No substance behind this sensational,IT Minister on Pegasus row

Union minister for IT and Electronics Ashwini Vaishnav, on Pegasus row,told Lok Sabha that there is no substance in any allegation other than sensationlism and that "checks and balances" ensured that illegal surveillance is "not possible." He said on Tuesday that the data shared has nothing to do with surveillance. "No concrete basis of allegations. Allegations made in the past as well," he said.  "It can't be not mere coincident that all this report leaked by a portal on the eve of the Monsoon session," the minister said. Vashnaw said the National Statistical Office has already denied all these allegation. He said in India, there is a clear procedure lay down for any interception or surveillance.

"In the past, similar claims were made regarding the use of Pegasus on WhatsApp. Those reports had no factual basis and were denied by all parties. Press reports of 18 July also appear to be an attempt to malign Indian democracy and its well-established institutions," he added. The IT Minister  slammed the release of "over-the-top" media reports about the government's use of Pegasus to spy on opposition leaders, journalists and others, including its own ministers and a sitting judge of the Supreme Court, and said it "can't be a coincidence" that they were published a day before the opening of Parliament's monsoon session.