Pegasus returns to rock Parliament: More MPs submit privilege notices against IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

The notices came against the backdrop of an NYT report that claimed that India purchased the spyware, which was reportedly used to spy on Oppn leaders

More MPs have submitted privilege notices against Information and Technology Minister Ashwani Vaishnaw accusing him of misleading the Parliament on Pegasus, making it clear the Opposition’s resolve to corner the Narendra Modi government on the issue after a news report claimed India bought the controversial Israeli spyware.

After Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Sunday, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Rajya Sabha MP KC Venugopal, CPI Rajya Sabha leader Binoy Viswam, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP V Sivadasan and Trinamool Congress’s Saugata Roy submitted separate notices against Vaishnaw.

A confrontation appears to be brewing in the Parliament with the Opposition preparing to insist on a discussion on Pegasus while the government is set to counter it saying that the issue is under the consideration of the Supreme Court.

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When asked, a senior Opposition leader said, “wait and see.” Congress and Trinamool Congress leaders as well as other Opposition leaders are informally holding discussions.

“The question is all about will the government agree to a debate. Let’s see what happens on Wednesday,” the leader said.

The privilege notices came against the backdrop of a New York Times report that claimed that India purchased the spyware, which was reportedly used to spy on Opposition leaders, activists, journalists and those in Constitutional posts among others, and linked the country's change in stance on Palestine and votes in the United Nations that favoured Israel to the purchase from the NSO Group.

Vaishnaw had told the Parliament that the reports of use of Pegasus in the country was "baseless" and “highly sensational". The Ministry of Defence said in Parliament last August that it did not have any transaction with NSO Group, which sells Pegasus.

Venugopal claimed in his notice that Vaishnaw “deliberately made a vague and misleading statement in a matter relating to breach of national security”. He said the Minister “wilfully” made the statement with the “intention to mislead and deceive” the House.

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In his notice, Roy claimed the government took the stand in Parliament that it had nothing to do with the spyware and never bought it. It also lied in the Supreme Court, he alleged.

"In the light of the revelations by NYT, the Modi government misled the Parliament and the Supreme Court and lied to the people of the country," Roy said as he demanded that a privilege motion be initiated against Vaishnaw for "deliberately misleading" the Parliament.

Viswam said evidence has been made public that point towards the purchase of Pegasus spyware. "As a matter concerning grave allegations of snooping that violate Constitutional rights and safeguards, the Minister's deliberate attempt to mislead the Members of Parliament constitutes a breach of privilege," Viswam said.

Sivadasan said the attempt by the executive to “mislead” Parliament constitutes “grave attack on the democratic values” and a “frontal attack” on the concept of “popular sovereignty which constitutes the bedrock of the Parliament”.

Kharge told reporters that the Monsoon Session was impacted due to the government not allowing a discussion on Pegasus.

“The BJP had alleged that the Opposition was not allowing the Parliament to function but the truth has now come out. We will raise this issue,” he said, adding that other issues like inflation, unemployment, farmers' issue, crimes against women and Dalits will also be raised.

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