'Keep Quiet! ED May Come': Meenakshi Lekhi's 'Threat' Sparks Opposition Outrage

Opposition parties claimed that Meenakshi Lekhi's statement was an 'admission that Modi government misuses the ED'.

BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi.

(File Photo: IANS)

"Shaant raho! Tumhare ghar ED na aa jaye...." (Keep silent or the Enforcement Directorate may come to your home.)

This was a statement made by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi, in the Lok Sabha on 3 August. She was responding to an Opposition MP's jibe on the government's alleged misuse of the Enforcement Directorate.

Lekhi clarified by saying that she was "only joking" and the chair of the House - Meerut MP Rajendra Agarwal - said that the remark won't go on the record.

But the damage had already been done as several Opposition parties and leaders latched on to Lekhi's statement and said that it was an 'admission of the Narendra Modi's government's misuse of the ED to intimidate its opponents'.

Opposition Slams Lekhi

The Congress party put a clip of Lekhi's statement with a caption 'See this is the language of this government'.

The Trinamool Congress called the BJP as 'enemies of democracy' and accused them of 'abusing their power'.

The Aam Aadmi Party from its official handle said that Lekhi was 'drunk on power'.