Karnataka Assembly Proceedings Disrupted Over Phone Tapping Controversy
Proceedings in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly descended into chaos on Wednesday as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leveled serious allegations against the Congress-led Siddaramaiah government, accusing it of engaging in phone tapping activities targeting the Governor's office. The disruption occurred during a debate on the motion of thanks to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot's address to the joint sitting of the state legislature, creating a tense atmosphere in the house.
Governor's Address Sparks Political Firestorm
The controversy has its roots in events from the previous week, when on January 22, Governor Gehlot made headlines by refusing to read the full state-prepared address during the joint session of the legislature. Instead, he concluded his speech in just three lines, a move that drew sharp criticism from the Congress government. The governor had reportedly objected to certain references in the prepared address that were critical of the central government, including remarks concerning the alleged "repeal" of the UPA-era employment guarantee scheme, MGNREGA.
BJP Legislators Raise Surveillance Concerns
During Wednesday's debate, BJP legislators launched a fierce attack on the state government, alleging that the Congress administration had accessed details of phone calls received at the Raj Bhavan (also known as Lok Bhavan). These allegations raised serious questions about surveillance practices and potential misuse of power by the ruling government. BJP MLA Suresh Kumar spearheaded the accusations, claiming that the state government had shown disrespect toward the governor while making unwarranted allegations against a constitutional authority.
"How can this be tolerated? This is the second time the Law Minister has said this in the House. Is phone tapping happening?" questioned BJP MLA Sunil Kumar during the heated exchange, reflecting the opposition's growing concerns about privacy violations.
Historical Precedent Cited in Heated Exchange
In an attempt to contextualize the current controversy, Suresh Kumar referred to a historical precedent from January 2011, when the BJP was in power in Karnataka. He recalled that then Governor Hansraj Bhardwaj had tabled his address to be treated as read after the then Leader of the Opposition, Siddaramaiah, urged him not to read it, citing allegations of corruption against the BJP government at that time.
This historical comparison triggered a sharp response from Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil, who alleged that the present Governor had acted under instructions received through phone calls from Delhi. "Following calls from Delhi the Governor did not read the full speech, we will also have to speak about it now, as you spoke about the earlier incident," Patil stated, further escalating tensions in the assembly.
Minister's Remarks Fuel Opposition Protests
Patil's remarks about phone calls from Delhi triggered strong protests from BJP benches, with legislators demanding clarification on how the government obtained information about the governor's communications. Suresh Kumar questioned the basis of the law minister's knowledge, asking pointedly: "Is the government tapping the Raj Bhavan phones, to know about the Governor getting calls from Delhi?"
As BJP MLAs rose in protest, the house descended into complete chaos, with opposition members interpreting Patil's statements as an implicit admission of surveillance activities. Sunil Kumar emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that this was the second instance where the law minister had made such claims in the assembly.
Defense and Counter-Allegations Intensify Conflict
IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge came to Patil's defense during the heated exchanges, clarifying that the law minister was merely alleging that the Governor was acting like a "puppet in the hands of the central government." However, BJP members remained unconvinced, maintaining that the statements raised serious doubts about surveillance at the Raj Bhavan.
The verbal sparring intensified further when Kharge escalated the exchange by alleging that the governor was receiving calls from Keshava Krupa, the RSS's Karnataka state headquarters. BJP members countered this claim with their own allegation, suggesting that the Congress "gets calls from Italy," in a reference to the party's leadership connections.
Surveillance Allegations Take Center Stage
Throughout the proceedings, BJP legislators repeatedly accused the state government of engaging in phone tapping activities targeting the Governor's office. Sunil Kumar and other BJP MLAs demanded transparency, challenging the government to produce records if they possessed information about the governor's communications. "The Law Minister has repeatedly said that the Governor was getting calls from Delhi. How did they know? If they have records, let them place it in the House," Sunil Kumar asserted, directly implicating both Patil and Kharge in potential surveillance activities at Lok Bhavan.
Senior BJP leaders, including Suresh Kumar and Sunil Kumar, continued to characterize the Siddaramaiah government as a "phone tapping government," with Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka lending his support to these serious allegations. The opposition's unified stance created significant pressure on the treasury benches throughout the session.
Government's Response and Continued Standoff
In response to the mounting allegations, Law Minister HK Patil questioned why neither the Governor nor the central government had issued clarifications after he first made the allegation the previous week. "What is the Home Ministry doing in Delhi? Should they not at least issue a press note saying that there is no communication between the Governor and Home Ministry?" he asked, attempting to shift focus toward the central government's response.
However, these remarks only fueled further heated exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches. Ashoka countered by claiming that the statements made by Patil and Kharge themselves served as evidence that phones at both the Lok Bhavan and the RSS office were being tapped. "Are our phones also being tapped? This is a phone-tapping government," he declared, encapsulating the opposition's central accusation.
Assembly Adjourned Amid Continuing Disorder
As disorder continued to prevail in the house, with neither side willing to back down from their respective positions, Speaker U T Khader was forced to adjourn the Assembly for lunch. The disruption highlighted the deepening political rift between the ruling Congress and opposition BJP in Karnataka, with surveillance allegations adding a new dimension to their ongoing conflicts.
The controversy has raised fundamental questions about privacy, constitutional propriety, and the boundaries of political discourse in the state legislature. With both parties firmly entrenched in their positions, the phone tapping allegations are likely to remain a contentious issue in Karnataka's political landscape, potentially affecting future legislative proceedings and inter-party relations.
