MUMBAI: Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Wednesday demanded by a judicial probe by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court into phone-tapping of leading politicians, bureaucrats and members of the judiciary with the use of the spyware Pegasus. “We are meeting Governor B S Koshyari today to press for our demand. In our opinion, it (tapping) is a direct attack on democracy and abuse of power by the Narendra Modi-led NDA government. My phone too was under observation during 2017-18,” Patole told TOI.
Patole had raised the issue of phone-tapping during the recent monsoon session of the state legislature. He had then pointed out that his phone was under surveillance.
Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said use of Pegasus was not limited to Karnataka and that the same method may have been used in trying to topple the Congress government in Maharashtra.
NCP spokesperson and minister Nawab Malik said phone-tapping is a serious matter and must be probed. “Since Parliament session is in session, Narendra Modi must explain the situation to the nation. Generally phones of anti-social elements and terrorists are kept under observation, but now phones of journalists, leaders of opposition and high-ranking bureaucrats too are under surveillance,” he said.
