Rajya Sabha adjourned over PR firm owner's phone tapping

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned on Wednesday over the alleged phone tapping of a public relations firm owner on the allocation of 2G telecom spectrum.

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned on Wednesday over the alleged phone tapping of a public relations firm owner on the allocation of 2G telecom spectrum.

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The trouble erupted as soon as the upper house assembled with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and AIADMK members raising the issue. The house adjourned till 12 noon.

In a brief statement, leader of the opposition Arun Jaitley (BJP) said: "Early this week, there was a report about phone tapping. The home minister made a statement that those were not authorised. Today there is a news report, which seems to be an authorised case of phone tapping.

"The question is whether leaders of industries are involved in the allocation of portfolios by the prime minister. The allocation of 2G spectrum seems to be linked to this."

As the protest continued, chairman Hamid Ansari said discussions could be organised but opposition members refused to relent. Failing to restore order, Ansari adjourned the house till 12 noon.

He also threatened to shift the question hour if disturbances continued and said he would rule on this later in the day.

According to a news report published in The Pioneer, government agencies have tapped the phone of a PR firm owner and her conversation with telecom minister A Raja.