Friday, December 30 2005 14:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Lucknow: In an escalation of the battle between Samajwadi Party and Congress, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav today (Dec 30, 2005) accused Sonia Gandhi of ordering tapping of telephones of senior SP leaders as part of attempts to topple his government.

"The phones of senior party leaders including National General Secretary Amar Singh are being tapped at the behest of 10, Janpath (Gandhi's residence) ", he told a news conference here.

The Chief Minister's offensive comes in the midst of a prolonged verbal war between the two parties, with Congress holding a rally calling for an immediate 'change' in Uttar Pradesh and asking Sonia and Rahul Gandhi to prepare for it.

While absolving Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Defence Minister, Pranab Mukherji of any role in the phone tapping, he said the 'conspiracy' has been hatched at 10, Janpath to tape the conversations among our senior leaders and subsequently release them to the media in January.

Yadav alleged that Amar Singh's phone has been linked to the phone of Joint Commissioner (Crime), North Zone, Delhi, and the conversation among senior leaders was being taped regularly.

He alleged that orders to this effect had been given by the Principal Secretary, Home, and this has also been confirmed by Police Commissioner of Delhi, K K Paul.

The Chief Minister said that he had already contacted the Prime Minister, Home Minister and Defence Minister over this issue. Patil had informed him that there was forged letter in this connection and assured him that that the matter would be investigated.