Dictatorship Is Going On In Country: Mallikarjun Kharge Mounts Attack At Centre On Pegasus Row

Mumbai: Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday hit out at the central government over the alleged Pegasus snooping controversy and said dictatorship is going on in the country.

“Modi ji is not ready to solve issues in a democratic manner. We are ready for discussions. Govt should call an all-party meeting… We all are going to fight on this issue,” Kharge, who is the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, said.

“IT Act says permission is needed for surveillance. This government gave permission (for alleged snooping via Pegasus) and is involved in snooping on judges, Army officers, journalists and opposition leaders. No democracy in the world would do it,” he added.

https://twitter.com/LoPIndia/status/1419943920134344706?s=20

An international media association recently reported that more than 300 verified mobile phone numbers in India, including those of two current ministers, over 40 journalists, three opposition leaders and a sitting judge besides scores of businesspersons and activists in India could have been allegedly targeted for hacking using Israeli Pegasus spyware sold only to government agencies.

The alleged espionage controversy has been criticized by opposition parties and the Congress has demanded an independent judicial or parliamentary committee probe into the matter.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee, election strategist Prashant Kishor, two Union ministers, Prahlad Patel and Ashwini Vaishnav are reportedly among the possible targets of espionage.

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