Security being used as informants: Congress

Personal security officers (PSOs) provided by the state government for escorting legislators are being used to spy on Opposition members, Congress the main party in the Opposition has alleged.

Ravindra Choubey, senior leader of the Congress party and the leader of the Opposition in the state legislative assembly made the claim in the House on Wednesday.

"Speaker Sir, I wish to draw the attention of the House towards a very serious and sensational fact. The PSOs provided to the Opposition legislators are being used to spy on the opponents," Ravindra said. "How the legislator can discharge his parliamentary duties if such practices go on," he added.

Choubey said the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Chhattisgarh was misusing state machinery against the Opposition members. "It is not a healthy sign in parliamentary system," he said, adding that the state government should make its stand clear on the issue and come out with a statement in the House.

"Opposition members have brought to my notice, the fact that PSOs were spying on them," Choubey said. The PSOs provided to escort them are being called to police headquarters and being asked about movement and activities of members in the Opposition, he added.

Choubey said that two senior police officials posted in the police headquarters were involved in the act and demanded that the government should look into the matter and name the officials who have been collecting intelligence inputs.