'If We Get Better Spyware From Israel, We Can Give Them $4 Bn': Chidambaram’s Dig at Modi Govt
New Delhi: Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Sunday cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks that there cannot be a better time to set new goals in India-Israel relations to take a dig at him, saying it is the best time to ask Israel if they have any advanced version of the Pegasus spyware.
Chidambaram's attack on the government came a day after a New York Times report claimed that India bought Pegasus spyware as part of a $2 billion defence deal with Israel in 2017. The report triggered a major controversy with the Opposition alleging that the government indulged in illegal snooping that amounted to "treason".
"The prime minister said that it is the best time to set new goals in the India-Israel relationship. Of course, it is the best time to ask Israel if they have any advanced version of the Pegasus spyware," Chidambaram said.
"The last deal was for $2 billion. India can do better this time. If we get more sophisticated spyware ahead of the 2024 elections, we can give them even $4 billion," the former home minister said.
पीएम ने कहा कि भारत-इजरायल संबंधों में नए लक्ष्य निर्धारित करने का यह सबसे अच्छा समय है।
बेशक, यह इज़राइल से पूछने का सबसे अच्छा समय है कि क्या उनके पास पेगासस स्पाइवेयर का कोई उन्नत संस्करण है।
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) January 30, 2022
In a special video message on Saturday on the completion of 30 years of full-fledged diplomatic relations between India and Israel, Prime Minister Modi had said there cannot be a better time to set new goals for taking forward India-Israel relations and asserted that the importance of the relationship has increased amid significant changes in the world.
Chidambaram also attacked Union minister Gen (retired) V.K. Singh for calling The New York Times "Supari Media".
Also read: ‘Treason’: Opposition Slams Centre Over Report That Pegasus Was Bought in 2017
"Minister V.K. Singh has called the New York Times 'supari media'. Was he not the one who called Indian media 'presstitutes'?" Chidambaram said in another tweet.
मंत्री वी के सिंह ने ‘न्यूयॉर्क टाइम्स’ को 'सुपारी मीडिया' कहा है।
वी के सिंह उन लोगों में शामिल नहीं थे जो भारतीय मीडिया को 'प्रेस्टिट्यूट्स' बुलाते थे?
मुझे तजुब्ब होगा अगर उन्होंने कभी न्यूयॉर्क टाइम्स या वाशिंगटन पोस्ट जैसे समाचार पत्र पढ़े हैं
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) January 30, 2022
"I wonder if he has ever read newspapers like The New York Times or The Washington Post. I doubt if he knows the role played by the two newspapers in exposing the Watergate scandal and the Pentagon Papers. If he does not wish to read history, he can at least watch the movies!" the senior Congress leader said.
While Singh had called The New York Times "Supari Media", a government source had said the matter related to the Pegasus software was being monitored by a committee under the Supreme Court – headed by retired Supreme Court judge R.V. Raveendran – and its report was awaited.
(PTI)
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