Patna, Nov. 20: Chief minister Nitish Kumar today took a swipe at the BJP over allegations of phone tapping.

At the State-Level Bankers’ Committee meeting, he indirectly referred to the Gujarat chief minister getting embroiled in the snooping scandal, triggering a fresh spat with the BJP. The chief minister also took a dig at his former deputy, Sushil Kumar Modi, who a few days ago in Hajipur claimed that Nitish had commissioned a “sting operation”.

The controversy was whipped up by a “sting operation” carried out by a local television channel on Sushil Modi where he was seen speaking to his aides before a press conference. While Modi stood by his remarks, he also accused the chief minister of “commissioning the sting”.

Today, he said: “A person who can commission a sting operation can also order the phones of BJP leaders to be tapped.” He also suggested the BJP leaders to remain alert.

Nitish at the bankers’ meeting, however, declared that his government did not have the expertise or the technology to tap phones. In a reference to the snooping scandal, he said: “That expertise is with the BJP.”

The JD(U) also demanded Narendra Modi’s resignation for the scandal and sharpened its attack on the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate. Food and consumer protection minister Shyam Rajak even dubbed Modi as the patron of rioters as he plans to felicitate two BJP MLAs, arrested in connection with the Muzaffarnagar riots, in Agra.

The BJP leaders hit back at Nitish’s phone tapping statement though. Leaders went ahead to say that Nitish was not speaking the truth, as the government did have the capability to tap phone conversations. “Bihar police have both the equipment and the capability to tap phones. It takes just an officer-in-charge of a police station to put a phone number under surveillance. An officer of deputy superintendent of police rank can also order a phone to be tapped,” said a senior BJP leader, pointing out that the police have been tapping phone conversations of criminals for ages.

Several leaders recalled that the state police had put the phones of two IPS officers under surveillance and elaborately quoted their phone conversation while justifying their suspension last year. Ironically, while Nitish Kumar was in the NDA, he had complained that his phone was being tapped by central intelligence agencies.

Riot jibe at NaMo

The JD(U) today assailed its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for his decision to honour party legislators accused in the Muzaffarnagar communal riots, reports PTI.

The Dal also alleged he was trying to win elections by patronising communal clashes. “The act (honouring two Uttar Pradesh MLAs Sangeet Som and Suresh Rana at Agra rally tomorrow) proves his love for communal riots,” JD(U) general secretary and state minister Shyam Rajak said .

“It’s a clear message for party workers to trigger communal riots and get honoured by Modi,” Rajak added.