'Nitish Kumar's soul is with opposition': Sena takes jibe at BJP post Pegasus probe demand

Latching on to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's contrasting stance on the Pegasus 'snooping' row, Shiv Sena claimed that the former JD(U) president's "soul" is with the opposition. This is being perceived as a jibe at BJP which has vehemently refused to order an inquiry into the issue. Addressing a press briefing on Tuesday, Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut described him as an "ideal leader". Expressing gratitude towards Kumar for echoing the opposition's demand for a probe, Raut called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to at least take cognizance now. 

A day earlier, the Bihar CM told the media, "A probe should be done, indeed. We have been hearing about telephone tapping for so many days, the matter should be discussed. People have been reiterating for so many days, it should be done". 

"In today's time, people can misuse technology. There should be a probe so that this can't be misused to exploit anybody. If the opposition is demanding discussion for many days, then there should be a discussion on the matter," he added. 

The Pegasus snooping row

The controversy came to the fore when French non-profit Forbidden Stories and Amnesty International accessed a leaked database of 50,000 phone numbers that were allegedly targeted by Pegasus. As per media reports, the Pegasus spyware targeted over 300 Indian mobile numbers including that of 40 journalists, businesspersons, one constitutional authority, three opposition leaders and two sitting Ministers in the Union government. The database also allegedly contained the numbers of activists who are accused and incarcerated in the Bhima Koregaon case. Notably, the NSO Group categorically rubbished these allegations and cast doubts on the reliability of the sources.

Making a statement on this issue in Rajya Sabha on July 22, Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated, "A highly sensational story was published by a web portal on the 18th July 2021. Many over-the-top allegations have been made around this story. Honourable Chairman Sir, the press reports have appeared a day before the Monsoon session of Parliament. This cannot be a coincidence, honourable Chairman Sir. In the past, similar claims were made regarding the use of Pegasus on WhatsApp. Those reports had no factual basis and were categorically denied by all parties including in the Supreme Court."