IT Minister Should Answer If Centre Acquired Pegasus, Says P Chidambaram

Speaking on the issue, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in Parliament that that there is "no substance" behind the "sensationalism".

Congress leader P Chidambaram today took a swipe at IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw over his statement in Lok Sabha on the alleged illegal surveillance using Pegasus software and said it is unfortunate that the minister has started his innings on the "wrong foot". NSO Group, the owner of Pegasus, has said that “NSO sells its technologies solely to law enforcement and intelligence agencies of vetted governments”It is unfortunate that Minister Vaishnaw has started his innings on the wrong foot. In a series of tweets, Mr Chidambaram said the minister should answer if the government acquired the Pegasus software/spyware. "NSO Group, the owner of Pegasus, has said that ''NSO sells its technologies solely to law enforcement and intelligence agencies of vetted governments'. It is unfortunate that Minister Vaishnaw has started his innings on the wrong foot," he tweeted.