After IPL game, watch out for tap dance

NEW DELHI: IPL, cut motions on budgetary proposals and now the phone tapping allegations: The face off between the Manmohan Singh government and the Opposition is intensifying.

Angry over a report in a news magazine about phone tapping of several politicians by government agencies, the Opposition is planning to confront the government on the issue in both Houses of Parliament on Monday.

The magazine said the UPA government tapped phones of four top politicians — Congress leader Digvijay Singh, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, NCP leader Sharad Pawar and CPM general secretary Prakash Karat.

The government is likely to face the ire of a united Opposition on this issue too. BJP said that it will seek a response from the government and if it does not accede to it, proceedings in the House will be disrupted.

The entire Opposition has been striking similar notes on the demand for a JPC probe into the IPL issue and is all set to back cut motions against increase in fuel and fertilizer prices next week.

Mr Karat, whose phone was allegedly tapped in June 2008, to get information on the Left’s stand on the Indo-US nuclear deal, demanded action against those responsible.

“The UPA government is resorting to tapping of phones of political leaders which is illegal and intolerable. The government has to own up responsibility and action should be taken against those responsible.

Further, safeguards should be there against such misuse of security agencies,” the CPM leader said. The Left had withdrawn support to the UPA over the nuclear deal forcing the government to go in for a trust vote in July, 2008.

BJP’s deputy leader in Rajya Sabha S S Ahluwalia said “if the government is tapping the phones of terrorists, or tax evaders or secessionists, then it is understandable as national interest and national security are involved. But tapping phones of politicians and ministers is condemnable.”