Snooping is unconstitutional: Meghalaya Congress on Pegasus row

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: Meghalaya Congress spokesperson Zenith M Sangma on Wednesday said that reports of Indians being targeted by the NSO group using its Pegasus spyware have given illegal access to conversations, passwords, contact lists, text messages and live voice calls of India's security apparatus, individuals like Union Ministers and Opposition leaders, paramilitary chiefs and Supreme Court judges, is shocking.

"Snooping through alleged Israeli technology Pegasus, on the citizens is treacherous and unconstitutional violating the fundamental rights to privacy," Sangma said.

He said that Congress condemns the unconstitutional act of the incumbent government in the Centre.

The Congress legislator said that the party will protest against this across the nation and demand a judicial probe monitored by the Supreme Court to unearth the truth and punish the guilty.

Sangma also said that the illegal and unconstitutional hacking of cell phones of Constitutional functionaries, Union Cabinet Ministers, present and former Head of India's Security Forces, Senior Leader of Opposition, Journalist, Lawyers and activists have exposed the dubious and deplorable action of the BJP Government.

He said that it has also been reported that the Spyware Pegasus was also been used to hack cell phones in the run-up to the 2019 General Election to Parliament.

"The Pegasus Spyware and all NSO products are exclusively sold to Government only. It is thus clear that the Government of India and its agencies bought the Spyware to hack the phones of opposition leaders, journalists, lawyers and activists," Sangma said.

The Congress spokesperson also said that the party will protest the snooping issue all over the country on July 22.

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