Pegasus row: Congress demands JPC probe

Congress MPs in Rajya Sabha moved the motion for the adjournment of business of the house under Rule 267 to discuss the unlawful snooping of individuals through Israeli Spyware Pegasus. Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe was also demanded by Congress MPs.

New Delhi: As Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, former Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa, two sitting Union Ministers and 40 journalists are allegedly among the potential targets of the phone tapping through Israeli Pegasus spyware, the Monsoon Session of Parliament once again saw a stormy beginning on Tuesday amid Opposition uproar over this matter.

A number of Opposition MPs moved adjournment motion in both the houses demanding discussion on Pegasus matter. Meanwhile, Congress reiterated its demand for Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe and even accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of getting involved in the case of phone tapping by calling them "history-sheeters".

Addressing the media, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Shaktisinh Gohil said, "Today Congress MPs in Rajya Sabha moved the motion for the adjournment of business of the house under Rule 267 to discuss the unlawful snooping of individuals through Israeli Spyware Pegasus. Many other like-minded parties had given notices in both the houses over this matter. But our demands were rejected, therefore we had to take bold steps because of which Rajya Sabha got adjourned."

He demanded, "We have a clear demand that there should a discussion over this matter as Israeli Company, which has given Pegasus software to NSO, has done phone tapping of many important personalities of our country. The Union Minister must reply if the Indian government has used this software? If yes, then there should be a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into this matter."

Congress MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh in conversation with ETV Bharat said, "Until there will be a JPC probe into this matter, government will continue to daub over it. This is a much similar case like the Watergate scandal held in the US because of which the President had to resign."

He also asserted that Congress will take this matter on the roads. Congress party is going to hold a nationwide protest on July 22 where the state units have been asked to move to Raj Bhawans to raise this issue. Congress will also hold press conferences tomorrow in various states.

On Monday, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw had said that these reports are nothing but an "attempt to malign Indian democracy and its well-established institutions". He is also expected to speak in Rajya Sabha today about Pegasus Project.

Pegasus snooping row

At least 300 verified mobile phone numbers, including two Union ministers, three opposition leaders, a sitting judge, 40 journalists, besides scores of business persons and activists in the country could are being allegedly targeted for hacking through the Israeli spyware sold only to government agencies, as per a media consortium's report.

The Union government, however, categorically rejected allegations of snooping using Pegasus, asserting that illegal surveillance was not possible given the checks and balances in the country's laws. It also said vested interests were making attempts made to malign Indian democracy and to disrupt the Monsoon Session of Parliament which is underway since July 19.