Senior Congress leader of Kerala Dr Shashi Tharoor on Monday demanded a Supreme Court judge-monitored probe into the Pegasus snooping allegations and point4ed out that opposition parties would continue to disrupt Parliament’s proceedings until the government agrees to a debate on it. He alleged that it appears that the government used public money for snooping for its “selfish political interests”.
Last week, a media consortium reported that over 300 verified mobile phone numbers, including those of two ministers, over 40 journalists, three Opposition leaders besides scores of businesspersons and activists in India, could have been targeted for snooping through the Pegasus spyware of the Israeli firm NSO Group, which only sells the hacking software to “vetted” governments and government agencies. The government has been denying all Opposition allegations in the matter.
Speaking to media people in the Parliament complex after the Lok Sabha was adjourned, Dr. Tharoor said, “We want the government to agree to a debate on the issue, but it is not ready. What we are saying is that if the government do not agree to this and answers our questions, then why we should allow you to transact your business.” He said other issues like price rise and contentious farm laws are also important for the opposition but the Pegasus row is a priority. Dr. Tharoor also made light of IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s statement on the issue in both Houses, saying he just shared his “Mann Ki Baat” without listening to the opposition.
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