Digvijay seeks probe in phone tapping row

A news magazine had recently reported that the UPA government tapped Singh’s phone in February 2007 and a conversation over the selection of candidates in the Punjab Assembly elections was recorded.

The phones of Union Agriculture Minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar,CPI-M leader Prakash Karat and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar were also allegedly tapped.

Singh,who had to field a volley of questions,displayed strong loyalty to the Centre.

Though he absolved the government from the phone tapping allegations,Singh was candid enough to add that the act was both “unethical and illegal”.

“Tapping someone’s phone is illegal as well as unethical. At the same time,I do not believe that a government under the leadership of Dr Manmohan Singh can do this,” the AICC general secretary said.

He also demanded a thorough inquiry into the incident. Singh added that phone tapping should not be allowed unless someone poses a threat to national security.

On being asked about the ongoing IPL controversy,Singh minced no words in praising Lalit Modi that he had worked hard in establishing IPL as an international brand.

“Cricket as well as its fans have benefited a lot from IPL. It has emerged as a popular format of the game,” he said.

His appreciation for Modi’s business skills came with a pinch of salt as Singh said that the government will definitely look into the alleged tax evasions and the vulgar expenses that have been associated with the IPL recently.

Singh also denied that politics was being mixed with cricket. “Evading taxes is a serious offence and the government’s role is to examine the charges and bring the guilty to book. There is no political interference in the game,” said the leader.

Singh also lauded former minister Shashi Tharoor for resigning as minister,to maintain his dignity and of the office.

“It is very clear that Tharoor was not involved in the entire issue and his resigning from the post is praiseworthy,” said the Congress leader.

The former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh,meanwhile,also condemned khap panchyats that have wreaked havoc in Congress-ruled Haryana.

“These khaps are retrograde and there is no justification for the decisions taken by them,” he said. He also criticised Dalit atrocities in the state saying that the government would not tolerate such acts.

Singh also sounded hopeful of performing better in the next Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh claiming that the party had fared quite well there.