As the Ashok Gehlot government is once again accused of tapping its MLAs’ phones, Rajasthan minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas said on Sunday that those making these allegations should name the MLAs whose phones are being ‘tapped.’ Instead of passing the buck to other MLAs who presumably said their phones were being tapped, they should speak to the chief minister. The remark comes after Sachin Pilot camp Congress MLA Ved Prakash Solanki claimed that some Congress MLAs discussed phone tapping. He also stated that he had no idea whether or not his phone was being tapped.
“Rajasthan govt doesn’t tap anyone’s phone, that’s not our character. If an MLA says that his phone is not tapped but mentions other MLAs who say that their phones have been tapped, then he should reveal those names and speak to the CM,” the minister said.
Solanki said some MLAs have already informed Gehlot about phone tapping. “I do not know if my phone is being tapped or not. Some legislators have told me that their phones are being tapped. I am also not aware if the state government is involved in phone tapping. Many officials told them (legislators) that it seems that there are efforts underway to trap them,” Solanki said.
The allegations of phone tapping levelled against the Congress government in Rajasthan are not new, as this was one of the issues raised by the rebel camp, led by Sachin Pilot, in July of last year. The government at the time gave the Rajasthan Police some audio clips in order to investigate whether these MLAs were plotting against the government. After the issue between the Pilot camp and Gehlot was resolved with the help of the Congress high command, the case was closed.
Despite rumours that Sachin Pilot is joining the BJP, which the Congress leader has categorically denied, Pilot is expected to meet with Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi to press for the demands that have not been met in the last ten months since the two warring camps in the Rajasthan Congress were reconciled.
