Taxmen demand apology from Nitin Gadkari; ask security for its officers

A bird’s eye view of Rajpath leading to Raisina Hills

THE apex body of Income-Tax officers on Sunday condemned the use of “intemperate language” by former BJP chief Nitin Gadkari and demanded an “unconditional apology” over his alleged remark that…
neither Chidambaram (FM) nor Sonia Gandhi (Congress president) would save I-T officials when BJP comes to power. Gadkari later denied he had threatened the taxmen even though his January 24 speech at Nagpur was televised by national news channels. Gadkari fumed because I-T sleuths chose to raid his Purti group of companies on the very day his name as the BJP president was to be finalized. Gadkari was denied the party president’s post, and Rajnath Singh was elevated instead.
In a resolution adopted by the apex body of 4,000-strong IRS (I-T) officers said, “The IRS Association (All India Body) has noted with deep concern and shock, the news-item appearing in the national dailies regarding the alleged threat issued by Nitin Gadkari to the officers of the Income Tax Department investigating the case of suspected tax-evasion by certain companies,”
It said the statement issued by Gadkari is “derogatory” and his threat is aimed to “hinder free and fair investigations into a matter of alleged tax evasion”. The IRS (I-T) office bearers met in New Delhi on Sunday and passed the resolution. The association has requested the authorities to provide adequate security to taxmen engaged in Purti raid.
Also, it demanded Maharastra police should take suo-motu cognisance of Gadkari’s remarks as it is clearly meant to “obstruct a Government Servant from discharging his duty”. In a hard-hitting statement, it said that the IRS officers are appointed to the Indian Revenue Service by the President of India on “their own merit” and continue to hold their position “not because of the patronage of one or the other political party”. “The Service takes pride in its apolitical character and its contribution to the nation building,” the resolution further said.
Meanwhile, I-T department has asked Gadkari to appear personally on February 1, as a part of the on-going probe of Purti Group of companies.

IAS topper’s shopping at Dubai he never did
Dr Shah Faesal, who hogged the limelight as the first Kashmiri to top the civil services examination in 2010, is the latest high-profile victim of online shopping frauds. Faesal, currently the deputy commissioner of Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, was shocked when he received an alert message that he shopped for Rs 70,000 in Dubai! Now, Faesal is preaching against online shopping on a social networking site: “Folks, be very careful with your Credit Cards and Net Banking. Lost 75000 to some over-seas thief, who hacked my card. Trust me it hurts real big time!”