Federal structure violated, will be challenged in court: Arun Jaitley

NEW DELHI: Terming the setting up of Commission of Inquiry into snooping issue an "affront" to the states, BJP leader Arun Jaitley today said the Centre's move will be challenged in court as it violated the federal structure and hoped Chief Ministers from other parties will oppose it too.

"This action legally is a suspect and liable for challenge. I am sure it will be legally challenged in courts. The setting up of this Commission violates the federal structure of the Constitution," he said.

Jaitley said the Congress Party has not learnt from the drubbing it got in the recent elections and has continued with its strategy of fighting Narendra Modi "not politically but through investigative agencies and now through a Commission of Inquiry".

"This action is politically motivated.... The setting up of this Commission violates the federal structure of the Constitution. It is an affront to the states. I hope other Chief Ministers also join in the protest against this action," he said on his facebook post.

Jaitley said setting up of a parallel Commission by the Centre was legally "suspect" and was liable to be challenged in court.

"The setting up of a parallel Commission by the central government ostensibly on the pretext of this issue covering more than one state is without any basis.