The Indian Premier League and phone tapping controversies were again raised in the Lok Sabha on Friday with Janata Dal (United) chief Sharad Yadav seeking a categorical statement from the government on the telephonic discussions between the former IPL commissioner and a Union Minister whose phone was reportedly tapped.
Mr. Yadav raised the matter during zero hour, saying the phones of four political leaders were tapped. “I am referring to the fourth one — the conversation between the IPL chief and a Minister of this government.” Mr. Yadav was supported by members from the Opposition benches, including the BJP and the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
According to reports, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar's phone was tapped at the height of the IPL controversy, including his “conversation” with the then IPL chief Lalit Modi. The government later clarified that it did “not authorise” phone tapping of any political leader.
Mr. Yadav told the House that the “wrong policies” of the Telecommunications Ministry in allocation of 2G spectrum in 2008 caused a loss of Rs. 1 lakh crore to the exchequer. He said the Ministry went ahead with the “first come, first served” basis in spectrum allocation despite instructions from the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministries of Law and Finance on the contrary. “However, the government is not willing to say a word on the entire issue.” He asked the Prime Minister to make a statement in the House.
Supporting Mr. Yadav, Basudeb Acharia of the CPI (M) described it as the “biggest scam.”
