Nana Patole: Gujarat model of keeping politicians and civilians under surveillance via phone tapping has been replicated by the Fadnavis government

Days after the Pune Police filed an FIR against IPS Officer Rashmi Shukla in connection with the illegal phone tapping of a few politicians, the Congress party lashed out at former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday, accusing him of following the Gujarat model of keeping people under surveillance by illegally intercepting their phones.

 

Atul Londhe, the Chief Spokesman for the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, has demanded Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to launch an investigation into Fadnavis, who was also in charge of the home department during the BJP-led administration from 2014 to 2019.

 

"There has been a big issue of unlawful phone tapping of leaders of opposition parties in the state during the Fadnavis regime. Maharashtra adopted the Gujarat model of putting individuals under surveillance. Rashmi Shukla, an IPS officer, has already been charged with a crime. However, who instructed Shukla to tap the phones of opposition leaders must be investigated. It should be brought to light, and Fadnavis' role should be examined," Londhe remarked.

 

"The phones of Congress state president Nana Patole, Shiv Sena, NCP and various BJP ministers and leaders, as well as IAS and IPS officers, were unlawfully tapped in 2017-18," Londhe stated. He stated that the Congress party will raise the matter of unlawful phone tapping during the state legislature's forthcoming budget session, which will begin on March 3 in Mumbai. The state government, according to Londhe, should not limit the investigation into the illegal phone tapping to Shukla alone, but instead, broaden the scope of the investigation.

 

 

Image Courtesy: Twitter @NANA_PATOLE