Rahul Gandhi Evades Questions by Media on Karnataka Tax Raids

Senior Congress leaders accused the BJP of using "scare tactics" and "abuse of power" in parliament and even complained the election commission.

New Delhi, August 2: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Monday avoided several questions posed to him on raids carried out by Income Tax officials on a Karnataka minister and said that he is going to Gujarat and will answer it later.

Karnataka minister DK Shivakumar’s residence was raided by Income Tax officials on Wednesday morning. The IT officials found Rs 11 crore in cash has been found in the minister’s Delhi home, officials said.

“I am going to Gujarat in two-three days. There, you can ask me as many questions about Gujarat as you want,” Rahul Gandhi, told reporters on Wednesday.

The IT raids on Karnataka minister had an angry Congress exercised all day today. The minister was picked up by taxmen from a resort in Bengaluru where the Congress had shepherded 43 MLA’s from Gujarat to prevent defections before a crucial Rajya Sabha election.

Senior Congress leaders accused the BJP of using “scare tactics” and “abuse of power” in parliament and even complained the election commission. Also Read – Shivakumar is clean, law abiding citizen, says brother

Congress leaders questioned the timings of the raids, alleging that the action was meant to intimidate the Congress’ Gujarat legislators ahead of Rajya Sabha polls. There are reports that the BJP is attempting to prevent the re-election of Congress leader Ahmed Patel, who is also an advisor to Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge questioned the timing of the raids in the parliament, “Why conduct raids now? Couldn’t they do it 15 days before? Or even 15 days after?”.

Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Anand Sharma called today’s raids an attempt to “derail and hijack” the elections of Rajya Sabha. Ghulam Nabi Azad said, “Rajya Sabha elections should be held without fear in a free and fair manner but this is not happening in the Gujarat election”.

Kapil Sibal, a veteran lawyer and former union minister reached the election commission with a representation alleging that attempts were being made to scare the Gujarat legislators. Against Ahmed Patel, the BJP has nominated Balwantsingh Rajput in the August 8 election.

Meanwhile, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley rubbished the charge and said that the raids were “on the minister and not the MLAs” and had nothing to do with the Gujarat election.