Karnataka elections: Why Congress leaders are avoiding using their cell phones

Several Congress leader in the poll bound Karnataka have expressed apprehension about their phones being tapped. This has led to several of them avoiding using their cell phones.

Recently Home Minister, Ramalinga Reddy had said that their phones were being tapped. He said that this had been going on for over a week.

Several Congress leaders have been avoiding the cell phone as they fear that this could lead to a raid on their homes, associates or businesses. Many suspect that the ongoing IT raids could be a result of phone tapping.

Reddy said over 100 Congress leaders, including ministers' phones, are tapped and a complaint was filed with the Centre. "Through inputs from intelligence agencies and our own sources, we came to know that our phones are being tapped.

He also accused the Centre of misusing the Income Tax department to intimidate Congress leaders and workers ahead of May 12 polls. He accused the IT department officials of threatening party workers to either work for the BJP or not to support the Congress.