Rajasthan Political Crisis: MHA Steps In, Seeks Report On Phone-Tapping Allegations Against Govt

Rajasthan Political Crisis: Randeep Singh Surjewala on Saturday, read out a transcript of alleged audio of horse-trading between rebel MLAs and BJP at a press conference.

Rajasthan Political Crisis: Making entry into the ongoing Rajasthan political crisis, which is triggered after Sachin Pilot-led rebellion withing the government, the Ministry of Home Affairs has sought a report from Rajasthan chief secretary on allegations of phone tapping in the state. The issue of phone-tapping which garnered fresh momentum amid horse-trading allegations on Bharatiya Janata Party has now shifted the contentions on the ruling government. It came to the fore after two audio clips of conversations apparently regarding a “conspiracy” to topple the Congress government emerged. Also Read | Ashok Gehlot Meets Governor Claiming To Have Support Of 102 MLAs The leaked audio conversation is being investigated by Rajasthan police. Earlier on Saturday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter of phone tapping in connection with the Rajasthan political crisis and raised several questions over whether the Congress indulged in phone tapping. BJP’s national spokesperson Sambit Patra launched an attack at the ruling Congress party  and demanded for a CBI inquiry into the matter. He said: “We demand a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into this matter, whether phone tapping was done or SOPs were followed. Is there an emergency situation in Rajasthan? Are all political parties being targeted this way?” The state government should answer whether they indulged in phone tapping as Chief Minister and their other leaders are saying the audio is authentic whereas in FIR it is mentioned as purported," he added. Two FIRs have been registered by Congress leader Mahesh Joshi pertaining to the audio clips on the alleged conspiracy to topple the Rajasthan government on Friday. Randeep Singh Surjewala on Saturday, read out a transcript of alleged audio of horse-trading between rebel MLAs and BJP at a press conference. Rajasthan was plunged into a political crisis after former Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Sachin Pilot upped the ante against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot claiming that the Gehlot government was in minority. Pilot has the support of 18 MLAs. While the former PCC chief has been silent, there was little information on his whereabouts and those of the MLAs who mounted the rebellion with him. They had been in a resort in Haryana till Friday evening when the Rajasthan special operations group reached for their voice samples but could not meet them. Some Congress leaders alleged that they had been taken to another BJP-ruled state but no one was quite sure. Watch ABP News' report: