Centre to bring NTRO under 'a ministry': Chidambaram

New Delhi, Apr 29 (ANI): Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday said the Government is considering to bring under the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) under "a ministry."

The NTRO is in the eye of storm for allegedly monitoring phone conversations between a Vaishnavi Communication chief Nira Radia and Union Communications Minister A Raja on the allocation of 2G spectrum.

Replying to a debate on the issue in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday evening, Chidambaram said: "It had been decided to place the NTRO not under a ministry but under the NSA. We are examining whether the NTRO should be placed under a ministry so that the minister is accountable to Parliament, Chidambaram said

"A group of ministers had recommended the creation of the NTRO in 2001. It was the decision of the NDA and not the UPA," he added.

The issue had rocked Parliament on Wednesday, leading to demands for Raja's resignation and disrupting the proceedings in both houses.

Both houses had been adjourned for the day Monday and Tuesday after angry opposition MPs demanded a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into a report that the phones of prominent politicians had been tapped. (ANI)