‘First Skeleton Has Tumbled Out’: Chidambaram On Pegasus Spyware Controversy

The Supreme Court of India had appointed a three-member committee to investigate the alleged use of Pegasus software to snoop on the Indian citizens, including journalists, activists and politicians.

Senior Congress Leader P Chidambaram. (File Photo)

New Delhi: Former Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Friday said, "first skeleton has tumbled out,” while lauding the Supreme Court's directive in the Pegasus spyware controversy.

The Supreme Court of India had appointed a three-member committee to investigate the alleged use of Pegasus software to snoop on the Indian citizens, including journalists, activists and politicians. The three-member committee will be headed by former apex court judge R.V. Raveendran.

Taking to Twitter, Senior Congress leader Chidambaram on Friday tweets, "After the SC’s wise and bold order in the Pegasus controversy, the first skeleton has tumbled out, Yesterday, Israel’s Ambassador publicly stated that Pegasus spyware was sold only to governments.”

So, in India’s case, the buyer was certainly the Government of India

Will the Minister for Telecommunications admit that the buyer of Pegasus was the GoI?

If he remains silent, the blot on his report card will remain

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) October 29, 2021

“So, in India’s case, the buyer was certainly the Government of India Will the Minister for Telecommunications admit that the buyer of Pegasus was the GoI? If he remains silent, the blot on his report card will remain,” Chidambaram further said.

Recently, Israel’s ambassador to India Naor Gilon had indirectly implied that the Pegasus spyware was sold to the Union government of India. However, Gilon also said that the Pegasus issue is India’s internal matter.

“I will not go into more details...NSO (Group) is a private Israeli company. Every export of NSO or such companies needs an export licence of the Israeli government,” Gilon was quoted by PTI in its report.

“I am perturbed by the statement in the SC order that many persons when requested to be a member of a Committee to probe the Pegasus controversy, “politely declined”. Can any conscientious citizen decline the request of the SC to serve in a matter of paramount national interest? This episode illustrates how far we have travelled from the exhortation of Mahatma Gandhi that Indians should not fear their rulers,” the Chidambaram had said on October 27.