Farmers Movement Archive

'Modi ji sent a weapon in your phone': Rahul Gandhi attacks govt on Pegasus

The voices of Opposition parties echoed louder on Day 7 of Parliament's ongoing monsoon session where key parties like Congress, Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party among several others put up a united front against the government on Pegasus snooping allegations. Led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the Opposition pressed its demand for a discussion on the purchase of the spying software by the government to tap on privacy of many Indian ministers, politicians, activists, businessmen and journalists. The leaders representing India's democratic institutions were potentially targeted by Israeli company NSO Group’s phone hacking software, Pegasus.Demanding an answer from the government, Gandhi asked, "We want to ask just one question. Has the Government of India bought Pegasus? Yes or No. Did the government use Pegasus weapon against its own people?""We have been told clearly by the government that no discussion will take place on Pegasus in the House," he said, addressing the media outside Parliament.So far, the government has neither confirmed nor denied whether it has purchased the spyware but has rejected reports of snooping.Explaining the controversy and directing a question to people, Gandhi asked why should the issue not be discussed in the Parliament."I want to know from the youth of the country - Narendra Modi Ji has sent a weapon in your phone. This weapon (Pegasus) has been used against me, Supreme Court, many leaders, people in the press and activists. So why it should not be discussed in the House?" Gandhi asked.Accusing the government of using software meant for terrorism activities, Gandhi said, "This weapon (Pegasus) has been used against India. It should be used against terrorists and anti-nationals."Even as Parliament session enters the second week, both the houses have seen repeated and consecutive adjournments on the premise of protests by the Opposition parties demanding discussion over Pegasus in the Parliament. "It is being said about us that we're disturbing Parliament proceedings. We are not disturbing the House. We just want to fulfil our duties," Gandhi said."We want to know from Narendra Modi and Amit Shah - why you used this weapon (Pegasus spyware) against India's democratic institutions," he asked, terming the controversy a matter related to nationalism and treason."This weapon has been used against democracy. For me, it's not a matter of privacy. I see it as an anti-national act. Narendra Modi and Amit Shah Ji have attacked soul of India's democracy," Gandhi alleged.The entire Opposition is and will remain united on the issues of national security and farm laws, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, standing alongside Gandhi, said outside Parliament.Opposition protest intensified post noon and Congress members were seen throwing papers at the Chair and Treasury benches while protesting Pegasus and other issues, following which the House was adjourned.To be sure, as the methodology of the investigation into the alleged snooping explains, the presence of a number on the database of the alleged targeted numbers for snooping does not indicate an individual’s phone was hacked — just that it was of interest. The leaked database was first obtained by France-based non-profit Forbidden Stories, which shared the information with the reporting partners. The devices associated with 67 of the numbers were analysed by Amnesty International and of these, 37 had signs of being hacked by Pegasus. Of the 37, 10 were in India.

Hindustan Times

28-07-2021

India