Cong demands judicial probe into ‘Pegasus’ snooping row

PANJIM: The Opposition Congress on Tuesday demanded an independent judicial probe into the “Pegasus” snooping row.

Addressing a press conference, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Girish Chodankar said that the shocking and sensational news reports disclosing illegal and unconstitutional hacking of cell phones of Constitutional functionaries, Union Ministers, present and former heads of country’s security forces, senior Opposition leaders, journalists, lawyers and activists reflect treasonous and inexcusable dismantling of national security by the BJP government. 

“‘Rule of law’, ‘Fundamental Right to Privacy’ and ‘Constitutional Duties’ have been murdered in broad daylight by the Modi government,” he charged.

Alleging that the Modi government is the deployer and executor of this illegal and unconstitutional snooping and spying racket through Israeli surveillance software “Pegasus”, Chodankar demanded that the Prime Minister must answer to the nation whether spying on India’s security forces, Judiciary, Cabinet Ministers, Opposition leaders, journalists and other activists through a foreign entity’s, spyware not “Treason” and inexcusable breach of national security? 

Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat said that the unpardonable sin is that the snooping and hacking of cell phones through “Pegasus” has given illegal access to the entire conversations, passwords, contact lists, text messages and live voice calls of India’s security apparatus, Union Ministers, Opposition leaders, para-military chiefs, Supreme Court judges and others. This is clearly “Treason” and total abdication of “National Security” by the Modi government, more so when the foreign company could possibly have access to this data. 

Demanding a full investigation through independent judicial probe into the “Pegasus” snooping now and with inquiry on the role of the Prime Minister, Home Minister and others involved in the matter, Kamat said that Supreme Court must take suo motu cognisance of this issue which is causing serious threat to nation’s security and privacy of citizens.

Ramakant Khalap also appealed to the Apex Court to take suo motu cognisance of the sordid affairs and order an inquiry.