Uproar in RS over ‘surveillance, phone tapping’ of ministers
New Delhi: Rajya Sabha on Thursday witnessed uproar for the second consecutive day on the issue of alleged surveillance and phone tapping of Cabinet Ministers, with Opposition forcing two adjournments during the Question Hour.
The opposition led by Congress today upped the ante against the Government on the bugging issue demanding a judicial probe and a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the matter which, they said, has put NDA’s credibility at stake.
There were sharp exchanges between the opposition members and the treasury benches over the issue, with the opposition adamant on a debate saying it is a breach of privilege over which the government can even be dismissed.
“When Ministers’, MPs’ phones are tapped, secrecy is breached. People’s faith in the Council of Ministers has been shaken. To help restore that faith, constitute a judicial committee to probe the matter,” Pramod Tiwari (Cong) said, raising a point of order.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venakaih Naidu, however, dismissed the demand saying, “I have to set the record straight. There is no need of a inquiry without any substantive reason.”
Members from Congress insisted on a probe into the matter even as Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu tried to pacify them, saying Home Minister Rajnath Singh has already clarified that there was no truth in such reports.
As soon as the House met for the day, members from Congress, SP and some other opposition parties raised the matter.
On Wednesday also the House was adjourned twice during Question Hour as Congress members created storm over reports that Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s house and telephone were bugged and high powered listening devices were found in his bedroom.
Insisting that notices were given for discussion on the issue, Deputy Leader of Congress in the Upper House Anand Sharma demanded discussion and probe into the matter.
Naresh Agrawal (SP) supported the demand, while members from treasury benches kept pressing for going ahead with the Question Hour.
Quoting the Home Minister, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Prakash Javadekar said “this is a baseless” issue and “there is nothing to discuss”.
In his effort to bring order in the House, Chairman Hamid Ansari said disruption of Question Hour infringes on rights of members who want to ask questions.
As the opposition remained adamant, Ansari adjourned the House for 15 minutes.
When the House reassembled, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the bugging issue was appearing in newspapers and on TV channels for last 3-4 days and there were reports that phones of some cabinet members were being tapped.
Citing the Home Minister’s clarification, Naidu said there is “no truth” in the issue.
With the opposition refusing to yield, the Chair adjourned the House till noon. (PTI)