“We want to know if that spyware software was called Pegasus,” said P Chidambaram. (File)
New Delhi:
Senior Congressional Leader P Chidambaram said Wednesday that the attorney general who told the Supreme Court that the government has information that he cannot publicly disclose through an affidavit is an “confession” that software spyware has been used, and he wanted to know whether it was Pegasus and for what purpose it was used.
The Center told the Supreme Court on Tuesday that disclosing information about whether or not to use spyware like Pegasus would involve an aspect of national security, as enemies of the nation or those indulging in terrorist activities could expose their software. change or modulate.
Commenting on the development, Mr. Chidambaram said: “SG tells SC that the government has information that it is not allowed to make public through an affidavit. That is an admission that software spyware has been used. We don’t know what for.”
“We want to know if that spyware software was called Pegasus and for what purpose it was used,” the former interior minister said in a series of tweets.
If the government answers these two questions, the remaining questions will answer themselves in due course, Chidambaram said.
On Tuesday evening, Mr Chidambaram had tweeted that the Israel-based NSO group has admitted and said that Pegasus is spyware and is used to hack into phones.
“Why is the government hesitant to answer the question, ‘Have any of the agencies bought and used Pegasus spyware?’ We want a clear answer,” he said.
“If it hasn’t come today, it will certainly come in a future day. The Supreme Court must demand an answer to the question. I hope the Court will,” Chidambaram tweeted on Tuesday.
Appearing before the Center, Attorney General Tushar Mehta told a bank led by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana that those involved in terror activities can take preventive action if the government reveals details about what software is being used for various purposes, including interception.
The Supreme Court, which made it clear that it did not want the government to disclose anything that endangers national security, has informed the Center of the series of pleas for an independent investigation into the alleged Pegasus spy issue and has dismissed the case after 10 to dawn.
During the arguments, Mr Mehta said this cannot be the subject of affidavit and public debate and the government has said in its limited affidavit that it will form a committee of experts to investigate all aspects of the Pegasus issue.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NewsMadura staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.)
