Snoopgate: Digvijay Singh hails setting up of inquiry commission

Hailing the Union Cabinet's decision to set up a Commission of Inquiry into the Gujarat snoopgate case, Congress leader Digvijay Singh today expressed confidence that the panel will submit its report soon.

He was of the view that this should have happened much earlier and rejected the Narendra Modi government's two-member probe panel established to investigate the matter, likening it to an "accused appointing the investigation agency".

"I congratulate the central government. It should have happened much earlier because there is open violation of Indian Telegraph Act and Information Technology Act in this. Responsibility should be fixed in this matter.

"And I am confident that this commission will soon submit its report," Singh told reporters soon after the Union Cabinet gave its nod to set up a Commission of Inquiry into the "snooping" on a woman in Gujarat allegedly at the behest of the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate.

Replying to questions as to why it was needed when the state government has already set up a two-member inquiry commission, Singh said, "It is like the accused appointing the investigation agency."

The Centre's decision overrules the contention of the Gujarat government that it was a state matter and it had already appointed a commission for probing the matter.

The Union Cabinet's decision came against the backdrop of fresh claims that the alleged snooping was conducted beyond the state of Gujarat.