Sparring over the alleged ‘snooping’ on Rahul Gandhi by the Delhi Police is all set to rock Parliament on Monday amid allegations by the Congress that the Modi Government had been doing the same to other Opposition leaders too. The BJP, however, has dubbed the charge “atrocious”.
The Congress on Sunday also demanded an explanation from the Prime Minister’s Office on why the police were seeking details about its vice-president Rahul Gandhi. Terming the incident “Snoopgate 2”, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said the PM needed to explain why the Government needed details of a person protected by the Special Protection Group (SPG). “PMO India needs to explain why it needs details of a person protected by the SPG. All his movements are recorded by SPG,” he tweeted.
Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma also shared his views with the media, “The present Government has much to answer when it comes to the right of privacy of citizens. They are now trying to do, what was happening in one State, everywhere. Both Modi and Amit Shah are now here. It is not confined to one person. It is much deeper. The practice that they had adopted in Gujarat, they want to carry it out now everywhere.”
Justifying his remarks, Sharma said, “letters are not sent to political leaders, judges and others for phone tapping...It can be proved only if the PM and the Home Minister give letters to Opposition leaders regarding their phone tapping.”
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police rejected the allegations, calling it a routine exercise of being in touch with dignitaries. The BJP too, termed the entire incident “atrocious” saying that the Opposition party was bereft of issues and is raking up non-issues.
“This is absolutely an atrocious charge by the Congress and there is nobody snooping. Congress people don’t know where Rahul is. So, how we will snoopIJ That’s not the issue,” Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said at Hyderabad.
The Delhi Police personnel visited Rahul Gandhi’s residence last week and also sought details about his height and colour of eyes and hair. Outraged by the incident, the Congress accused the Modi Government of carrying out “political espionage” on Gandhi and demanded a “comprehensive explanation from no less than the Home Minister and the Prime Minister.
The Congress spokesperson said that leaders of Opposition had raised the issue of their phones being tapped in the last session as well and the Home Minister said there is no such thing. Maintaining that India cannot be allowed to be converted into a Police State, the Congress spokesperson said, “We will raise the issue in Parliament.”
Rahul Gandhi has been on a sabbatical since the start of the Budget session of Parliament on February 23. Regarding a question on whether Rahul Gandhi will attend the March 16 rally and Parliament gherao of Congress against land bill, Sharma said,” I do not know. I do not comment on speculative reports.”