Why are we tapping phones in a free country, asks Farooq Abdullah

Abdullah spoke at a function in New Delhi after releasing Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Vaiko's book on United States President Barack Obama, titled Yes: We Can - The history of emancipation of blacks.

Abdullah also made it clear that he didn't buy the argument of the government that sporadic tapping was necessary to track money launderers. "Hawala operators are all over the country. I don't think you have caught them by tapping," he said, echoing Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar's views over the tapes leak.

On Tuesday, Pawar said the government should take note of industrialist Ratan Tata's statement that India risked turning into a 'banana republic' by leaks of tapes.

Both the leaders had earlier raised concern over the row at a meeting of United Progressive Alliance allies.

The book release function was also attended by National Democratic Alliance leaders Yashwant Sinha and Punjab's deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala. Vaiko's book release function was timed to give an image makeover for the MDMK leader who is known outside Tamil Nadu only for espousing the cause of Sri Lankan Tamils.

"If you think of Vaiko, it is now but natural to attach Sri Lankan Tamils to his name," said Sinha.

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief Jayalalithaa, sent a message praising Vaiko's bid to speak for the downtrodden.

Vaiko wrote the book in Tamil before Obama became US president and had even presented him a copy in Chicago in July 2008.