New Delhi: The leader of Congress P Chidambaram on Monday took friction of the Minister of Augher Vaishnaw on his statement at Lok Sabha at the alleged illegal supervision using Pegasus Software and said it was unfortunate that the minister had started his innings on “wrong legs”.
In a series of tweets, Chidambaram said the Minister had to answer if the government acquired Pegasus / Spyware software.
“The NSO Group, the owner of Pegasus, said that ‘NSO sells his technology solely to law enforcement and intelligence agencies from a valuable government.’ It is unfortunate that the Minister Vaishnaw has started his innings at the wrong foot, “he tweeted.
“Minister must answer a simple question: Does the government acquire Pegasus / Spyware software?” He added.
Vaishnaw, in Suo Motu’s statement at Lok Sabha, firmly rejected the allegations of reconnaissance of politicians, journalists and others using Pegasus software, and confirmed that illegal supervision was not possible with examinations and balances in the state law.
He said media reports about alleged Snooping published the day before the start of the rainy season session “could not be a coincidence” and emphasized that there was no “no substance” behind sensationalism.
“The press report from July 18, 2021 also seems to be an effort to defame Indian democracy and established institutions,” Vaishnaw said in his first statement in parliament as minister.
The minister, however, did not determine whether the Indian government used Pegasus Spyware developed by the Israeli company NSO.
Chidambaram said, “In a statement the Minister has been removed to quote the important part of the Pegasus statement.
The services available to anyone, anywhere, and anytime ‘refer to the HLR search service, not to Pegasus.” The former Union Minister refers to the statement given by Israeli companies to a group of media organizations that solve stories throughout the world.
Congress has demanded a thorough independent investigation into the problem and direct dismissal of the Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah.