On Congress MP's Pegasus Spyware Charge, Amit Shah Asks For Proof

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi urged Speaker Om Birla to issue an order if he made any mistake in asking the government to tell the House if it uses Pegasus for surveillance or not.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday took exception to Congress member Gaurav Gogoi's allegation that government snoops on politicians with Israeli spyware Pegasus and asked him to give proof of the claim, saying the house was not meant for "reckless politics." 

Mr Gogoi, while participating in a discussion in Lok Sabha on drug menace, sought to know from the government about the 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.

The Congress member also sought to know from the Home Minister as to what kind of surveillance and intelligence mechanisms are in place to check the arms smuggling, human trafficking, and smuggling of animal parts at the India-Myanmar border.

"You snoop on us again and again, install Pegasus on our phones and that of the journalists," Mr Gogoi charged.