Pegasus Case, Judiciary must ensure accountability of executive: CPI-M
By Firstdespatch Desk Aug 26, 2022
Agartala, Aug 26 (FD) The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemned the refusal of the Union Government to be accountable before the judiciary and to the country on the use of Pegasus, a military grade spyware, against our own citizens.
CPIM through a press release on Friday said, the committee appointed by the Supreme Court to investigate the use of this spyware has informed that the government was “not cooperative” which is unacceptable.
The Supreme Court had already commented that citing “national security” concerns the fundamental rights of the citizens, particularly the right of privacy, cannot be breached in an indiscriminate manner, the release reads.
The press issued by CPIM party claimed that, such obduracy of non-cooperation by the government is a clear admission that this spyware was misused against those holding high constitutional office, opposition leaders, journalists etc, which has a damaging impact on the quality of democracy and democratic rights of citizens.
When the allegations of the use of Pegasus came up, many countries had begun serious investigations. France, Mexico, Spain and others are seriously pursuing these investigations.
Israeli investigations have revealed that the governments of countries like India, Hungary and Saudi Arabia have brought this spyware. Given this, it is incumbent upon the Union government to come clean and be accountable.
According to the press release, the Polit Bureau of the CPI-(M) appeals the judiciary to ensure such accountability. FD PD JK