Home Ministry pries into snoop row

NCW rejects plea by woman's father to drop probe move

Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said here on Wednesday that security agencies have started collecting information on the reported snooping on a young woman, allegedly ordered by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s close aide Amit Shah. If required, a probe would be ordered, he said.

The National Commission for Women (NCW), which suo motu took cognisance of the controversy, went a step ahead and asked the Gujarat government to probe the matter, ignoring a request by the woman’s father to drop any inquiry move.

“We have written to the Gujarat chief secretary to specifically look into the violation of constitutional right to privacy, misuse of state/police machinery for flagrant violation of Indian Telegraph Act which protects the liberty of citizens,”  NCW member Nirmala Samant Prabhavalkar told reporters.

Acknowledging receipt of a letter from the woman’s father, she said the father should follow the procedures laid down for approaching the commission. “We want the father to confirm he has written the letter. However, we prefer the girl to come forward,” she told reporters. Prabhavalkar said even before they received the father’s letter, the commission had written to Shinde seeking a probe into the matter. Shinde, however, made it clear that the Home Ministry had not received any representation from anyone, including the NCW.

Shinde, when asked by repo­rters whether the Home Ministry was contemplating ordering any probe into the snooping episode involving the Gujarat Police, said: ”We are collecting information. After that we will look into the matter.” Meanwhile, the war of words between the BJP and the Congress continued. There were not many takers for the BJP’s contention that the Gujarat government had in no way violated the girl’s privacy.

Trying to corner the BJP, the Congress dismissed as unacceptable the request of the woman’s father to drop the probe. CPM leader Sitaram Yechury also backed the Congress stand.

Union Law and Justice Minister Kapil Sibal said the BJP will need to replace Modi as its prime ministerial candidate. “The BJP and Modi do not respect institutions. Mark my words, the BJP will be forced to change the prime ministerial candidate,” said Sibal.

Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley said providing security and protection “cannot be termed” snooping.  “When the girl and her father had sought security for whatever specified reasons, then I see no reason for a probe,” he added.

‘Scared Modi ordered surveillance’

Former Gujarat leader of opposition Shaktisinh Gohil has levelled serious allegations against Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, adding fuel to the ongoing snooping controversy. 

“I can confidently say that this snooping and surveillance followed Modi’s fear,” said the Congress leader. “Not long before the surveillance, Modi and the girl were on great terms but something went dangerously wrong and Modi was scared,” he added.