‘Dangerous Verdict will be Short-lived’: Oppn Expresses 'Deep Apprehension' Over SC Upholding PMLA Amendments

At least 17 Opposition parties including the Trinamool Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday expressed apprehensions on long-term implications of the Supreme Court verdict upholding amendments to Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, and said the judgement will strengthen the hands of a government that “indulges in political vendetta” to target its opponents.

Among the parties that have signed the joint statement are the Congress, the TMC, DMK, AAP, NCP, Shiv Sena, CPI-M, CPI, IUML, RSP, MDMK, RJD and RLD, news agency PTI reported. 

Called for the review of the verdict, the Opposition leaders expressed hope that this “dangerous verdict will be short-lived”.

“We place on record our deep apprehension on the long-term implications of the recent Supreme Court judgement upholding, in entirety, the amendments to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, without examining whether some of these amendments could have been enacted by way of Finance Act,” read the joint statement.

Asserting that they hold and will always hold the Supreme Court in the highest respect, the Opposition leaders said they are also very disappointed that the highest judicial authority, invited to give an independent verdict on the lack of checks and balances in the Act, has virtually reproduced arguments given by the executive in support of draconian amendments.

“Yet, we are compelled to point out that the judgment should have awaited the verdict of a larger Bench for examining the constitutionality of the Finance Act route to carry out amendments. These far-reaching amendments strengthened the hands of a government, indulging in political vendetta of the worst kind, by using these very amended laws relating to money laundering and investigation agencies, to target its political opponents in a mischievous and malicious manner,” the opposition parties alleged.

AICC General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh shared the joint statement on Twitter. “17 Opposition parties, including TMC & AAP, plus one independent Rajya Sabha MP, have signed a joint statement expressing deep apprehensions on long-term implications of the recent Supreme Court judgement upholding amendments to PMLA,2002 and called for its review,” he tweeted.

The statement comes a day after raids were conducted by the Enforcement Directorate on the premises of the National Herald newspaper in the national capital and elsewhere.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were already questioned by the agency in a money laundering case.

(With PTI inputs)

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