Subramanian Swamy, other MPs say Western media likely to publish an expose
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — BJP Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy has warned that Israeli spyware Pegasus could have been used to tap the phones of ministers in the Modi government, leaders of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and even Supreme Court judges. He made the claim on Sunday through a Tweet.
Pegasus was in news in 2019 after WhatsApp announced that it was going to sue the NSO, the company behind the spyware, for hacking and spying into around 1,400 users — diplomats, political dissidents, journalists and senior government officials including some from India.
Swamy also claimed that there are rumours that Western media may publish an expose.
The Washington Post and London’s Guardian are expected to publish the report on Sunday evening exposing “the hiring of an Israeli firm Pegasus, for tapping phones of Modi’s Cabinet Ministers, RSS leaders, SC judges, & journalists. If I get this confirmed I will publish the list,” the senior right-wing leader known for raking up controversies wrote on Twitter.
Strong rumour that this evening IST, Washington Post & London Guardian are publishing a report exposing the hiring of an Israeli firm Pegasus, for tapping phones of Modi’s Cabinet Ministers, RSS leaders, SC judges, & journalists. If I get this confirmed I will publish the list.
— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) July 18, 2021
… and many members of the Opposition
— Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও'ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) July 18, 2021
Responding to Swami’s tweet, Derek O’Brien, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP, wrote that “many members of the opposition” have also been targeted.
Karti Chidambram, Lok Sabha MP of the Congress, also repeated Swami’s claim saying, “A little birdie tells me that Pegasus is going to be explosive.”
A little birdie tells me that Pegasus is going to be explosive.
— Karti P Chidambaram (@KartiPC) July 17, 2021
Journalists and political commentators have since Saturday been speculating that there is going to be a “big news”
Veteran journalist Sheela Bhatt claimed that news would be published at “11.59pm” on Sunday.
