The ministry of home affairs has sought a report from the chief secretary of Rajasthan over the phone-tapping issue in the state
Bengaluru: The Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) has sought a report from the Rajasthan government over alleged phone-tapping a day after the state filed FIRs over two audio tapes purportedly showing a plot to topple it.
Late on Saturday evening, PTI reported that the Union home ministry had sent a communication to the Rajasthan chief secretary, seeking a report on the allegations of phone tapping.
The Congress had claimed that the audio clips were proof of 'horse-trading' between the BJP and the rebel Congress MLAs.
Now, the home ministry (MHA) has gotten involved in the situation, seeking a report from the Rajasthan chief secretary on the allegations of "illegal tapping of phones", a news agency reported.
The controversy erupted a day after the Congress suspended two dissident MLAs—Bhanwar Lal Sharma and Vishvendra Singh—from party's primary membership for allegedly plotting with the BJP to topple the Rajasthan government after the audio clip of the purported conversation between Sharma and Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat came out. The Special Operations Group (SOG) under the Congress government also registered a case against Shekhawat.
The Congress government in the state, that is fighting a revolt by 19 MLAs, had accused the BJP of being behind the conspiracy.
Earlier on Saturday, BJP had demanded a CBI probe into the matter of phone tapping in connection with the Rajasthan political crisis and raised several questions over whether the Congress indulged in phone tapping.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday met Governor Kalraj Mishra, hours after two MLAs of a regional party that withdrew support from the Congress government announced that they will back the administration.
"Governor Kalraj Mishra on Saturday evening met chief minister Ashok Gehlot in his official residence. It was a courtesy meeting. Gehlot informed the Governor about the measures taken by the state government against the coronavirus pandemic. The meeting lasted 45 minutes," the Governor's office said in a Hindi statement.
Earlier, Gehlot tweeted that the BTP MLAs have announced their support.
"Both MLAs of the Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) announced their support to the government after meeting their state executive officials and discussing with their demands," Gehlot tweeted in Hindi.
Last Updated Jul 19, 2020, 2:22 PM IST