M K Stalin

CHENNAI: The DMK on Tuesday alleged that the NDA government at the Centre is using the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for its advantage. The party demanded that the NIA searches in the houses of Muslims in Tamil Nadu be stopped immediately.

In a statement on Tuesday, DMK president M K Stalin said the income tax department, the Enforcement Directorate and other agencies should work independently. However, they had been politicised by the BJP government, he alleged. “Now the government is using the NIA to its advantage,” said Stalin.

“When there is a ‘Q’ branch in the state police department which is under the chief minister, what is the need for the NIA to search residences and other premises of Muslims,” said Stalin.

He said the NIA was treating all people from the Islam religion, especially youth, as terrorists. “The BJP government must immediately stop such searches by the NIA in Muslim residences,” said Stalin.

The DMK leader said all political parties were against terrorism but that did not mean BJP could target a particular religion. “If the searches by the NIA is not stopped, DMK MPs will raise their voice in Parliament in a democratic way,” said Stalin.

