Snoopgate: Cong refuses to compromise on probe panel

New Delhi: Unfazed by opposition from allies NCP and National Conference, Congress today said there is “no compromise” on going ahead with a probe in the ‘snoopgate’ issue allegedly involving Narendra Modi. It asked the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate, his close aide Amit Shah and Arun Jaitley to “come clean” on the illegal surveillance of a young woman by raising ten questions. “Whether this entire illegal surveillance and spying operation in disregard of constitution and law not raise ethical and moral issues as to the capability, mannerism and style of Narendra Modi?” the Congress asked. [caption id=“attachment_1503199” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Image used for representational purposes. AFP.[/caption] “Can such a person be trusted to run any publicity responsibility and protect the rights and privacy of citizens including the entire women of India comprising of nearly 50 percent of its population?” it added. Seeking answers from the opposition party leaders, the party also termed as “shocking” the entire BJP leadership’s continuous and steadfast refusal to answer the reason, purpose and motive for spying on a young architect girl at the instance of Modi by “misusing the entire state machinery”. Observing that Right to Privacy is part of fundamental rights of ‘Right to Life’ under Article 21 of the Constitution, the Congress asked whether Modi and Shah have right to conduct surveillance of a young girl as also tapping her phones, phones of her friends and acquaintances with complete impunity in a totally illegal fashion. “Why were extensive spying operations launched on an ‘oral undated request’ by father of an adult girl, as is being alleged in hindsight as a mode of defence? Which Chief Minister puts a young girl under such extensive surveillance on an oral undated request from her parents or relation?,” the party asked. The Congress wanted to know in how many cases before and after this incident has Modi put young girls under surveillance on the request of their parents or relation. “Why were other friends and acquaintances meeting up with the young girl being put under surveillance?,” Mahila Congress leaders Priyanka Chaturvedi and Sobha Oza asked. They said that there was “no compromise” as the issue involved the women of the country. PTI