Country passing through undeclared Emergency, alleges Jaswant

Chennai, July 11 (UNI) Accusing the Centre of tapping the phone of his party colleague Sushma Swaraj, former external affairs minister and senior BJP Leader Jaswant Singh today alleged that the country was passing through an unstated and undeclared state of Emergency.'' Talking to newspersons after an hour -long meeting with AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa at her Poes Garden residence here, he said ''it is a matter of concern for all of us.'' He was reacting to BJP leader Sushma Swaraj's charge that her mobile phones were being tapped by the Congress-led government at the Centre.

''She (Sushma) is my colleague and my Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha. I trust her words. Her privacy is being breached.

It is a matter of concern and the country is passing through an unstated and unannounced State of Emergency,'' Mr Singh alleged.

He said during his meeting with Ms Jayalalithaa he had discussed the prevailing political situation in the country and apparently sought her Front's support to Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhwat, NDA's Presidential candidate.

Without giving any details, he said ''I will go back to Delhi and share with my party colleagues-former prime minister A B Vajpayee and former deputy prime minister L K Advani-about the discussions held here. Ms Jayalalithaa will be coming to New Delhi on July 14 to hold discussions with her Third Front colleagues where she will brief them about the discussions held today''.

Later, MDMK General Secretary Vaiko, whose party is an ally of the AIADMK, also called on Ms Jayalalithaa. Party sources described it as a courtesy call.

UNI