CPI(M) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday called upon Speaker G. Karthikeyan to institute a probe into alleged tapping of telephones of members of the House including Opposition leaders.
He noted that Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan had not denied tapping of telephones in a written reply to a question in the Assembly.
The Minister’s reply was that the matter could not be disclosed. If no phone was being tapped, he could have replied in the negative. So, a probe was imperative.
Mr. Vijayan said the tapping of phones was a challenge to the right to carry on political activities freely. It was intended to prevent members from raising questions against the government. It amounted to contempt of the House and hence, the Speaker should order an inquiry.
He recalled that the Supreme Court had directed that tapping of phones should be resorted to only if security of the country and the people was in peril.
These directives were being flouted, Mr. Vijayan alleged.
