A Karnataka Minister ahead of Assembly polls made an allegation against Union Government of tapping his and his family phones. Addressing a Press conference in Vijaypura in north Karnataka on Monday Karnataka Water Resources Minister MB Patil made a startling revelation that his phone along with his family and friends phones have been tapped. He directly blamed the Union Government and said he had confirmed this from experts and said he would produce the proof.
He said “I have all the proof of tapping of my phone. It is Government of India has done this. Few days ago a friend told me about this. I then took the help of few experts who confirmed my phone along with my family members and friends have been tapped.”
He further said his advocate and his wife’s phone have also been tapped. Patil a powerful lingayat Congress leader from north Karnataka had said he was on the hit list of Income tax sleuths.
Patil said he had informed chief minister Siddaramaiah and directly blamed BJP Government at the centre. “I have all the proof of the phone tapping. In a few days, when the time is right, I will show the media the proof. My friend, who is an expert in such matters, entered a code on my phone”. “With this one can determine if a person’s phone has been tapped. I will show you how it’s done on a later date when the time is right,” minister Patil added.
“It is clearly the Government of India. I will prove it to everyone. I have also informed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah about the phone tapping. When Income Tax raids were conducted at homes of several Congress leaders, talks were on that even my house may be raided. I did not know at the time that my phone was tapped. Now I do,” Patil told the media.
State Congress leaders have been accusing BJP led Union Government of tapping their phones. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had said that his phone was also tapped by the Central Government.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy made an allegation that the Union Government has tapping the phones of congress leaders in the State. He said more than 30 to 35 phones of the congress leaders have been tapped by the centre.
Few months back it was the state BJP leaders accused the ruling Siddaramaiah government of snooping their phones. A delegation led by union Minister HN Ananth Kumar had met the governor of Karnataka Vaju Bhai wala over the allegations.