New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi has passed a controversial order providing hi-tech spying equipment to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
The plan to buy such equipment is a part of government's Rs 36 crore budget for the ACB. The government, which argued that the aim is to empower the ACB, has allocated Rs 3.2 crore to buy such snooping devices.
These high-end snooping devices have control to tap phones of any official in the city including the Prime Minister. These devices can also be used to make videos and record anyone's phone conversation.
The move by Kejriwal government, which is still at loggerheads with the Centre and opposition parties on several issues, is seen as an attempt to settle scores with opponents.
This revelation was made by a Cabinet note of Delhi government, accessed by India TV. It stated that the Kejriwal Cabinet has decided to buy such high-end snooping devices for monitoring and surveillance purposes with an aim to check corruption.
Out of Rs 36 crore, Rs 3.2 crore will be spent on these equipment whereas rest of the amount will be spent on vehicles, mobile phones, computers and salaries for additional staff.
The BJP reacted promptly to this saying these equipment could be used to malign the opponents.
Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly, Vijendra Gupta, said that Kejriwal government has taken this controversial step to settle political scores.
"Kejriwal government has allocated Rs 3.2 crore for the purchase of snooping devices. It has also increased the ACB budget... Additional Rs 20 lakh has been allocated to secret services," he said.
Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay said that the party will launch street protests against the move. "This is ultimate proof of his dictatorial style of working," he said.
The Kejriwal government and the Centre are at odds from last few days over ACB's power. The ACB is the key to Kejriwal's politics. The AAP stormed to power on the plank of eradication corruption.
In the last two months, the ACB registered 25 corruption cases.
