Andhra to raise phone-tapping issue with Centre

The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday decided to complain to the Centre against Telangana over the alleged phone-tapping of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and others, TDP sources said.

With an audio tape of Naidu's purported telephonic conversation with Telangana legislative assembly's nominated member Elvis Stephenson made public, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) accused the Telangana government of phone-tapping.

Taking serious note of an audio tape aired by some television channels on Sunday night, Naidu called an emergency meeting of the Andhra Pradesh cabinet on Tuesday.

The cabinet is likely to pass a resolution condemning phone-tapping and alleged attempts by Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) to "defame" Naidu and the state government. The resolution will be sent to the central government with a demand for a comprehensive probe into phone-tapping.

The TDP government also plans to complain to the central government against the attitude of the police in Hyderabad, which is the common capital of the two states.

TDP, a partner in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre, will urge it to ensure implementation of all sections of the Andhra Pradesh Bifurcation Act, especially those relating to law and order in Hyderabad.

The TDP government alleged that TRS is indulging in "illegal activities" to tarnish the image of Naidu. It claimed that TRS hatched a conspiracy to target Naidu and damage TDP in Telangana.

Information and Public Relations Minister Palle Raghunath Reddy accused the Telangana government of violating the Central Telegraphic Act by tapping the phones of Naidu and other leaders.

Senior TDP leader Kala Venkat Rao demanded a national debate on phone-tapping. He said the TRS government was violating the constitution.

Another TDP leader D. Narendra said the issue had raised concerns about Naidu's security in Hyderabad.