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Thursday, Jul 12, 2007
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Sushma: my phone is under surveillance

Special Correspondent

S.S. Ahluwalia, Digvijay Singh have similar complaints

NEW DELHI: NDA-backed Independent candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat’s spokesperson Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday alleged that the telephones of their key strategists were being “tapped.” She and other affected leaders would seek the intervention of the Election Commission in the matter.

Addressing mediapersons here, Ms. Swaraj claimed that for the last one week her phone was under “surveillance.”

She also claimed that she was unable to connect her mobile to her home phones because of failed connections and that on several occasions she was connected to the police control room when she called her residence. “Why is my residential phone connected to the police control room,” she asked.

Ms. Swaraj claimed that Rajya Sabha members S.S. Ahluwalia (BJP) and Digvijay Singh (JD-U), both key strategists of Mr. Shekhawat’s campaign, were facing similar situation for the last one week.

“The most crucial element in any election is the confidentiality of the strategy. Other than tapping, attempts are being made to frustrate our communication and disturb our confidentiality. This is an obstacle in a free and fair election,” she claimed. The three leaders would write to the Telecommunication Minister and the MTNL chief.

Asked whether Mr. Shekhawat also felt that his phones were being tapped, she said he had not said so.

She said the allegation of Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi on Mr. Shekhawat “misusing” his office for campaigning showed the desperation of the Congress.

“Mr. Shekhawat has neither travelled to any part of the country nor used any of the official machinery for campaigning,” she said.

She maintained that the NDA-backed candidate had no links with any of BJP’s strident campaign against UPA-Left presidential candidate Pratibha Patil, such as the launch of a website on her. “He has always said that he will not join any such campaign.”

On when Mr. Shekhawat would declare his assets, she said, “As soon as he is ready.”

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