New Delhi: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Thursday slammed the BJP-led government at the Centre over report that it did not cooperate with
the independent Committee probing the allegations of 'snooping' through Pegasus spyware and said this was unacceptable.
"The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly denounces the refusal of the Government of India to be accountable before the judiciary and to the country on the use of Pegasus, a military grade spyware, against our own citizens. The committee appointed by the Supreme Court to investigate the use of this spyware informed that the
the government was 'not cooperative'. This is unacceptable," the party said in a statement.
The CPI (M) claimed that the Apex court had already commented that citing 'national security' concerns the fundamental rights of the citizens, particularly the right of privacy, cannot be breached in an indiscriminate manner.
"Such obduracy of non-cooperation by the government is a clear admission that this spyware was misused against those holding
high Constitutional office, opposition leaders, journalists etc, which has a damaging impact on the quality of democracy and democratic rights of citizens," the party said.
The CPI (M) further said, "When the allegations of the use of Pegasus came up, many countries had begun serious investigations. France, Mexico, Spain and others are seriously pursuing these investigations. Israeli investigations have revealed that the governments of countries like India, Hungary and Saudi Arabia brought this spyware. Given this, it is incumbent upon the government to come clean and be accountable. The judiciary must ensure such accountability."
The Supreme Court on Thursday took on record the sealed cover report submitted by the independent committee probing the allegations Pegasus snooping software being used.
A Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice NV Ramana said that 29 phones were examined and malware was found in five, but there's no conclusive proof of Pegasus spyware in them.
The bench, which also had Justice Surya Kant and Justice Hima Kohli, orally remarked that the Government of India did not cooperate with the Committee.
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