Sushma alleges tapping of phones of NDA leaders

New Delhi, July 11 (UNI) Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj today accused the government of tapping the telepones of key NDA people involved in the presidential election campaign and said the alliance would ask the Election Commission to ensure that such ''unhealthy practices'' were not adopted.

Ms Swaraj, spokesperson for Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat for the presidential election, said the NDA would be sending a written complaint to the MTNL Chairman and the Communications Ministry knowing fully well that the reply would be a ''flat denial''. The other leaders who were having the same complaints were BJP MP S S Ahluwalia and Janata Dal (United) MP Digvijay Singh. ''We understand the need to tap the telephones of suspects in the national interest but not political opponents,'' they said.

Ms Swaraj said, '' Nine out of ten calls often result in failed calls and if I call my home from my cellphone it goes to 'Police Control Room'. What is the connection between my residential telephone and the Police?'' Asked if the Vice-President's telephone too was being tapped, Mrs Swaraj replied, ''I have not heard any such complaint so far.'' She said the NDA would complain to the Election Commission to get the whole thing examined and remove the hurdles posed by the Government in smooth conduct of the presidential election. ''We can't talk to each other and even if connection is established we hear some hissing or cracking noice,'' she added.

Mr Ahluwalia, who was also present, said the problem had become intense for the last eight to ten days.

UNI