Congress trying to rake up non-issues to tarnish government's image: BJP

NEW DELHI: BJP today dismissed as "baseless" the claim about recovery of snooping devices from Union Minister NitinGadkari's residence and alleged that a "frustrated" Congress was trying to rake up such "non-issues" to preserve its identity and tarnish BJP government's image.

The ruling party also termed as "unfortunate" a comment by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding an explanation from the government on the issue.

"It is unfortunate that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh speaks on an issue like this. It was not expected of him to speak on a matter which does not have any basis," BJP's media cell incharge Shrikant Sharma said.

He said, "Congress' frustration is coming out as it was raising such non-issues in order to save its own identity after it got decimated in the Lok Sabha polls."

Minister for Surface Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari today insisted that no snooping devices were found anywhere at his residence.

"As already stated, I reiterate that no devices were found at my residence anywhere," he tweeted.

Sharma claimed the government is working at its best to tame inflation, improve the country's image and redeem the lost ground in the SAARC region as well as across the world, besides protecting India's interests at WTO and ensure law and order in the country.

He added that the government's efforts at BRICS and getting the chairmanship of the BRICS Bank were laudable.

The BJP leader said while government has agreed to all the demands by Congress, including holding a discussion in Lok Sabha on price rise, the opposition party's leaders "were found sleeping in the lower House during the discussion".

"The Congress is certainly nervous of the government's success in the last 60 days," he said, adding that "Congress and its allies are presenting non-issues in Parliament."

He listed out issues such as the meeting between journalist Ved Pratap Vedik and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed in Pakistan, the Gaza situation and inflation on which Opposition had caused uproar Parliament.

Noting that the government is serious about improving the the country and the life of its people, he said, it has presented a good budget and attempted at fast-tracking infrastructure projects.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders also held a meeting chaired by party chief Amit Shah on Haryana and Uttarakahand to plan for Assembly elections there and assess the loss in bypolls in the hill state.