August 10, 2021
2 mins read

Defence ministry had no transaction with Israeli group

Last week eighteen leaders of like-minded opposition parties issued a joint statement and demanded a discussion on the Pegasus snooping issue….reports Asian Lite News

The Defence Ministry put on record on Monday that it had nothing to do with snooping or Israel based NSO Group Technologies.

In a written reply to a question of parliamentarian V Sivadasan in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, Minister of State (Defence) Ajay Bhatt said, “Ministry of Defence has not had any transaction with NSO Group Technologies.” The minister was replying to a query whether the government had carried out any transaction with the NSO Group Technologies.

Sivadasan is a Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and member of the Upper House from Kerala.

Both the Upper House and the Lower House is Parliament have been witnessing disruptions over the snooping issue where NSO Group Technologies spyware called Pegasus enables the remote surveillance of smartphones of politicians, activists, journalists and others.

Last week eighteen leaders of like-minded opposition parties issued a joint statement and demanded a discussion on the Pegasus snooping issue. The statement read: “The opposition parties stand firm and united on their demand for a discussion on the Pegasus issue in both the Houses, replied to by the Home Minister, as this has national security dimensions.”

The opposition has also unequivocally conveyed that ‘the discussion on the farmers’ issues and agitations arising from the three anti-farmers and black agri-laws should follow the discussion on Pegasus’.

“It is unfortunate that the government has unleashed a misleading campaign to malign the combined opposition and blame it for the continued disruption in Parliament. The responsibility for the deadlock lies squarely at the doorstep of the government, which remains arrogant and obdurate and refuses to accept the opposition’s demand for an informed debate in both the Houses.” it said.

The opposition also said, “It urges the government to respect parliamentary democracy and accept the discussions.”

Last week even the Supreme Court said allegations of Pegasus-related snooping are serious, if the reports in the newspapers are correct. The apex court had sought the Centre’s stand on petitions filed by the Editors Guild of India and senior journalist N. Ram, seeking a probe into the Israeli spyware matter. Apart from that several petitions have been filed in the top court seeking a court-monitored probe into the Pegasus snooping allegations.

ALSO READ: India-Taiwan ties are quietly cementing amid friction with China

ALSO READ: France, India, Australia likely to hold leaders’ level meet soon

Previous Story

Pakistan made 33 infiltration attempts, Chinese none this year

Next Story

‘244,000 Afghans internally displaced since May’

Latest from -Top News

Activists Targeted Again in Balochistan

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) on Tuesday condemned the enforced disappearance of Baloch leader Ghani Baloch, blaming Pakistan’s Law Enforcement Agencies and Frontier Corps….reports Asian Lite News The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC),

Islamabad-Ankara-Baku Axis Sharpens Against India

Both Turkey and Azerbaijan have openly expressed solidarity with Pakistan and backed Islamabad in its military standoff with India, this month….reports Asian Lite News The evolving alliance between Islamabad, Ankara, and Baku

India Targets Pak Terror Ties in Guyana

The delegation met the Guyanese President, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, who had hosted a dinner to celebrate friendship and shared aspirations between the two nations…reports Asian Lite News Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, currently

EU Vows US Trade Deal

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen phoned Trump on Sunday, after which he agreed to postpone the planned tariff increase until July 9….reports Asian Lite News The European Commission remains “fully

ASEAN Unveils 2045 Vision

ASEAN leaders formally adopted the ACV 2045 and its strategic plans across four pillars: political-security, economic, socio-cultural, and connectivity…reports Asian Lite News The Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2045 — a strategic
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Amid standoff with Punjab CM, Sidhu shows solidarity, strength

Sidhu will assume charge at the Congress office in Chandigarh

Indian Navy’s ‘Sea Vigil-24’ returns for fourth edition 

The exercise will focus on strengthening the security of coastal