After facing global criticism over its handling of the second wave of the Covid 19 pandemic this year, India’s BJP-led government was under opposition assault following reports that a Pegasus software of Israeli's NSO group may have been used to snoop on journalists, politicians and activists worldwide, including holders of 300 Indian phone numbers.

The reports, based on a global collaborative investigative project, headlined in the country’s leading media outlets, disrupted proceedings in the Indian parliament-  that began its monsoon session from Monday – as opposition members latched on the issue and resorted to massive slogan-shouting and protests and repeatedly asked whether the government had purchased the software or authorized its use.

A section of the Indian media claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government had ‘ducked” the pointed queries, as it did in late 2019 when allegations of WhatsApp snooping of human rights activists and journalists in India via the spyware Pegasus snowballed into a major political controversy.

The Indian news portal The Wire, part of the global media investigation into possible snooping using the Israeli spyware in many countries, claimed at least two mobile phone accounts used by Congress leader and principal opposition figure Rahul Gandhi were among 300 verified Indian numbers listed as potential targets.

Election strategist Prashant Kishor, whose organization played a key role in ensuring the victory of the Trinamool Congress in the key state of West Bengal despite a determined charge by the BJP, as also Trinamool leader Abhishek Banerjee are said to be among the potential snooping targets.

Two serving ministers in the Modi government, including information technology minister Ashwini Vaishnaw – who led the government’s defense in the lower house of Indian parliament –  as also prominent journalists and industrialists were also reportedly spied upon by using the software.

The Wire claimed five of Gandhi’s social friends and acquaintances were allegedly placed on the list of potential targets but conceded that it could not be conclusively proved whether the spyware was deployed to target anybody without forensic tests.

The potential targets on the snoop list also included a Supreme Court staffer, a former Election Commissioner, who had flagged poll code violations by Prime Minister Modi, and functionaries of the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and international NGOs like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The mobile phone numbers of a British High Commission official were also mentioned as a possible target.

French newspaper Le Monde reported that a phone associated with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was part of the list. The report, quoted by The Hindu, said the use of Pegasus software began “just after” Prime Minister Modi visited Israel in July 2017.

Coming down heavily on the government, the Congress accused the BJP led dispensation of “treason” and demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah – the second most powerful man in the government after Modi.

In a jibe aimed at Modi, Gandhi tweeted, “We know what he’s been reading — everything on your phone! #Pegasus”.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala dubbed the BJP Bharatiya Jasoos (spy) Party.

On the other hand, Shah dismissed the reports saying they were strategically timed to coincide with the start of the parliament session.

"This is a report by the disrupters for the obstructers. Disrupters are global organizations that do not like India to progress. Obstructers are political players in India who do not want India to progress,” he claimed.

For the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government, the Pegasus controversy is the second challenge being faced by the central dispensation this year. It had taken a lot of stick from international media organizations and domestically from opposition parties and health experts for failing to handle the searing Covid second wave in March-May as patients across, including the national capital Delhi died gasping for breath due to a massive shortage of oxygen, hospital beds and medicines.
 
In 2019, months after the Indian general elections, the name of Pegasus first made headlines following allegations that it had exploited WhatsApp's video calling system by installing the spyware through giving missed calls to snoop on 1,400 select users globally, including nearly 30-40 people in India.
 
According to the NSO Group, the company limits the sale of spyware to state intelligence agencies and others as it has the ability to collect intimate data from a target device. Pegasus software can be installed on devices as "exploit links".

(SAM)