Mamata Banerjee also appealed to the Supreme Court to take cognizance of alleged surveillance using Israeli spyware.
Launching a scathing attack on the Centre over the Pegasus spyware row, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said she covered the camera of her mobile phone to prevent snooping. The TMC supremo also appealed to the top court to take cognizance of alleged surveillance using Israeli spyware.
“I have plastered my phone because they tap everything, be it video or audio,” said the Bengal chief minister as she showed her mobile camera covered with tape.
Ms Banerjee also claimed that she is unable to speak with her counterparts in Delhi and Odisha. “Pegasus is dangerous. They are harassing people. Sometimes I cannot speak to anyone. I can’t talk to Delhi or Orissa chief minister,” she said.
Our phones are tapped. Pegasus is dangerous and ferocious. I cannot talk to anyone. You are paying too much money for spying. I have plastered my phone. We should also plaster the Centre otherwise country will be destroyed. BJP has bulldozed federal structure: Mamata Banerjee
— ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2021
Mamata Banerjee, targeting the Union Government, accused it of attempts to convert the country into a surveillance state. Mamata said, “Freedom is in danger. The BJP is responsible. They don’t even believe their ministers. They misuse all agencies.”
“Spygiri is going on. Phones of ministers, judges are being tapped. They have finished the democratic structure. Pegasus has captured the Election Commission, judiciary, ministers and media. Instead of a democratic state, they want to convert it into a surveillance state,” Mamata Banerjee said.
Appealing to the Supreme Court to come to the nation’s aid, she said, “Save the country, the democracy. Can’t you take suo motu cognisance as all phones are tapped? Set up a panel to probe… Only judiciary can save country”.
In a scathing attack on the Prime Minister, Ms Banerjee said: “Mr Modi, don’t mind. I am not attacking you personally. But you and may be the Home Minister — you are deploying agencies against opposition leaders. You are misusing the agencies.”
“Today, when people want freedoms and progress, good healthcare, education and jobs, all that the Central government is interested in is violence, divisive politics, clashes, mistrust among people… this is not what India needs,” she said.
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