New Delhi, Aug 25 (FN Agency) Former Union minister and senior BJP leader Ravishankar Prasad on Thursday questioned if the Congress and Rahul Gandhi apologise over allegations made in the Pegasus snooping controversy, after a report by a committee formed by the Supreme Court was submitted today. At a press conference, Prasad said the committee said no trace of Pegasus was found in the phones examined. “The Supreme Court appointed a committee of eminent experts to examine the whole issue of Pegasus. Government had nothing to do with the committee, there were certain details government did not share because it was related to national security…” Prasad said.”Total 29 mobile phones were given to the committee for examination.
The report has been submitted, it is in a sealed cover, but the Honourable Chief Justice of India said the committee, in its report, has said it did not find Pegasus virus in the phones. There was some malware in five mobile phones, but not Pegasus,” Prasad said. “The high profile committee consisting of eminent personalities has not found any pegasus virus in the mobiles. It is our day to speak, what all did they say, Congress said it is sedition, they stalled Monsoon Session… Rahul Gandhi had said Pegasus is an attempt to crush Indian democracy. Would Rahul Gandhi and Congress party apologise?” he said. Prasad also said Congress should not preach on snooping, and mentioned an incident of 2011 when planted adhesive which appeared to be like chewing gum was found in the office of then finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, triggering suspicion of the office being bugged.
“Congress should not preach to us on snooping, they should tell who bugged Pranab Mukherjee’s office. It was called chewing gum gate. An RTI reply in 2013 revealed 9000 phones and 500 email accounts were watched every month by UPA govt at the time,” he said. “I would like to tell the Congress, it’s a democracy, people vote with all honesty. Sponsored, false campaigns, sponsored PILs and their dismissal, is not going to help you,” said Prasad. “I would like to tell Congress, NGOs that are close to Congress, and the Leftist, you can do anything, the Modi government will never compromise on national security. Its the result of this, so many flags were hoisted in Kashmir on Independence Day, that they fell short of flags,” he added.