The Supreme Court prepares for a hearing next week in the Pegasus controversy

(PTI) New Delhi, Dt

The Pegasus espionage issue is raging in the country. The government is being targeted by the opposition on this issue in and out of Parliament. The Pegasus controversy has now reached the Supreme Court. Reporters for an independent investigation into the Supreme Pegasus espionage controversy sitting or chairing a retired judge. Ram and Shashi Kumar have accepted the application. The matter will be heard in the Supreme Court next week. The Center, on the other hand, said that "espionage from Pegasus" was not an issue and expressed readiness to discuss the issue in Parliament.

Journalist n. Ram and Shashi Kumar's application was filed by senior advocate Kapil Sibal before Chief Justice N.S. V. Presented before a bench headed by Raman and urged the court to hold an urgent hearing on the pervasive effects of alleged espionage. Agreeing on the issue, the chief justice adjourned the case to next week. However, the hearing could be held on days other than Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The petition by senior journalists said the alleged espionage was an attempt by government agencies and organizations to suppress and discourage independent expression of protest in India. Phone hacking needs to be investigated using Pegasus spyware. The petition seeks directions to the Central Government to disclose if any government agency is directly or indirectly licensed to use Pegasus spyware.

Rejecting the opposition's opposition to alleged espionage by Pegasus spyware, Union Minister Prahlad Joshi on Friday said that Pegasus espionage was in fact "no issue". The government is always ready to discuss issues related to the people. The proceedings of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have been disrupted due to the opposition's uproar in the monsoon session which started on July 15 due to the Pegasus controversy.

Government needs power of phone tapping for national security: Manmohan

At a time when the country is embroiled in a controversy over alleged espionage by Pegasus spyware, reports that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has defended the government's powers of phone tapping for national security are going viral. When the controversy over Nira Radia's phone tape erupted in late 2010, then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the government needed to have these powers for national security. It should, however, be used under scheduled rules, procedures. Care should be taken not to abuse it.