Didn’t want probe to look like political vendetta: Cong

The party was also taken by surprise by the opposition of NCP and National Conference.

The Congress Tuesday said the government backed off from its move to name a high court judge to head a panel to probe the snooping row as it did not want to give the impression of indulging in “political vendetta”.

“I talked to the home minister this morning and he told me nobody should feel we are carrying out any vendetta against anybody because that was never our intention. And if somebody feels it is a vendetta… fine then let the other government decide. We have no problem,” Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal said.

Sibal virtually agreed the government dropped the move because of the opposition from allies NCP and National Conference. “When our allies are saying it could be interpreted as a political vendetta… that is why we did not move ahead. What was wrong in that? Let the next government carry it out,” Sibal said.

Sources in the party, however, said a blame game is on in the Congress. While a section of the party argues that the government mishandled the issue by not showing the urgency to find a person to head the panel all these months, at least two ministers are learnt to have told party leaders that there was no clear-cut direction from top party leadership.

The party was also taken by surprise by the opposition of NCP and National Conference. “If setting up of the commission to probe snooping was not a vengeful act or vendetta, how can appointing a judge to head the panel be vendetta? It is all about perception,” a senior leader said. Sources said the BJP would find it difficult to overturn the cabinet decision or put it in the backburner.

“It can be legally challenged. Any citizen can approach a court of law if the next government failed to appoint a judge for the enquiry,” a senior leader said indicating that the Congress could keep the issue alive even after May 16.

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