Former Union Minister and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday demanded a Supreme Court judge-monitored probe into the Pegasus snooping allegations and indicated that Opposition parties would continue to disrupt Parliament’s proceedings until the Government agrees to a debate on it.
Tharoor’s party colleague and Home Minister in UPA Government, P Chidambaram too attacked the Centre, saying the only Government that is “unconcerned” over the issue is that of India. He referred to the reports that French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on the Pegasus snooping allegations. Chidambaram alleged Indian government was fully aware of the snooping and does not need any more information from Israel or the NSO Group.
Tharoor, who is also the Chairman of Parliamentary Panel on IT, alleged that it appears that the government used public money for snooping for its “selfish political interests”. Speaking to reporters in the Parliament complex Tharoor said, “We want the government to agree toa debate on the issue, but it is not ready. What we are saying is that if you (government) do not agree to this and answer our questions, then why should we allow you to transact your business.”
He said other issues like price rise and contentious farm laws are also important for the opposition but the Pegasus row is a priority. Tharoor also made light of IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s statement on the issue in both Houses, saying he just shared his “Mann Ki Baat” without listening to the opposition. Vaishnaw had termed the snooping stories a bid to malign India,claiming that there is “no substance” to this sensationalism.
The parliamentary panel, led by Tharoor, is likely to question top government officials, including from the home ministry, later this week on Pegasus snooping allegations, according to sources. The 32-member Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information and Technology is scheduled to meet on July 28. The agenda of the meeting is “Citizens data security and privacy”, according to a notification issued by Lok Sabha Secretariat.
