Former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara claims the central government used Pegasus spyware to hack his phone in order to “topple” the Congress administration in the state.
Pegasus malware was allegedly used to snoop on Karnataka politicians, including Parameshwara, according to media sources.
G Parameshwara, condemning the alleged spying on his phone, said the government owes the country an explanation.
“I don’t know why the PMO or the home ministry did it. But they are running the government. What is the need to snoop on my phone?” Parameshwar asked.
This spying, he said, was carried out to “topple Congress administrations” in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. “It’s my phone now, but it might be with anyone else tomorrow.”
In Karnataka, G Parameshwara was a major figure in the Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition administration. He was also a member of the coordination committee set up to ensure that the coalition government ran smoothly. His phone was apparently under monitoring throughout this time, according to reports.
In July 2019, 17 members of the JDS-Congress government defected to the BJP, thus overthrowing the administration. The majority of these MLAs eventually won by-elections on BJP platforms.
The administration flatly denied claims of eavesdropping on lawmakers, journalists, and others using Pegasus software in the Lok Sabha on Monday. It said that with checks and balances in place in the country’s laws, unlawful spying was impossible, and that attempts were being made to undermine Indian democracy.
An international media consortium revealed on Sunday that the malware may have been used to steal over 300 confirmed mobile phone numbers in India, including those of two ministers, over 40 journalists, three opposition figures, and a slew of businesspeople and activists.
