetta, sister Kanimozhi says the party is not threatened by the BJP

Responding to the I-T raids on her sister and DMK leader Kanimozhi's residence, DMK chief MK Stalin said that it is political vendetta claiming that the raids are done only on the Opposition. Kanimozhi, meanwhile, said that their party is not threatened and will work with more enthusiasm.  

Accusing PM Modi and the government, the DMK chief said that the Centre is using all institutions including the I-T, CBI and EC to interfere with the upcoming general elections.

The DMK chief also added:

"This is basically murder of democracy. Rs 2000 note is being widely offered in elections, will you report on this? In Theni constituency, Rs 1000 note is being offered to voters, what about that? Tamil Nadu minister Velumani is accused of distributing money, his close aide Sabesan's premises is raided, no one reported, no news on this."

On Tuesday, I-T department raided the residence of Kanimozhi in Tuticorin. Apart from Kanimozhi, it also raided the residence of DMK district secretary Geetha Jeevan.

READ: DMK's Tuticorin Candidate Kanimozhi's Residence Raided By I-T Officials

In response to the raids, Kanimozhi said:

"BJP cannot prevent my success through this income tax raid. It is anti-democractic, deliberately planned and no document has been seized so far. They want to intimidiate us through this. They have come to stop elections in Thoothukudi. But DMK volunteers will  be working with more enthusiasm."

Earlier on Tuesday, the Election Commission decided to cancel the Lok Sabha election in Tamil Nadu's Vellore after a large sum of cash was seized from a DMK candidate's office a few days ago, sources told Republic TV on Tuesday morning.

On March 30, Income Tax officials had also conducted searches at Durai Murugan's residence over suspected use of unaccounted money for electioneering and seized Rs. 10.50 lakh in alleged "excess" cash. Two days later, they claimed to have seized Rs. 11.53 crore from a cement godown belonging to a DMK leader's associate in the same district.

The state of Tamil Nadu will go on polls in the second phase of elections on April 18.