Opposition aims to corner Modi govt in Parliament over Pegasus issue today

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has moved an adjournment motion in Lok Sabha to discuss the Pegasus row.

Congress MP KC Venugopal, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy and CPI-M MP Elamaram Kareem have given a notice under rule 267 in Rajya Sabha in the same context.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh has given a Zero Hour notice in Rajya Sabha.

Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Parliament, was scheduled to discuss 'COVID management' on Tuesday but a fresh agenda on Monday evening showed that new Union IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will make a statement regarding "compromise of phone data of some persons as reported in the media" after 2 pm.

This comes after a collaborative investigation report by The Wire, The Washington Post and The Guardian among others which claimed that more than 1,000 phone numbers in India appeared between 2017 and 2019 on the snooping list of the Pegasus, a spying tool that allows customers to infiltrate mobile phones and monitor messages, camera feeds and microphones.

Reportedly, the tool is only sold to "vetted governments".

Names of high profile political personalities like Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, former poll strategist Prashant Kishor, new IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister Prahlad Patel and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee among others have featured in the potential target list of the Israeli spyware, The Wire has reported in an explosive revelation.

Besides key politicians, over 40 Indian journalists and a constitutional authority were also found on the database of NSO as connected to people of interest since 2016, The Wire has reported.

Earlier in the day, Ashwini Vaishnaw countered media reports on the Pegasus issue and said 'illegal surveillance' is not possible in India.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, he said: "I’m sure my colleagues in the opposition who have been in Government for years would be well aware of these protocols. Since they have governed the country, they would also be aware that any form of illegal surveillance is not possible with the checks and balances in our laws and our robust institutions."

In a sarcastic tweet, Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "We know what he’s been reading- everything on your phone!"

Taking a dig at the BJP, Abhishek Banerjee tweeted, "Two Minutes of SILENCE for the SORE LOSERS! Despite ALLIES like ED, CBI, NIA, IT, ECI , @BJP4India's money + might and #PegasusSpying Mr @AmitShah couldn't save his face in #BengalElections2021. Please COME Prepared with Better RESOURCES in 2024!"