Phone Tapping Row: Sharad Yadav Expresses Shock, Demands Action

Former Janata Dal-United (JD-U) chief and Rajya Sabha lawmaker Sharad Yadav on Friday expressed "shock" at reports claiming that a corporate group had tapped phones of ministers and industrialists and sought a thorough probe and clarification from the government.

"It is a shocking news...It is a serious crime to tap telephones without the government's permission. It also shows how government agencies are weak in performing their duties. Intelligence agencies should have known this before it was brought out in public by the media. It also very serious," he said in a statement.

"Such kind of misdeeds by private service provider can prove to be very dangerous for safety and security of the country. This should be thoroughly investigated and guilty be punished strictly as per the law. This country is not meant to run by the capitalists," Mr Yadav said.

The government should clarify its stand immediately, he said, adding that if it does not clarify then he will raise this issue "forcefully" in Parliament.