Telangana Congress Backs Rahul Gandhis Phone Tapping Allegations as Threat to Democracy

Hyderabad, November 14 (Daily Kiran) : Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of phone tapping have sparked a fierce backlash from Congress leaders in Telangana. Following his claims in the Lok Sabha, party officials accused the central government of using various agencies to spy on opposition leaders and maintain control over them. They labeled the phone tapping issue as a serious threat to democracy and the Constitution, demanding a thorough investigation.

Congress MP Chamalakiran Kumar Reddy expressed support for Gandhi’s accusations, asserting that they reveal the central government’s operational methods. He alleged that the government aims to weaken the federal structure of the country and destabilize regional political parties. Reddy criticized the BJP’s intention to establish a system of “one nation, one party, and a double-engine government” to remain in power for an extended period.

He further claimed that the central government employs several investigative and security agencies for these purposes. Reddy referenced the tenure of former Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), stating that opposition leaders’ phones were tapped during his administration. This surveillance was intended to monitor their activities and prevent them from gaining political strength. He emphasized that Gandhi’s concerns about the alleged misuse of government agencies for political advantage are serious.

In addition to phone tapping, Reddy targeted the BJP regarding the delimitation bill. He argued that the BJP seeks to introduce the bill to manipulate political circumstances to its favor. The Congress party insists that there should be extensive and meaningful discussions in Parliament before presenting the bill.

Reddy clarified that Congress is not against women’s reservation, countering the BJP’s repeated claims. His concern lies with the potential increase in Lok Sabha seats post-delimitation, which could diminish representation and influence for southern states in national politics. He called for discussions involving all states and political parties to ensure fairness.

Sachin Sawant, Congress’s Telangana in-charge, also criticized the BJP over the phone tapping issue. He stated that the party’s actions and policies consistently jeopardize the Constitution and democratic systems. Sawant accused the BJP of making phone tapping, surveillance, and blackmailing a part of its operational strategy.

He cited Maharashtra as an example, where a significant phone tapping scandal involving opposition leaders had emerged. Sawant sarcastically referred to it as a “gift” from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the nation.

Telangana’s Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka remarked that when the leader of the opposition claims their phone is being tapped, it poses a severe threat to democracy. He urged every citizen to reflect on this issue seriously, as privacy and freedom of expression are fundamental to democratic governance.

Bomm Mahesh Kumar Goud, president of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee, echoed the seriousness of the phone tapping allegations. He stated that phone tapping is a grave offense in any country. He emphasized that Rahul Gandhi, as the leader of the opposition and a popular figure, comes from a family that has made significant sacrifices for the nation. Goud insisted that if Gandhi has raised concerns about his phone being tapped, it should not be taken lightly, and called for a thorough investigation and appropriate action against those responsible.