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We will get to the bottom of phone tapping: Chidambaram

Gargi Parsai

NEW DELHI: The Union government said on Thursday it would get to the bottom of the phone tapping issue and take action against those responsible for illegal and unauthorised interception of political leaders, as reported in a section of the press.

Responding to a short duration discussion on the issue in the Rajya Sabha, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said the Prime Minister had directed that the government “get to the bottom” and take action.

Fending off the Opposition charge that the United Progressive Alliance government was using phone tapping for “political espionage” and “political gains,” Mr. Chidambaram asserted that the government was committed to the right of privacy and would amend rules to strengthen the safeguards in keeping with technology.

He did not respond to the Opposition demand for setting up a Joint Parliamentary Committee or a Select Committee or any other parliamentary panel to go into the charges. CPI(M) member Sitaram Yechury demanded a review committee and amendment of the Telegraph Act.

“The government did not authorise telephone tapping or eavesdropping on political leaders. There may be illegal and unauthorised phone intercepts. If there was, [as reported by the media] then the government will find out who was responsible, under what circumstances and will take action,'' the Minister said.

To a request from Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley the Minister agreed to bring the findings to the House.

Mr. Chidambaram said only the Union Home Secretary and the State Home Secretaries could authorise phone intercepts. The CBDT and enforcement agencies were empowered to intercept communications for purposes of detecting tax evasion and to ensure that financial laws were not violated.

He said the time had come to consider whether the National Technical Research Organisation — equipped with interception technology — should be placed under a Ministry for accountability. It is now under the National Security Adviser in the Prime Minister's Office.

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