Mamata Banerjee said, “It is a fact that Israel’s NSO company supplied the machine to the government. My phone was also tapped.”
New Delhi| The opposition and the government continue to spar over the allegations of spying on WhatsApp users with the help of Israeli company spyware. On Saturday, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee targeted the government. Meanwhile, BJP acting president JP Naddasought to question the opposition over spying of ministers and military officials during the UPA government.
WhatsApp on Thursday confirmed that nearly 1,400 WhatsApp users’ phones globally were being spied on with the help of Israeli spyware called Pegasus. It was developed by the NSO group. Apparently, the Pegasus spyware could be installed in a target’s phone with a video call on WhatsApp. After the matter came to light, the government had sought reports from the company.
WhatsApp snooping on citizens ‘shameful’
Sonia Gandhi said, “Social workers, journalists and leaders were spied on by the Modi government through Israeli Pegasus spyware. These activities are not only illegal and unconstitutional, but they are also shameful.” Earlier, Rahul Gandhi and Randeep Surjewala also blamed the central government for spying on Indian WhatsApp users.
Nadda said: The government has made the stance clear
On the allegation of Sonia, Nadda said, “The government has already made its stand clear on this matter. Perhaps Sonia Gandhi could have told the nation about who allowed her to spy on Pranab Mukherjee during ministerial tenure and General VK Singh’s tenure as army chief during the UPA government. ”
My phone is tapped, there is evidence of this: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “It is a fact that Israel’s NSO company supplied the machine to the government. My phone was also tapped. I know about it and I have evidence of it. The government is using Israeli company to monitor leaders, media people, lawyers, judges, IS, IPS officials and social workers. This is wrong ”
”Earlier WhatsApp was safe. Now your landline, mobile phone and WhatsApp message, nothing is safe. Being spied on. Now our messages are being recorded. How can our government instruct the authorities? I request the Prime Minister to look into this issue,” she added.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
