Political parties join social activists to protest snoopgate

The snooping scandal had come to fore in Gujarat in which suspended IAS officer Pradeep Sharma has accused Modi of having an intimate relationship with a young woman, who was being snooped by Gujarat Police.

Representatives from four political parties, including Congress, today joined social activists in protesting the snoopgate allegedly involving Narendra Modi and submitted a petition to President Pranab Mukherjee seeking a judicial inquiry into the controversy.

Alleging "blatant violation of Constitutional oath and negation of Right to Privacy," Shabnam Hashmi from Anhad accused Modi's close aide Amit Shah of committing offences under the Indian Telegraph Act and Indian Penal Code "under directions" from Gujarat Chief Minister in running an "illegal snooping racket" against a young woman, her friends and acquaintances "transgressing" constitutional and legal power.

She said that 45 Members from 30 social organisations and representatives of four political parties met the President and submitted a memorandum in which they demanded that the kind of surveillance that was done in Gujarat using full state machinery, local IB and ATS is a misuse of the entire state apparatus and a judicial inquiry should be held."

Mahila Congress President Shobha Oza said the President personally received the petition and she is "hopeful that action will be taken".

Dismissing a contention that political parties joining the social activists at this juncture give an impression of it being some sort of anti-BJP morcha, CPI leader Annie Raja said that it's an issue which political parties cutting across party lines should take up.

"Some sort of criticism will be there, you take up any issue. But for us it is a very important issue. If it is today a girl in Gujarat, tomorrow it may be me or somebody else in any other part of the country.

"These are all political issues. It's not somebody's personal matter. It is very important for the democracy of our country and safeguarding our Constitution. Political parties cutting across party line should take it up," she said.

A snooping scandal had come to fore in Gujarat in which suspended IAS officer Pradeep Sharma has accused Modi of having an intimate relationship with a young woman, who was being snooped by Gujarat Police.