Congress, allies differ on snoopgate probe

The issue of snoopgate inquiry allegedly involving BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi ran into trouble yesterday with two UPA constituents — NCP and National Conference — opposing the move to appoint a judge in the “dying hours” of the government.
The Congress, however, declared that there was “no compromise” as the issue involved women of the country.
In a setback to the efforts to name a judge before May 16, 2014, the NCP and the National Conference questioned the move.
“When the results of the Lok Sabha elections are due in two weeks' time, where is the need for such an inquiry?” senior NCP leader and Union Minister Praful Patel told PTI.
The NCP stand came a day after law minister and Congress leader Kapil Sibal said that the government plans to name a judge for the inquiry before counting of votes for the general elections scheduled on May 16.
It was alleged that illegal surveillance was carried out on a young woman in Gujarat in 2009 at the behest of Modi.
Defending the Centre's move, Sibal had asked why it was being questioned when Modi government itself had set up a probe panel into the issue, showing that there was something to be investigated.
He had also said that the state government's probe panel, which was supposed to give its report within three months, has not held a single meeting till date.
BJP has accused Congress of laying down an "agenda of confrontation" and suggested that it will be "reciprocated" once the saffron party comes to power.