Bengaluru, May 21 (UNI) Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala on Wednesday lashed out at the BJP-led Central Government, terming the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on educational institutions run by Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara as “a frustrated reaction” to the state government’s move to grant ownership rights to one lakh SC-ST families.

Surjewala said Dr Parameshwara, “one of the tallest SC leaders,” was being targeted for his role in empowering marginalised communities, particularly after the recent announcement made at Hospet.

“The ED raids on the institutions of Dr G Parameshwara are a frustrated reaction of the BJP and the Modi Government to the granting of ownership rights to 1 lakh SC-ST families yesterday,” he said in a statement. “The constant assault on the Constitution and leaders from SC, ST, and OBC communities has become a habitual pattern.”

Dr Parameshwara, who manages the Siddhartha Institute of Technology (established in 1979) and Siddartha Medical College (established in 1988), both located in Tumkuru, has contributed to expanding access to education in rural Karnataka, Surjewala noted.

“It is indeed surprising that 46 years after the founding of these institutions, the Modi Government suddenly finds reasons to conduct raids. These actions appear to be aimed at silencing voices of the oppressed while BJP’s corruption is actively being investigated by the state’s Home Ministry,” he alleged.

Calling the raids a “desperate attempt to cover up the corruption of previous BJP Governments,” the senior Congress leader said the party would remain steadfast in implementing its welfare agenda.

“The Congress in Karnataka will continue with the implementation of the five guarantees, and will pursue even more vigorously the sixth guarantee—giving ownership of 1 lakh houses to our SC-ST brothers and sisters,” he affirmed.

“Truth shall win. Satyamev Jayate,” he concluded.

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