NEW DELHI: A political controversy erupted in Puducherry after Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) co-convenor Saurav Das alleged that police visited his family’s residence and questioned his relatives, accusing the BJP-backed Puducherry government of intimidating his family at the “behest of the Union government”.Puducherry Police, however, said the visit was part of routine security checks ahead of Independence Day.In a post on X, Das questioned the reason for the police visit and asked whether such questioning was part of the legal procedure.“Two hours ago, the Pondicherry Police showed up at my family’s home and subjected them to all kinds of questioning. Why this harassment, @PuducheryPolice? Who ordered this and for what purpose? Is this the legal procedure?” Das wrote.He further alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party-backed (BJP) government in Puducherry was “intimidating” his family and claimed that the action was not in keeping with the character of the Union Territory government.“Why is the BJP government in Pondicherry intimidating my family? This is not the character of the Pondy government. This is being done at the behest of the Union government!” he said.He alleged that the police visit was aimed at intimidating him into remaining silent and said he would not back down from his political activities.“If the intention is to intimidate me into silence, it will not work. This will not cower me down. It only strengthens our resolve to build a better system, one where the police uphold the law instead of acting like goondas!” the post read.Das also questioned the basis of the police action, asking who had ordered it and why his family was being questioned.Das also referred to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Puducherry two days earlier, during which he met the Union Territory’s Home Minister and Lieutenant Governor.“Just two days ago, Amit Shah was in Puducherry, where he met its Home Minister and Lieutenant Governor (who was infamously known as the ‘Eyes and Ears’ of Modi in Gujarat years). Was this intimidation tactic planned at their meeting?” Das wrote.Puducherry Police, meanwhile, rejected the suggestion that the questioning was linked to political intimidation and said the visit was part of security arrangements ahead of Independence Day.Police said enquiries were being conducted at houses and hotels in areas frequented by VIPs to check whether any new persons had recently arrived or were staying in Puducherry.The police said such enquiries were routine and part of the security measures being undertaken ahead of August 15.(With ANI inputs)
