Rajnath clarifies in RS on bugging of Gadkari's residence, calls reports 'baseless'

The Congress members demand an impartial probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee

With Congress seeking to corner BJP over alleged bugging of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's residence, Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said there was no truth in those reports.

The House was adjourned twice during Question Hour as Congress members created storm in Rajya Sabha over reports that Gadkari's house and telephone were bugged and high powered listening devices were found in his bedroom.

The Congress members demanded an impartial probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee.

Singh, however, said no complaint has been lodged either by the Minister or anybody else on the issue.

"There is no truth in media reports," he said. "The Minister too has termed the reports as baseless and factually incorrect," the Home Minister said, adding no high powered listening device was found.

Earlier, when Rajya Sabha met for the day, Anand Sharma (Congress) said bugging of cabinet ministers is a serious matter and it should be discussed in the House.

He said the issue of call records of then Leader of the Opposition and now Leader of the House Arun Jaitley being allegedly accessed unauthorisedly was discussed in the House.

But, Chairman Hamid Ansari asked members to allow Question Hour and raise the matter during Zero Hour.

Jaitley said there was a vast difference between fiction and realty and the Home Minister will make a statement.

Singh's statement did not satisfy the agitated Congress members who continued to shout slogans like "Gujarat model nahi chalega", forcing adjournment of the House for 15 minutes.



Similar scenes were witnessed when the House reassembled as unrelenting members shouted slogans "We want JPC", forcing Ansari to adjourn the House till noon.