BJP condemns Shinde's decision to probe snooping row

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday criticised Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on his decision to probe the snooping allegations against its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and the Gujarat government.

Attacking the Congress, senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari said the Congress is using Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to target the opposition and wants to scare the people through it.

"I want to ask him (Shinde), does he have any right to probe this? There are some powers for the Centre and some for the states. So which of these is he exercising now? It is purely vindictive it has only one motive. That is to target the members of the opposition party, whether it is Mayawati, Mulayam or it is Shibu Soren," he said.

Meanwhile BJP leader Capt. Abhimanyu, echoing similar sentiments, said these days politicking has become his (Shinde) top priority.

"Home Minister should do everything under the Constitution, law of India to protect the interests of the citizens of this country and in fact, should be taking the terror threat, the anti-national elements more seriously and we expect him to discharge his duties towards the safety and security of the country in a more responsible manner, rather than politicking," he added.

Earlier on Sunday, Shinde had said a probe would be conducted. He also said that the investigating agencies have been authorized to take action against snooping.

News portals Cobrapost and Gulail had aired an alleged taped conversation between former State Home Minister of Gujarat Amit Shah, and police officer G.L. Singhal.

In the alleged taped conversation, Shah was instructing Singhal to closely monitor the movements of the woman referred to in the report as "Madhuri", not her real name.

The Gujarat government headed by Narendra Modi, has set up a two-member panel of former judge Sugunaben Bhatt and retired bureaucrat K. C. Kapoor to probe charges.