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India opposition wants 'bugs in minister office' probed | India opposition wants 'bugs in minister office' probed |
(40 minutes later) | |
India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded a probe into an alleged security breach in Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's office. | India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded a probe into an alleged security breach in Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's office. |
The Indian Express newspaper has reported that "planted adhesives" were found in Mr Mukherjee's office last year, pointing to an attempt to bug it. | The Indian Express newspaper has reported that "planted adhesives" were found in Mr Mukherjee's office last year, pointing to an attempt to bug it. |
The paper said investigators found the adhesive to be a "sort of chewing gum". | The paper said investigators found the adhesive to be a "sort of chewing gum". |
Mr Mukherjee said investigations had "found nothing" and urged the media not to waste time on "bogus things". | Mr Mukherjee said investigations had "found nothing" and urged the media not to waste time on "bogus things". |
"In respect of news item regarding bugging in my office, the Investigation Bureau looked into it and found there is nothing in it," Mr Mukherjee said on Tuesday. | "In respect of news item regarding bugging in my office, the Investigation Bureau looked into it and found there is nothing in it," Mr Mukherjee said on Tuesday. |
However, opposition BJP leader Sushma Swaraj described the reported bugging as "India's Watergate", and demanded to know whether the government was spying on its own minister or if a "corporate house" was doing so. | |
"In either case, it is a matter of grave concern. It is India's Watergate and needs to be thoroughly investigated," Ms Swaraj said. | "In either case, it is a matter of grave concern. It is India's Watergate and needs to be thoroughly investigated," Ms Swaraj said. |
In its report on Tuesday, the Indian Express said Mr Mukherjee had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last September asking for a "secret inquiry" into what he called a "serious breach of security" in his office. | |
The newspaper said that "planted adhesives" had been found at "16 key locations" in the office. | The newspaper said that "planted adhesives" had been found at "16 key locations" in the office. |
No microphone or recording device had been found, Mr Mukherjee reportedly wrote to the prime minister. | No microphone or recording device had been found, Mr Mukherjee reportedly wrote to the prime minister. |
The newspaper said that the Intelligence Bureau had investigated the complaint and said that the adhesives were a "sort of chewing gum". | |
Some of the gum was apparently marked by lines which could have indicated they had at some point held recording devices. | |
Mr Mukherjee, 76, is the most senior member of the Congress-led federal government and one of India's leading politicians. | Mr Mukherjee, 76, is the most senior member of the Congress-led federal government and one of India's leading politicians. |