Snoopgate: Congress allies question government timing of inquiry

New Delhi: The UPA is divided on the issue of a probe into Snoopgate against Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, with the NCP and the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference opposing it openly, questioning its timing.

The Congress, however, is determined to go ahead, saying that it was not a political issue but related to the dignity of women.
“When the results of the Lok Sabha elections are due in two weeks’ time, where is the need for such an inquiry?” senior NCP leader and Union minister Praful Patel asked.

Striking a similar note, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that if the decision to appoint a judge could not be taken in December, then it was wrong to appoint one five months later.

“Was talking to my dad last night and he also felt the same way — setting up a commission of inquiry in the dying hours of UPA-2 is just wrong. If the decision to appoint a commission was taken in December, it should have been implemented. To appoint a judge five months later is wrong,” Mr Abdullah tweeted.

Congress still defiant over snoop issue

Senior NCP leader and Union minister Praful Patel said that party chief Sharad Pawar had spoken to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to convey the party’s view on the probe into snoopgate against Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. The NCP is the second largest constituent of the Congress-led UPA.

Unfazed by the opposition from its two allies, Congress spokesperson and Mahila Congress chief Shobha Oza on Sunday declared there was “no compromise” over going ahead with the probe as the matter does not involve any political party but women of the country who constitute half the population.

Ms Oza, however, ducked questions whether the opposition by the NCP and the NC meant that they were “anti-women”. She insisted that no political party can decide on it and the Union Cabinet had already taken a decision some time back and it was also announced.

“The issue is not the personal business of anyone. How does it matter that a judge was not appointed so far? There will be a commission and there will be a judge. Why there should be pressure?” she asked. Ms Oza also attacked the BJP, alleging that leaders like Arun Jaitley were “trying to threaten” judges against taking up the inquiry. She also alleged that in order to silence the family of the young woman, it was awarded contracts without floating tenders.

Union minister Salman Khurshid, meanwhile, said the NCP’s considerations could be discussed as it is part of the government. “This is something which we can discuss within the government. There can always be different points of view and at the end of the day, you take a call,” he said.

Defending the Centre’s decision, he said that the new government had the right to review it. “We think you artificially cannot put a stop to normal functioning of the government. People would accuse it of paralysis,” Mr Khurshid said.