Congress accuses BJP of spying on its meeting through cops

Mumbai: Maharashtra unit of Congress today accused the ruling BJP of posting plainclothes policemen to spy on a party meeting in Pune.

"Modi model', which BJP has been practising in Gujarat, is being replicated here....When a meeting of Congress's district level committee was being held in Pune on June 19, plainclothes policemen were loitering there. When asked they said they were there on the orders of seniors," said Sachin Sawant, state Congress spokesperson, here.

"Policemen won't be involved in such an act unless they have the backing of those in power. We are now wondering if our phones are also being tapped by the government," he said, demanding a clarification from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

BJP leader Ashish Shelar dismissed the allegation saying that spying was not BJP's "culture", while Congress had indulged in anti-democratic actions many times since Independence, such as during the Emergency. The opposition party should provide evidence before making such allegations, he added.