Laxmikant Bajpai defends Nitin Gadkari over bugging issue

Uttar Pradesh (UP) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Laxmikant Bajpai on Monday defended Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari over bugging devices being found from his residence, and said that matter should be considered closed as Gadkari has denied this.

"When the minister in question himself has denied this then the matter should be closed here," said Bajpai.

"But I want ask those who are raising this issue why they were silent when bugging devices were found from P Chidambaram's residence. They should make things clear on this first," Bajpai added.

On Sunday, former prime minister Manmohan Singh raised concerns on the issue and called for an investigation in it.

"If ministers' houses are bugged, then it is not a good omen. It should be investigated. How can it happen? It should be explained by the government in the House," Dr. Singh reportedly said at Congress president Sonia Gandhi's iftar party.

Meanwhile, Gadkari downplayed the incident and tweeted, "Reports in a section of the media about listening devices having been found at my New Delhi residence are highly speculative."

Reportedly, listening devices were recovered on Sunday from Gadkari's residence.