Pegasus: Attempt to malign Indian democracy, says IT minister 

Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday said reports claiming illegal surveillance using Pegasus spyware were aimed at maligning Indian democracy. He said there was no substance in the allegations. 

The government has dismissed the allegation that Opposition leaders, journalists and activists were targeted using Pegasus spyware in a snooping attempt. Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, said the allegations appeared to be an attempt to malign the Indian democracy. Ashwini Vaishnaw referred to reports published on a news portal on Sunday saying, “It can't be a mere coincidence that all this report leaked by a portal on the eve of the Monsoon Session.”