Sensational story around Pegasus published just before monsoon session cannot be coincidence: Ashwini Vaishnaw

New Delhi: Minister for Communications, Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that a sensational story around Pegasus being published just a day before the monsoon session in Parliament cannot be a coincidence.

 

He said, this press story on Pegasus, done by a web portal on 18th of this month, attempts to malign the Indian Democracy and its well-established institutions.

 

In his statement in the Rajya Sabha yesterday amid ruckus, Mr Vaishnaw said, in the past, similar claims were made regarding the use of Pegasus on WhatsApp.

 

He said, those reports had no factual basis and were categorically denied by all parties,



including in the Supreme Court.

 

Mr Vaishnaw said, the report itself clarifies that presence of a number does not amount to snooping. He said, NSO has also said that the list of countries shown using Pegasus is incorrect and many countries mentioned are not even our clients. It also said that most of its clients are western countries.

 

The Minister said, It is evident that NSO has also clearly rubbished the claims in the report.

 

He said, when we look at this issue through the prism of logic, it clearly emerges that there is no substance behind this sensationalism.