Rajasthan Congress leaders question timing of I-T raids

Jaipur, Jul 13 (PTI) Rajasthan government chief whip Mahesh Joshi on Monday condemned income tax raids on premises linked to two Congress leaders.

Joshi was speaking to reporters outside residence of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot where a meeting of Congress Legislature Party has been convened.

"I condemn this. raids are uncalled for and intended at threatening but we are t going to be distracted or scared by this," he said

"Entire country is watching this," Joshi added.

premises are linked to Congress leaders Rajiv Arora and Dharmendra Rathore. Cooperative Minister Udailal Anjana also questioned timing of raids.

"This was done to create pressure. It apparently looks like leaders who are sitting in Delhi are behind se raids," he said.

Income Tax Department is conducting searches in four cities, including Delhi and Jaipur, in connection with a tax evasion case against a Rajasthan-based jewellery group.

Official sources, however, refused to comment on reports claiming that searches were linked to current political crisis in state.