New Delhi, Aug 2 (Agencies): Accusing the government of misusing power to intimidate its opponents ahead of the crucial Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat, the Congress created a ruckus in Parliament and questioned the timing of the Income Tax raids at the Bengaluru resort where the party's MLAs have been housed.
"Conduct raids on the residences of those people from your party who are offering Rs 15 crore," said Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha. After six of its 51 MLAs in Gujarat left the party, the Congress has alleged that money is being used by the BJP to lure its opponents.
Another Congress MP, Anand Sharma, questioned the timing. "It is now becoming a trend to blatantly misuse powers of the state. The (Karnataka) minister and his brother, an elected representative, are coordinating the stay of Gujarat MLAs. That is why it is a targeted timing," he said.
Opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the raid was conducted out of political vendetta from BJP by keeping upcoming Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat.
Dismissing Kharge's allegations, Finance and Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said, "IT raids on DK Shivakumar should be seen as an action against the economic offense, but not as a political game. Raid on Karnataka minister is not releated to Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat."
Congress leaders, who were not satisfied by Jaitley's response gathered in the well and shouted slogan against the government, and walked out of the house.
Earlier today, Income Tax authorities raided the official residence of Karnataka Power Minister DK Shivakumar and the private resort near Bengaluru, where 44 Congress lawmakers from Gujarat are staying. Another raid was also conducted at the house of Congress MLA N Ravi in the city's southern suburb.
The Congress MLAs were flown to Bengaluru from Ahmedabad and lodged in the posh resort at Bidadi, about 30 km from Bengaluru, ostensibly to prevent the BJP from poaching them ahead of the August 8 Rajya Sabha by-poll in which its senior leader Ahmed Patel is contesting for the fifth term from Gujarat.