Tuesday, January 3 2006 19:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Government today (Jan 3, 2006) dismissed as 'baseless' Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav's allegation that phones of Samajwadi Party leaders were being tapped at the behest of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and said it was borne out of 'personal frustration'.

"It is very unfortunate that a senior leader like Yadav should make such comments against the Congress and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). We have not done it in the past and also not now," Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi told reporters here.

"Any design to do such things is beyond our thinking. This kind of baseless allegation project personal frustrations, which should always be avoided," he added.

The reaction came hours after Yadav addressed a press conference here and dubbed as a 'complete cover up' the Center's investigations into the phone tapping case and stuck to his charge that Gandhi was behind the operation.

The charge by Yadav has come in the backdrop of worsening of relations between the Samajwadi Party and the Congress. While SP is an outside supporter of the Congress-led coalition at the Centre, the Congress is reciprocating in Uttar Pradesh.