PANAJI
Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat and former Ports Minister Michael Lobo's phones are being tapped along with other communication devices used by other Congress and Independent candidates, State Congress president Girish Chodankar claimed on Thursday.
Addressing a press conference in Panaji, Chodankar also warned government and police officers against abetting illegal tapping of phone calls, claiming the Bharatiya Janata Party's days in power are numbered.
"We have confirmed information that our party leaders' phones are being tapped by a private agency hired by BJP leaders. They know what we speak, they know whom our leaders are speaking to. They have hired an agency for this and our phones are being tapped by them," Chodankar said at the press conference.
"An expert in this field came to meet me and told me that my phone is tapped. (Leader of opposition) Digambar Kamat's phone is being tapped, Michael Lobo's phone is being tapped. Such phone tapping is illegal. If this is legally being done, then the CM as Home Minister should tell us, whose permission have you sought to tap phones," Chodankar also said.
Chodankar's charge comes a day after reports in the section of the media claimed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had reached out to Lobo and assured him of a role in the BJP government in return for a switchover.
Chodankar claimed that the BJP was trying to create a rift within the Congress, by first targetting Digambar Kamat from 2019-22 and now trying to target Lobo in order to achieve its end.
"The BJP first used Digamber's name by saying he was likely to join the BJP. And now they are using Michael Lobo's name. If Shah had actually spoken to Michael, then why are BJP leaders amplifying it? Should they not be keeping this conversation a secret?" Chodankar said.
"In Karnataka, after the government toppling, it was revealed later that there was snooping involved. It happened in Maharashtra too," he also said.
When asked about who will be the party's chief ministerial candidate, Chodankar said that elected MLAs would take a call on the same.
"Elected MLAs will meet and decide on who will be the CM. We will not take away the rights of the MLAs," Chodankar also said.
Chodankar also said that Independent MLAs and even BJP MLAs were in touch with the Congress party and had promised assistance in government formation, after the results are announced on March 10.
"We are speaking to leaders from all parties. Many Independent MLAs are speaking to us, we are telling the BJP leaders this openly. Many of your leaders are also in touch with us. They know that the BJP will not generate the numbers to form a government. They are already speaking to our leaders. The BJP should stop its leaders from talking to us if they want to," Chodankar said.
