Hours after the sleuths of the Income Tax Department stormed his daughter's residence in Chennai on Friday, DMK President MK Stalin had staunchly hit out at Prime Minister Modi and the state ruling ADMK for the raids, that didn't stop within the circle of Stalin's family but also reached the DMK's candidates, Senthil Balaji being the latest. 

Over 25 IT officials had arrived at Stalin's daughter Senthamarai's and son-in-law Sabareesan's residence in Neelankarai, Chennai in the morning hours of Friday. In what has become a shocking development, the IT raid has come when the state is four days ahead of the crucial assembly polls. The IT officials have also been raiding four places in Chennai including the residence of Mohan, who is the DMK's candidate of the Anna Nagar constituency. 

The raids have come a week after the similar searches unfolded by the Central government body in the properties to belong to senior DMK leader EV Velu in Tiruvannamalai. DMK President Stalin had strongly slammed the Prime Minister and ADMK for the raids. While speaking at the campaign rally in Jayankondam in Ariyalur on Friday afternoon, Stalin said, "I am telling Modi, this is DMK. Don't forget it. I am Karunanidhi's son. I won't get scared about such raids". 

By referring to his imprisonment during the Emergency period, Stalin said, "This is a Stalin who has come through MISA and Emergency. We won't get scared regardless of how many raids you conduct. There are only four days for the election and they (Modi and ADMK) think that they can somehow threaten us and keep us at home. This won't happen with the DMK. It will only happen in ADMK". Stalin went on to flay the state ruling ADMK for getting intimidated by the tactics of the BJP ruling Central government. 

Stalin further said, "Earlier, they had carried out raids in ADMK ministers and leaders residences. They have threatened that party and kept them under their control. They are using CBI and IT to threaten". According to reports, the IT raids at Stalin's daughter properties and the residence of DMK's candidate Senthil Balaji are underway and it has been reported that they will last at least for a day. However, apart from Stalin, the allied leaders of DMK have been slamming the IT raids and the Central ruling BJP. 

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) Chief Thol. Thirumavalavan said that the IT raids are planned and revenge-seeking political moves. Thirumavalan took to Twitter and wrote, "Income Tax raids on DMK leader's daughter's home. This is a consequence of the BJP’s fear of failure. It's planned, systematic targetting of the opposition. People are aware of such politically motivated threats. They will teach a lesson to BJP in the forthcoming election." 

He further released a video in which he said, "There are three days left for the elections. VCK condemns this. All this cannot control the DMK and its allies. People too are watching and they will teach them a lesson. VCK requests Tamil people to teach them the right lesson".  The raid has come at the time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been campaigning for the BJP-ADMK alliance in Tamil Nadu. 

While addressing the reporters concerning the IT raids, DMK General Secretary Duraimurugan said, "The IT officials are involved in the searches with the politically motivated agenda during the election time. It shows the effect of the fear of the BJP alliance that they will lose the elections. It neither is democratic nor warrants to be decent politics. DMK will not fear for such IT raids". On Friday afternoon, the IT officials have arrived at Senthil Balaji's residence in Karur. Senthil Balaji is the DMK's candidate in Karur and according to the latest reports, the IT sleuths have also been carrying out raids at the residence of DMK MP in Tiruvannamalai.