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Launching a scathing attack on the Modi government over the Pegasus issue, The Congress party has demanded the sacking of Home Minister Amit Shah and a probe into the “role of Prime Minister” Narendra Modi . It accused the government of “treason” and compromising on national security.
Addressing a joint press conference with other party leaders, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala held Shah responsible for the Pegasus spying issue and said the Opposition party’s first demand is his immediate dismissal.
He said the Congress will take all Opposition parties on-board over the issue and decide on whether to ask for a judicial or parliamentary probe in the matter.
“The person responsible for deployment of this illegal spyware Pegasus is no less than the home minister, who must be sacked,” he said. “Our first demand is the immediate sacking of Minister of Home and Internal security Amit Shah and a probe into the role of the prime minister in the matter.”
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said Shah should immediately resign as he “does not deserve” to occupy the position he holds.
Kharge alleged the government has not only attacked freedom of speech, but also the fundamental rights of people including of judges, journalists, opposition leaders, ministers and activists.
Kharge said the Congress along with other opposition parties will raise the issue strongly in Parliament.
Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said “Modiji promotes digital India, but what we are seeing is Surveillance India”.
The Congress also asked a set of questions to the prime minister including as to why Home Minister Shah, the in-charge of the country’s internal security, should not be sacked immediately.
“Does this not warrant a full investigation into the role of prime minister, home minister and others involved,” the party asked.
Accusing the Modi government of murdering the Constitution, rule of law and dismantling national security, Surjewala said the dispensation was guilty of “treason”.
“The Modi government is the deployer and executor of this illegal and unconstitutional snooping and spying racket through Israeli surveillance software Pegasus,” he said.
