Pegasus Snooping Row : Embarrassment For BJP, Ally Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Demands Thorough Probe

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In what could be seen as a  major embarrassment for the Modi government, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has favoured a thorough inquiry into allegations of phone tapping with the help of Pegasus spyware which has led to a logjam in Parliament.

Kumar, whose Janata Dal-United is an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre as well as in the state, however, qualified his statement with the remark, “I know of this controversy only from whatever I have read about it in the newspapers”.

“It is a known fact that modern technology can be put to sinister uses. If there have been any attempts to intercept people’s telephonic conversations, it would be better to get the matter probed for suitable action”, he told reporters here on the sidelines of his weekly public interaction programme.

Asked about the opposition’s demand that the matter be probed by a Joint Parliamentary Committee, Kumar, who has been a former Union minister himself, said, “I cannot comment on what is taking place on the floor of the Parliament.”

“But those who have any concrete information with regard to such alleged snooping, must share the same with the government. I am sure the issue will be squarely addressed,” he added.