Cong renews demand for probe by SC judge in Scorpene data leak

New Delhi, Aug 29 (PTI) Congress today renewed it demandfor a probe by a Supreme Court judge into the data leak of theScorpene submarine project, saying that a cross-servicesecurity audit could only help unravel the truth. "Why is the Modi Government not willing to accept across-service security audit. This incident can be a triggerfor a holistic audit. Why is the Prime Minister shying awayfrom a probe by a Supreme Court judge?" party spokesman ManishTewari told reporters here. He said that India might be facing a situation where thefirst submarine in the Scorpene fleet undergoing sea trials,stood compromised. "We would like to know from the government as to why arethey in a complete state of denial about the largerimplications of this leak regarding India’s nationalsecurity," he said. Noting that the "DNA" of any submarine is its opacity, hesaid every boat has a specific signature. "Experts have nowsaid if details about that signature are in the public domain,then the security and safety of that submarine standscompromised," he said. Tewari also sought to know whether the government hasinitiated some steps, under the terms of contract with theFrench maunfacturer DCNS, to mitigate the situation. "Ever since the story broke, has the Modi govt asked DCNSthat they had a contractual obligation to maintain secrecy?"he said. PTI SPGSC