Oppn demands probe by parliamentary panel

Congress workers try to cross police barricades during a protest the alleged surveillance by the Centre, in New Delhi, on Tuesday. PIC/AFP

The CPI(M) and the Congress have demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the alleged use of Israeli spyware Pegasus for "snooping into phones of Opposition leaders, journalists, activists and numerous others". Several opposition parties also stalled proceedings of both houses of Parliament while raising the issue.

Congress spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil said the government should clearly tell whether it has purchased the Pegasus spyware and hold a joint parliamentary probe.

"The Modi government is in good relations with the government of Israel," the CPI(M) said. The government has said "any sort of illegal surveillance" by unauthorised persons is not possible in India.

Meanwhile, the Rajasthan Congress demanded the sacking of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, with party chief Govind Singh Dotasra saying a probe should also be held against PM Narendra Modi. Delhi Congress leaders and workers staged a protest near BJP headquarters, demanding a judicial inquiry.

BSP president Mayawati on Tuesday termed the Pegasus snooping incident as a "very serious matter" and demanded an impartial inquiry into it for fixing responsibility. "The clarifications, refutations and arguments of the Centre in this connection have failed to satisfy the people," she tweeted.

"If the BJP is getting this [snooping] done, then this is punishable and if the BJP government is saying that it does not have the information about this, then it is its failure on national security," tweeted Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever