Oppn leaders give suspension of business notices in Rajya Sabha over 'Pegasus project'

At least 300 verified mobile phone numbers, including of 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, the media consortium had reported.

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh on Tuesday gave a Zero Hour notice in Rajya Sabha on the 'Pegasus Project' media report. On Monday, the AAP MP had given a 'suspension of business' notice under Rule 267 over revelations of the scale of Pegasus spyware.

The Upper House of Parliament witnessed three adjournments on the first day of the Monsoon Session on Monday before it was adjourned for the day. Singh gave the notice taking cognisance of the fact that names of at least 40 Indian journalists appeared on the leaked list of potential targets for surveillance by an unidentified agency using Pegasus spyware, according to a report published in The Wire on Sunday. According to the report, the journalists who were targeted work for some leading news organisations in the country covering matters related to Defence, Home Ministry, Election Commission and Kashmir among others.

Congress MP KC Venugopal has given a notice under rule 267 in Rajya Sabha to suspend the business and discuss the alleged usage of Pegasus spyware by the Government. CPI(M) floor leader in Rajya Sabha MP Elamaram Kareem also gave notice under Rule 267 to suspend the business and discuss the alleged spying by the government on opposition party leaders, journalists, judges, and even union ministers using Pegasus spyware.

Meanwhile, Congress Whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore has moved an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha over the controversy. In a letter to the Lok Sabha Secretary General, he said he moved the motion in order to discuss the alleged involvement of the government agencies "in unlawful snooping of individuals".

At least 300 verified mobile phone numbers, including of 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, the media consortium had reported. The Union government has, 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.