Several members in the Rajya Sabha today expressed concern over the issue of phone tapping terming it as a blatant breach of privileges. As soon as the House met for the day, Naresh Agarwal of the Samajwadi Party raised the issue and wanted a ruling from the Chair. Anand Sharma of the Congress said the incidents of phone tapping have become rampant and demanded an independent inquiry headed by a Supreme Court judge.
Sitaram Yechury of the CPIM suggested enlarging the scope to include the entire issue of phone tapping. Responding to this, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said let the Privileges Committee of the House review the matter. Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said that he will examine the procedure for enlarging the scope of the issue and come back with his ruling.
