Youth Congress vents anger against Amar Singh

    New Delhi: Scores of Indian Youth Congress (IYC) activists took to the streets in the capital New Delhi on Tuesday protesting against Samajwadi Party leader and MP Amar Singh's allegations against Congress president Sonia Gandhi in the phone tapping case. Coming down heavily on Amar Singh for his allegations that the phone tappings were done at the behest of the Congress party president, the IYC members also shouted slogans against the SP leader.

   "Sonia Gandhi is a symbol of dedication and devotion. She has been awarded as the best Indian. They are just doing this to gain popularity through cheap stunts. They are doing this because they are losing their ground in Uttar Pradesh. They have used wrong words against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and Priyanka too. Youth Congress will not tolerate this. Amar Singh and Mulayam Singh Yadav need to look into their own character before commenting on anyone else. They are just making UP a militancy hub," said Pradeep Jaildar, general secretary, Indian Youth Congress.

   Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party leader and MP Amar Singh sarcastically "thanked" Congress President for giving him "respect" through the protest by the IYC. "I thank Sonia Gandhi for sending these boys and launching a protest against me. Yesterday, Ambika Soni called me Romeo, even I can call her Juliet. Except my wife, I don't have any relation with any female. Apart from me, Advani, Chandrababu Naidu and Jayalalitha's phones are also being tapped. I had spoken to Amitabh Bachchan, which was a personal call and it should not be made public," said Amar Singh. Singh on Monday had moved to the Supreme Court seeking a judicial probe into the telephone tapping issue. Singh made the Union Home Secretary, Reliance Infocomm - the phone service provider and Delhi Police respondents in his petition. Singh also enlisted the support of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu who have separately alleged that their telephones were also tapped.

Legislation the only option: Law Minister on Phone Tapping

    New Delhi: Responding to the growing concern of the phone-tapping issue, Union Law Minister HR Bhardwaj today said that legislation was the only way out of this problem. Speaking to a private news channel, Bhardwaj termed the phone tapping issue as 'serious' and put the onus on the private telecom players adding that these telecom operators needed to be regulated. Voicing concern on the state of the affairs in these private operators, he dismissed Amar Singh's maneuvering as mere 'political noise' and categorically denied Centre's involvement in this controversy. Earlier in the day, TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) Chairman Pradeep Baijal, had called phone tapping as" a serious breach of conduct by the private players". Though, Section 11(e) and (f) of the TRAI Act gives regulator, the power to ensure compliance of terms and condition of license and recommend revocation of license for non compliance, the Chairman of TRAI said helplessness took his hand off from this issue. Baijal said that the role of TRAI in this matter only begins when security agencies approach them. The phone tapping issue which was first alleged by Amar Singh found takers in many political parties as BJP, Trinamool, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Bihar Chief Minister, Telugu Desam Party leader Chandra Babu Naiduis voiced their support and talked about their phones being tapped.

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