Shashi Tharoor Calls for Supreme Court Justice Watched Inquiry into Pegasus Spying Allegations

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Modi government has denied all opposition allegations in Pegasus spy case

On July 26, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor called for a Supreme Court judge-monitored investigation into Pegasus’ espionage allegations and said opposition parties would continue to disrupt the work of parliament until that the government agree to debate it.

He alleged that it appears the government used public money to spy on his selfish political interests.

Last week, an international media consortium reported that more than 300 verified cell phone numbers, including those of two ministers, more than 40 journalists, three opposition leaders as well as dozens of businessmen and d activists in India, could have been targeted for spying on Pegasus spyware from the Israeli company NSO Group, which only sells the hacking software to approved governments and government agencies.

The government has denied all opposition allegations in this affair.

Speaking to reporters in the Parliament complex after the adjournment of the Lok Sabha, Mr Tharoor said: “We want the government to accept a debate on the issue, but it is not ready. What we are saying is that if you [government] don’t agree to this and answer our questions so why should we allow you to deal with your business. He said other issues such as rising prices and contentious farm laws are also important to the opposition, but the Pegasus line is a priority.

Both Houses of Parliament have dealt little business since the monsoon session began on July 19, with opposition parties forcing adjournments with their protests over a number of issues, with the Pegasus Row being the main one.

Mr Tharoor also shed light on IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaws’ statement on the issue in both Houses, saying he had just shared his Mann Ki Baat without listening to the opposition.

Mr Vaishnaw had called the spy stories an attempt to slander India, saying there was no substance to this sensationalism.

The parliamentary information technology panel headed by Mr Tharoor is likely to question senior government officials, including the Home Office, later this week about the Pegasus espionage allegations, sources say .

The 32-member Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information and Technology is scheduled to meet on July 28. The agenda for the meeting is the security and privacy of citizens’ data, according to a notification issued by the Lok Sabha secretariat.

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