Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has alleged that the current YSR Congress Party government in the state, helmed by Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy, is tapping the phones of opposition parties, advocates, journalists, and social activists. Naidu has demanded that the central government orders an inquiry into the matter to check the 'illegal acts' of phone-tapping in Andhra Pradesh.
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the former Andhra Pradesh chief minister said that Andhra Pradesh faces a "grave threat" in the form of tapping phones of political leaders and others in the state. Naidu mentioned that ever since the YSRCP came to power, there has been a "systematic and concerted attack on the democratic institutions" in the state.
"One such modus operandi that the ruling party has chosen is by illegally and unlawfully tapping the phones of leaders of opposition parties, advocates, media persons, and social activists. Telephone tapping as per the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 Section 5(2) and the Information Technology Act, 2000 [Section 69 can be done only in the case of threat to national security or in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, threat to friendly relations with foreign countries. It appears the YSRCP-led Government has not followed any due procedure of law in tapping the phones of people from various walks of life," the letter from N Chandrababu Naidu mentioned.
YSRCP govt in Andhra Pradesh is tapping phones of opposition parties, advocates, journalists, & social activists. It would be appropriate to order enquiry by Center to check illegal acts of phone tapping in the state: TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu in a letter to PM Modi pic.twitter.com/YB5E40MV5R
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2020
The TDP chief also wrote that the act of phone-tapping "directly stands against Articles 19 and 21 of fundamental rights guaranteed in the constitution, wherein right to privacy is violated."
"It appears that the YSRCP-led Government has been tapping phones illegally for its own political gains," he added.
The former Andhra Chief Minister further wrote that with "such sophisticated technology in the hands of miscreants", would not only violate the right to privacy "but would also lead to compromise of people in high places by bringing them under blackmail threats"."
Such illegal and unlawful practices by governments or private persons if unrestrained would lead to the destruction of institutions that were built painstakingly over a period of time. In the long run, such nefarious activities would result in the breakdown of democratic values and freedom of speech leading to Jungle Raj," wrote Naidu.
He urged the Prime Minister to order an inquiry into the massive phone tapping by the YSRCP government.
"We appeal to you to initiate immediate and stern action in order to check any further unlawful activities by the ruling party and private institutions in Andhra Pradesh. Therefore, it would be appropriate to order an inquiry by a competent body of the Government of India in order to check the illegal acts of phone tapping in Andhra Pradesh," he added.