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Reports are totally baseless and false: Gadkari on bugging row

by IBNS 30 Jul 2014, 12:05 am

New Delhi, July 30 (IBNS): Union Transport and Rural Development Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday dismissed reports that bugging devices were found in his residence and called them as 'baseless and false'.

Speaking to media, Gadkari said: " At first they said about Mumbai home and then the Delhi home. These reports are totally baseless and false.”

In the Rajya Sabha, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also rejected the reports.

"I want to make it clear that media reports on bugging are absolutely untrue....Nitin Gadkari also dismissed the reports."

Both the Houses of the Indian Parliament were adjourned following ruckus over different issues including the bugging row.

Amid ruckus, Rajya Sabha was first adjourned for 15 minutes and then till 12 noon following an uproar over the bugging row.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the reports on bugging are untrue.

Amid chaos, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the Lok Sabha till 12 noon.

Meanwhile, bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati demanded an investigation into the issue.

Speaking to reporters, Mayawati said: "Nitin Gadkari is silent but this is a very serious issue. There should be a debate on then an investigation into the matter."

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh earlier speaking to a news agency demanded a probe calling it a bad omen.

Earlier a report in The Sunday Guardian said  high power listening devices were found in the bedroom of Nitin Gadkari at his 13 Teen Murti Lane residence in New Delhi. The discovery was "accidental" and a debugging exercise was immediately ordered.

The paper edited by well known journalist turned BJP leader  MJ Akbar, who is a party spokesperson, quoting "highly placed sources", said more devices were consequently discovered at the residence of the senior BJP leader who is also the Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways. Gadkari has apparently informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat about the incident, it reported.