On a day when Chief Minister Siddharamaiah charged the Centre with targeting the Congress Ministers and leaders in Karnataka by misusing the Income-Tax Department, Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar has claimed that his phone was being tapped.

Speaking to press persons here on Saturday, Shivakumar claimed he strongly suspected his phone was under surveillance as he experienced frequent cuts when he was conversing over the phone.

Alleging that the Income Tax (IT) Department was targeting Congress Ministers and MLAs and the raids on Congress leaders had become very common, he said although it was routine for the IT Department to conduct raids, there should be no political motives behind them.

Suspecting that his phone was being tapped, Shivakumar said he received a notice from the IT  Department after the raid on MLC Govindaraj’s house and he has answered it.

Stating that phone tapping is a routine job of IT and Police Departments and it is done after obtaining permission, Shivakumar maintained that phone tapping is not an issue as long as it relates to economic offences and safety of the country.

However, phone tapping should not be converted into a political issue, he added.