I-T raids: No search held at Gujarat Cong MLAs resort, claims Arun Jaitley

New Delhi: The issue of Income-Tax raids against Karnataka energy minister D.K. Shivakumar rocked both Houses of Parliament on Wednesday with the Opposition Congress shouting itself hoarse alleging “political vendetta”, as finance minister Arun Jaitley asked them not to link the searches with the forthcoming Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat.

The ruckus forced three adjournments of Rajya Sabha while the Congress staged a walkout in Lok Sabha, halfway through Zero Hour.

Mr Jaitley rejected charges of political motives behind the raids while answering Opposition queries in both the Houses. He said no search operation was conducted at the resort in Karnataka where Gujarat Congress MLAs have been staying.

Mr Jaitley said that the raids were linked to “an individual”, an indirect reference to Mr Shivakumar, who had “gone and parked himself” at the resort and was picked up from there for questioning. Reacting to the Congress allegation that the government was misusing investigating agencies, Mr Jaitley said, “Whether it is a use or abuse, it depends on the recovery.” In Lok Sabha, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge raised the issue but Mr Jaitley said the matter should not be linked to the Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat.