In the wake of the New York Times report which stated that the Indian government has bought Israeli spyware Pegasus in 2017 as part of a $2-billion package for weapons including a missile system, the Editors Guild has written to Justice Raveendran committee to take cognizance of it.
“The Editors Guild of India notes with deep concern, the claims made in the recent investigative report by the New York Times, that in 2017 the Indian and Israeli governments had agreed on the sale of a package of sophisticated weapons and intelligence gear worth roughly $2 billion – with Pegasus and a missile system as the centerpieces,” the letter from The Editors Guild of India read.
The letter further read that the claims in the NY’T are in stark contrast to the stance of the Government of India, which has been and continues to be vague and noncommittal in its response to these extremely serious allegations that whether they purchased the spyware, and more disturbingly, if it was used against Indian citizens, including journalists and civil society members.
The Guild has written to the committee headed by Justice Raveendran, which was instituted by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India to inquire into and investigate the use of Pegasus spyware against Indian citizens, to take cognisance of the claims made in these reports, and seek responses on an affidavit from the Government of India, the CAG, as well as the Secretaries of all the possible ministries that may have been involved with the claimed purchase of the spyware.
Earlier, in November 2021, the Guild had written a detailed letter to the committee with suggestions, amongst others, regarding the procedures for the inquiry to be done by the committee as well as suggestions with respect to witnesses and evidence to be examined by the committee. The Guild had also offered assistance in any manner to the Committee.
In the letter, the Guild reiterated its consistent stance that the proceedings of the Committee be kept open to the public at large so that there is complete transparency with respect to the witnesses being called as well as their responses.
