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Protests erupt in India s Parliament over spyware scandal
Indiaâs Parliament has erupted in protests as opposition lawmakers accuse the government of using military-grade spyware to monitor political opponents, journalists and activists
By SHEIKH SAALIQ and KRUTIKA PATHI Associated Press
July 21, 2021, 12:31 AM
⢠4 min read
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NEW DELHI Indiaâs Parliament erupted in protests on Tuesday as opposition lawmakers accused Prime Minister Narendra Modiâs government of using military-grade spyware to monitor political opponents, journalists and activists.
The session was disrupted repeatedly as opposition lawmakers shouted slogans against Modi s government and demanded an investigation into how the spyware, known as Pegasus, was used in India.
Ranchi: In protest against the report of using spyware, Pegasus, to snoop on phones of several people across the country, state Congress, which is a part of the ruling alliance in Jharkhand, and opposition BJP are on a warpath here.
While Congress announced on Tuesday announced to take out a protest march to the Raj Bhavan on July 22 demanding a Supreme Court-appointed judicial inquiry into the report and resignation of Union home minister Amit Shah, the opposition BJP accused the parties raking up the issue of trying to derail the monsoon session of Parliament with a concocted story.
Addressing media persons here, state Congress president and finance minister Rameshwar Oraon said, “Following directions from our party high command, we, too, have decided to hit the streets to safeguard the rights and privacy of our countrymen.”
Print AP
Congress party workers shout slogans during a protest accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of using military-grade spyware to monitor political opponents, journalists and activists in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. The protests came after an investigation by a global media consortium was published on Sunday. Based on leaked targeting data, the findings provided evidence that the spyware from Israel-based NSO Group, the world’s most infamous hacker-for-hire company, was used to allegedly infiltrate devices belonging to a range of targets, including journalists, activists and political opponents in 50 countries. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup) Credit: The Associated Press
Congress party workers shout slogans during a protest accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi s government of using military-grade malware from Israel-based NSO Group to spy on political opponents, journalists and activists in New Delhi on July 20. AP
NEW DELHI: India’s parliament erupted in protests on Tuesday as opposition lawmakers accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of using military-grade spyware to monitor political opponents, journalists and activists.
The session was disrupted repeatedly as opposition lawmakers shouted slogans against Modi’s government and demanded an investigation into how the spyware, known as Pegasus, was used in India.
This is a national security threat, an opposition Congress party official, Kapil Sibal, said at a news conference.
Lok Sabha rocked, opposition demands Supreme Court-monitored probe or JPC
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Last Updated: Jul 21, 2021, 07:36 AM IST
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Synopsis
As soon as the House adjourned, the opposition members raised the phone hacking/tapping issue and demanded that the government order a SC-monitored investigation or a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the matter.
The AICC announced a two-day national protest against the Pegasus issue. PCCs will hold press conferences on Wednesday.
The Lok Sabha was rocked by opposition protests and stormy adjournments over the Pegasus spyware scandal and other issues on Tuesday before the House was shut for the day without transacting any business. With more startling episodes of the expose rolling out, the protests could intensify in the coming days. As soon as the House adjourned, the opposition members raised the phone hacking/tapping issue and demanded that the government order a SC-monitored investigation or a joint parliamentary committee