Don't invent an issue which does not exist: Jaitley to Congress

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday said collecting information about political leaders was "relevant" for security purposes and the Congress party should not "invent an issue which does not exist".

Reacting to ruckus created by Congress in the Lok Sabha over the alleged snooping on party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Jaitley said: "The body of a former prime minister who was assassinated was identified by the shoes he was wearing."

"Therefore, what kind of shoe you wear may look funny to the Congress party today but it is relevant for security purposes."

Arguing that forms containing information about former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi were revised every two years under the UPA, Jaitley said: "If its snooping they (police) will do it on the sly, if they come to your house and ask you to fill up details it is not snooping. It is for security purposes."

"I can understand you are short of issues. Don't invent an issue which does not exist," he added.

The Congress on Sunday demanded an explanation from the Prime Minister's Office on why the police were seeking details about its vice president Rahul Gandhi even as the BJP accused the opposition party of making an issue out of a "routine" security-related inquiry.