New Delhi: The central government on Monday, August 9, asserted that the Ministry of Defence has not had any transaction with the NSO Group Technologies.
The statement from Minister of State for Defence, Ajay Bhatt, came in Rajya Sabha in reply to a question.
This is a significant statement as it comes in the midst of high voltage Pegasus snooping controversy and how the episode has continued to create pandemonium in both the Houses of Parliament since the beginning of the Monsoon session from July 19.
The Israeli NSO Group, which sells the spyware, has been under increasing attack globally following allegations that its Pegasus software was used for surveillance of phones of public leaders and journalists in several countries including India.
The government was specifically asked whether the government had carried out any transaction with the NSO Group Technologies.
The opposition parties led by Congress have been targeting the centre over the alleges snooping row.
Union IT and Communications Minister, Ashwini Vaishnawhad, had earlier categorically dismissed media reports on the use of Pegasus software to snoop on Indian leaders and other citizens,
The Minister had made a suo motu statement in Lok Sabha and maintained that “any sort of illegal surveillance” by unauthorised persons is not possible in India.
In Rajya Sabha, his statement was marred by tearing down of an official paper which led to suspension of Trinamool member Shantanu Sen.
The petitioners including noted journalist N. Ram has since moved the Supreme Court.
The Chief Justice has said truth in the case ought to come out. The government has said that the opposition parties used the Pegasus row to stall parliamentary proceedings and sabotage the entire Monsoon session of Parliament.
The first day of hearing on Pegasus row took place on Aug 5 in the Supreme Court.
“If you know that your phone is hacked, why are you not filing an FIR?,” asked Chief Justice N V Ramanaat one point while some counsels for petitioners claimed their clients’ phones have been “under surveillance”.
But there was a moment of embarrassment for petitioner N Ram and his counsel.
This happened when the Chief Justice said, the petition by N Ram says that the California Court has observed that some Indian journalists and other persons were ‘also targets’. “Where in the court order does it say this…We don’t see”.
A Bench of CJI, Justice N V Ramana and Justice Surya Kant said while the ‘charges’ are serious, no efforts seem to have been made by the affected people to file criminal complaints, according to sources.
