New Delhi: Congress today (Sep 30, 2004) denied allegations that Government maintained "surveillance" on Opposition leaders and described as "baseless" reports in this context.

"There is no vendetta, no witch-hunt or surveillance on Opposition leaders. This is absolutely wrong and baseless and we deny it. This is not the policy of the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government", party spokesman Anand Sharma told reporters.

He was responding to questions at his daily press briefing whether setting up of a Group of Ministers (GoM) to look into various scandals during the previous BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)-led NDA (National Democratic Alliance) Government was tantamount to political vendetta and on news reports about surveillance against several BJP, Samajwadi Party and Left leaders.

Accusing the BJP of spreading "propaganda" that the Government was vindictive against its leaders, he said, "Their protest is undemocratic. They have now directly threatened to disrupt Parliament. We strongly condemn this move".

He said if the BJP was so satisfied that everything was all right during their regime, "then they should welcome the Government's move to enquire into corruption during the NDA rule."