Govt snooped on my meetings with Prashant Kishor using Pegasus spyware: Mamata Banerjee
Mamata Banerjee has accused the Modi government of putting her meetings with poll strategist Prashant Kishor under surveillance using Pegasus spyware.
Intensifying her attack on the Modi government over the alleged hacking of phones of opposition leaders and journalists using Pegasus spyware, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday alleged that the government had put her meetings with poll strategist Prashant Kishor under surveillance.
"I told you that few days back I was in a meeting with Prashant Kishor and some others. They (government) have cloned the meeting. Prashant Kishor got his phone audited and came to know that one of our meetings was known to them (government) through Pegasus spyware," Mamata Banerjee alleged at a press conference.
WHAT'S THE CONTROVERSY ABOUT?
On Sunday, an international media consortium reported that over 300 verified mobile phone numbers, including of two ministers, over 40 journalists, three opposition leaders besides scores of businesspersons and activists in India could have been targeted for hacking through the Pegasus spyware.
ALSO READ | What is Pegasus spyware, how it works, and how it hacks into WhatsApp
The reports immediately triggered a political uproar in the country with the Opposition raising the matter prominently in Parliament on the first day of the ongoing Monsoon Session.
On Monday, the government categorically rejected in the Lok Sabha allegations of snooping on politicians, journalists and others using Pegasus software.
It asserted that illegal surveillance was not possible with checks and balances in the country's laws, and alleged that attempts were being made to malign Indian democracy.
ALSO WATCH | Decoded: How Pegasus Spyware Targetted Journalists, Activists And Political Leaders
MAMATA ATTACKS GOVT
Hitting out at the Modi government, Mamata Banerjee alleged it does not trust its own people and is snooping on ministers and senior officials.
"Phones of some RSS leaders were also put under surveillance," she alleged.
ALSO READ | Amit Shah invokes 'aap chronology samajhiye' in response to Pegasus spyware allegations
"They are tapping several phones. For example, if they are tapping Prashant Kishor's phone, they can clone my phone too. The phone that I use is now useless. Shall I keep it in deep fridge? Or shall I destroy it? Can this be a solution? Pegasus spyware is a much bigger conspiracy. As a symbolic protest against this snooping, I have put plaster on my phone," Mamata Banerjee said, adding that the government must order a probe in the matter.
ON POST-POLL VIOLENCE IN BENGAL
Responding to allegations of post-poll violence in West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee said, "Nothing happened here. Whatever happened took place when the state was under the Election Commission."
"I took oath on May 5 and changes the police set up. The BJP has killed our people in seats they won. One of the members of the National Human Risght Commission is a BJP member and he is saying what the BJP has told him to say," Mamata Banerjee said.
WILL MEET PM MODI IN DELHI: MAMATA
The Bengal chief minister said she will soon be travelling to New Delhi where she will meet some political leaders, including the prime minister.
"I will go to Delhi for two-three days. I have sought time from the President and PM and will meet them," she said.
ALSO READ | Govt hacked my phone using Pegasus to topple Karnataka govt: G Parameshwara