Swaraj demands probe into 'bugging' of FM's office

BJP on Wednesday termed as a "big joke" the Intelligence Bureau's "chewing gum theory" regarding the alleged bugging of finance minister Pranab Mukherjee's office and demanded a thorough probe into the matter.

BJP on Wednesday termed as a "big joke" the Intelligence Bureau's "chewing gum theory" regarding the alleged bugging of finance minister Pranab Mukherjee's office and demanded a thorough probe into the matter.

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"The allegation of spying at Pranab Mukherjee's office is a serious matter. The finance minister himself may try to
dismiss it...he may be under some compulsions. But the country wants to know," leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said.

"The IB's chewing gum theory is a big joke," she said. Swaraj said Mukherjee's complaint to the Prime Minister
in September regarding discovery of "planted adhesives" at 16 places in North Block -- including his own office, his adviser Omita Paul's room, his private secretary Manoj Pant's office and two conference rooms -- should be taken seriously.

"As far as the allegations are concerned, two questions can be raised... whether the spying was being carried out by
the government itself against its finance minister or some corporate house was doing it. In both the situations, it is a
serious issue," the BJP leader said.

"Even Pranab must be knowing the difference between adhesive and chewing gum. I demand the government should take
his letter seriously and conduct a thorough probe."

Swaraj said if the government was doing it, that reflects the "trust deficit" between the ministers and if some
corporate house was involved, then it is a serious security breach.

"That is why I called it the Watergate of India. There (in the US) it was done against the opposition. Then also the
American President had to resign. Here it is against their own FM...the country should know the truth," she said.