Bengaluru, 29 Jan

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Thursday denied the Opposition BJP's allegation that the State government was tapping Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot's phone calls.

Speaking to reporters here he insisted that there was noneed to phone tapping.

Replying to a question on the BJP's allegation made in the state Assembly that the Congress government was tapping the Governor's phone, Parameshwara said the saffron party leaders' charge appeared as if Congress is doing what the BJP had done in the past.

"We neither tapped anyone's phone nor will we do it in the future. Also, there is no need for it," he said.

He added that the BJP makes hundreds of allegations everyday from dawn to dusk, which do not deserve reply.

During a discussion on the Governor winding up his recent address to the legislature in just three lines, Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil said it seems as if Gehlot is getting instructions from the Centre over phone.

Latching on, the BJP said the Minister's statement indicated that the Governor's phones were tapped.

On BJP's allegation that a police officer in Chikmagaluru district issued notice citing a law, which has not yet come into effect, Parameshwara said action has been taken against the officer.

"We are already training police officers on the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). We have taken action against the police inspector for such a notice. Whenever something goes wrong we initiate action. It is not that we take action base on BJP's charges," he said.

 Meanwhile, Energy Minister KJ George told the Legislative Assembly that reports about his resignation are far from truth. George, considered close to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, asserted that he has complete faith in the CM and support for him.

The issue was raised in the Assembly by BJP MLA Sunil Kumar. The Karkala MLA cited media reports which claimed that the Chief Minister’sOffice and MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah had interfered in George’s affairs and in Chikkamagaluru district, where he is the Minister in-charge, forcing the Energy Minister out.

Responding, George said, "The MLA has said that he has seen TV reports. Have I said anything to TV channels? There is no question of me resigning. I have full faith in our CM. Yesterday there was a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting (which I attended). What can I do if I'm asked something I don't know (resignation)?"

Kumar said, "We want you as the Minister. I'm onlymentioning what I saw on TV."