Has Karnataka's Home Minister Confirmed No Phone Tapping of the Governor?
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Key Takeaways
Bengaluru, Jan 29 (NationPress) - Karnataka's Home Minister, G. Parameshwara, emphasized on Thursday that the state government will never resort to tapping the phones of the Governor’s office. This declaration comes in response to allegations from the BJP regarding the supposed phone tapping of Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot.
In a media briefing in Bengaluru, HM Parameshwara remarked, “We have not tapped the Governor’s phone, and there is no need to do so. The BJP is making claims based on their past actions, as if we operate in a similar manner.”
“There is no link between the BJP’s accusations and phone tapping. They level numerous allegations against us daily. What action can we take?” HM Parameshwara questioned.
“We have never engaged in phone tapping, and we will not start now just because of these allegations. There is absolutely no requirement for it,” he added.
Addressing another query, Parameshwara mentioned, “We are providing training to our officers on the newly introduced Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita to ensure proper understanding. We have also taken disciplinary action against a police Inspector for misinterpretation of the law. We will rectify any mistakes as they arise.”
On the matter of extending the Assembly session, he confirmed that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had discussed this during the Congress Legislature Party meeting.
“The Speaker has been requested to arrange a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee. A decision regarding extending the session by two more days will be made during that meeting,” he stated. The current session is set to end on January 31.
Parameshwara noted that legislators raised several issues during the Congress Legislature Party meeting. “The Chief Minister is aware of these and will take necessary actions,” he mentioned.
Regarding the demand for transferring police Inspectors within a year, Parameshwara explained that previously, Inspectors were transferred annually. “However, due to ineffective performance in that timeframe, transfers are now occurring after two years of service at a police station,” he clarified.
“We will evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of this approach and make an informed decision,” he concluded.
It is worth noting that the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Karnataka Assembly and BJP leader, R. Ashoka, claimed on Wednesday that the state government is tapping phones at Raj Bhavan and has called for the matter to be investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).