Amit Shah spars with Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi in Lok Sabha over snooping claims

Shah pointed out that the Supreme Court-appointed committee had clarified that it didn’t find any evidence of spyware on the 29 phones that were examined and that the Union government did not assist it in the probe.

But Gogoi, who was participating in a discussion on the problem of drug abuse in the country, was not ready to give up. “You spy on us… and reporters. How many drug mafias have been arrested on the basis of the spyware. The surveillance that you mount on us… How many drug mafias have been caught on the basis of surveillance?” the MP asked. Gogoi wanted to know what kind of surveillance mechanism it has in place on the country’s land and sea borders, as well as international airports, to check the entry of contraband into the country.

He also asked if he had made a mistake, the government should say that it has not used the spyware.

Shah did not address that question, but retorted: “He has claimed that spyware was used on him. He must submit facts. He can’t just talk like this. Rest, the Supreme Court has decided.”

Gogoi then appealed to Speaker Om Birla to issue an order if he made any mistake in asking the government to tell the House if it uses spyware for surveillance or not. But Birla warned the Congress MP, saying: “Members should make statements with adequate evidence and proof to uphold the dignity of Parliament. This is my request.”

The Supreme Court had constituted a panel to probe into whether the Centre or any state government acquired Pegasus spyware for surveillance of Indian citizens, and to also ascertain details of people targeted. Its report, however, said it didn’t find any evidence of spyware on the 29 phones that were examined. But the panel had also noted that the central government “has not cooperated” in its probe.

The spyware row erupted in July 2021 after an international consortium of media outlets and investigative journalists reported that the phones of Indian ministers, politicians, activists, businessmen and journalists were among the 50,000 that were potentially targeted by Pegasus, Israeli company NSO Group’s phone hacking software.

The central government has neither confirmed nor denied whether it has purchased the spyware from the Israeli firm, maintaining that such disclosure would not be in national interest.

Earlier, when the House met in the morning, the Opposition MPs, who staged a protest outside the Parliament House asking the government to break its silence on India-China border issues, got up seeking a discussion on the matter. “Prime Minister should come to the House to give a statement,” MPs were heard saying. Some of the MPs were shouting ‘Bharat Jodo’ slogans also. But the Speaker insisted that the questions should be taken up during the question hour. With MPs not obliging, Birla adjourned the proceedings in a few minutes till 12 noon.

As soon as the Lok Sabha met at noon, members of Congress, DMK, NCP and Left parties repeated the demand. Congress’ leader of the House Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury urged Speaker Om Birla to allow a discussion on the India-China issue, saying it is the Opposition’s right. “We have been demanding a discussion on the China issue since this morning. Discussion is happening on TV, everywhere outside (the Parliament). Give an opportunity to the Opposition to discuss it. It is our right,” he said.

With the Speaker not allowing the issue to be taken up, they staged a walkout. Janata Dal (United ) MPs also joined them, but the Shiv Sena members did not walk out with the Opposition.

Immediately after the Congress-led Opposition MPs left, TMC’s Sudip Bandyopadhyay also pressed for a discussion and walked out of the Lok Sabha in protest.