Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Thursday hit out at the Congress amid the row over his poll affidavit, saying it is an "obvious attempt to distract voters". "This obvious attempt to distract voters from main issues of Progress, Development, Jobs, Skills, Investments will NOT work," he wrote in a post on X. Talking about his income, he said: "I am only in public life for several years and my income is derived only (from) MP or Minister's salary and perks, and interest/dividend from savings" He added, "Year 2021-2022 my taxable income was sharply reduced because of partnership losses incurred during the Covid period. My 18-year-career in public life has been totally free from any blemish despite many attempts by (the Congress), including their recent attempt after my entry into Thiruvananthapuram." Since Cong is planning to run a campaign abt my Rs 680 as taxable income in the year 2021-22 (assessed in 22-23) here are the facts, all of which are in my mandatory disclosures 1. I am ONLY in public life for several years and my income is derived only MP/minister salary, perks… — Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳(Modiyude Kutumbam) (@Rajeev_GoI) April 11, 2024 His remarks came after the Election Commission on Tuesday asked the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to verify the poll affidavit submitted by Chandrasekhar, in which he has declared Rs 680 as taxable income for 2021-2022. Stepping up the attack against the grand old party, the Union Minister said the "Congress's first family is on trial for stealing properties and transferring it to their name surreptitiously." He also referred to a candidate who allegedly had to resign as minister for his illegal IPL "interests". "Irony certainly died when Congress whose first family is on trial for stealing properties and transferring it to their name surreptitiously and other shenanigans and a candidate who had to resign as minister for his illegal IPL "interests" start talking abt disclosures and taxation," he wrote on X. Following the Election Commission's direction to the CBDT, the Congress in its complaint had alleged infirmities in the values of Chandrasekhar's assets, investments and income. The opposition party said this was a violation of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and the Indian Penal Code.
