Phone tapping charges: Jharkhand CM Raghubar Das demands apology from Babulal Marandi

JAMSHEDPUR: Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das today demanded an apology from Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) president Babulal Marandi over allegations of phone tapping made against him.

"Let it (phone tapping) be proved within 24 hours or (Marandi) make an apology," Das said at a press conference here when asked about the former chief minister's demand for a probe into phone tapping allegations.

He also suggested the media to cross check facts before publishing any report.

Marandi's reaction came after a Hindi newspaper yesterday published a report on alleged phone tapping of some people purportedly by government agencies.

The chief minister said, "Some leaders in the state have no work ... but want to remain in the limelight by feeding unauthentic information to sensitise and gain publicity".

"Why they are bent on tarnishing the image of Jharkhand?" Das asked and claimed that his government was transparent and accountable.

"It is the government of people which is committed to carry out development work by involving people from all sectors of society," he added.