PM Modi should clarify on Pegasus row: Congress' Akhilesh Singh

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Akhilesh Prasad Singh speaking to ETV Bharat has said that PM Modi should a clarification regarding the Pegasus controversy, adding that the matter should be discussed in the Parliament and that either a JPC or Supreme Court monitored probe be ordered.

New Delhi:Former Union Minister and Congress Rajya Sabha MP from Bihar, Dr Akhilesh Prasad Singh speaking to ETV Bharat came down heavily on the Centre regarding the Pegasus row. He said that PM Modi should clarify in Parliament on the issue and that the matter should be discussed in the Parliament and that either a JPC or Supreme Court monitored probe should be ordered.

"The central government should specify whether it bought the Pegasus spyware or not? Till all this is not clear, the monsoon session of Parliament will not be able to run. The deadlock will continue. From the stand taken by the government on this matter, it is clear that there has been a big mess. Phone tapping and spying have been done. On this issue, we will fight from road to Parliament. The government says that it has nothing to do with the matter and that nothing has happened. All this is just a matter of cover-up and the real issue is not being revealed to the public," Singh said.

Read:Pegasus row: Congress demands JPC probe

It is known that the Monsoon Session of Parliament has witnessed stormy proceedings amid the continuous protests of Opposition parties regarding the Pegasus snooping row. Opposition MPs of Rajya Sabha alleged that the Central Government is trying to prevail dictatorship in the country.

What is the 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.

Read:'Shah, Modi trying to impose dictatorship', Congress sharpens attack over Pegasus