Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Jan 29: Congress has slammed the government over a New York Times article alleging that the Indian government purchased the Pegasus spyware in 2017 as part of a contract with Israel, calling illegal snooping using the spyware “treason.”
The Israeli spyware Pegasus and a missile system were the “centrepieces” of an approximately $2 billion transaction of advanced military and intelligence technology between India and Israel in 2017, according to a report in The New York Times.
Slamming the Centre, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi wrote on Twitter, ” Modi Govt bought Pegasus to spy on our primary democratic institutions, politicians and public. Govt functionaries, opposition leaders, armed forces, judiciary all were targeted by these phone tappings. This is treason. Modi Govt has committed treason.”
Modi Govt bought Pegasus to spy on our primary democratic institutions, politicians and public. Govt functionaries, opposition leaders, armed forces, judiciary all were targeted by these phone tappings. This is treason.
Modi Govt has committed treason.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 29, 2022
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge wrote, “Why did Modi Govt act like the enemies of India and use a warfare weapon against Indian citizens?”
“Illegal snooping using Pegasus amounts to treason. No one is above the law and we will ensure that justice is served,” he said.
Why did Modi Govt act like the enemies of India and use a warfare weapon against Indian citizens?
Illegal snooping using Pegasus amounts to treason. No one is above the law and we will ensure that justice is served.https://t.co/qTIqg3yNdq
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) January 29, 2022
The government was contacted by PTI for a response to the NYT report, but there was no immediate response.
Congress spokesperson Shama Mohammed, citing the media story, said it is “irrefutable proof” that the BJP government employed military-grade malware to eavesdrop on Indian citizens, including former Congress President Rahul Gandhi.
She urged that there should be accountability on the matter.
Shaktisinh Gohil, a Rajya Sabha MP and a prominent Congress leader, claimed that the report’s “revelations” imply that the administration “misled” the Supreme Court and Parliament on the topic.
“Why @narendramodi is silent? It is @PMOIndia’s duty to clarify. New York Times revelations today that It did indeed subscribe by payment from tax payers money of ? 300 crores to spyware Pegasus sold by Israeli NSO company,” he tweeted.
“This implies our Govt misled Supreme Court & Parliament,” Gohil said.
Youth Congress chief Srinivas BV also cited the media report and tweeted, “Hence Proved! Chowkidar Hi Jasoos Hai..”
Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said in a tweet that the malware was used to snoop on opposition and journalists rather than for defence.
“If there is BJP, it is possible. They have made the country into a Bigg Boss show,” she said in a tweet in Hindi.
BJP MP Subramanian Swamy said, “Modi government must rebut New York Times revelations today that It did indeed subscribe by payment from tax payers money of ? 300 crores to spyware Pegasus sold by Israeli NSO company. This implies prima facie our Govt misled Supreme Court and Parliament. Watergate?”
Last year, an international investigative consortium reported that the NSO Group’s phone hacking software had targeted a number of persons, including Indian ministers, legislators, activists, businesses, and journalists.
The Supreme Court established a three-member independent expert team to investigate Pegasus’ suspected usage in India for targeted monitoring.
The administration had vehemently disputed all of the claims levelled against it in the case.
