India Bought Pegasus as Part of Larger $2 Billion Deal with Israel in 2017, Claims 'NYT' Report https://thewire.in/tech/india-bought-pegasus-israel-nyt-report 29 Jan 2022
According to the NYT report, India’s access to Pegasus was sealed in 2017. The story claims that “Pegasus and a missile system” were the “centrepieces” of a broader defence package worth $2 billion.
In July 2021, a consortium of international media organisations including The Wire reported on the usage of Pegasus in countries across the world. In India, over 10 cases of Pegasus infection were found through forensic analysis conducted by Amnesty International’s Security Lab. (https://thewire.in/government/project-pegasus-journalists-ministers-activists-phones-spying)
NYT Report Says India Bought Pegasus. Did Modi Govt Lie To The Supreme Court and the Parliament? https://youtu.be/n_qPTlvch_g?t=105 Jan 29, 2022
"Once Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had given the slogan of Chowkidar hi chor hai, which meant the watchman is a thief. Now, the oppositgion is taking on the modi govt by asking whether the Chowkidar is a Jasoos. Which means whether the Watchman is a spy. The question has arisen after the report in International publication about the Pegasus spyware and how countries/ governments around the world are in a race to acquire the world's most powerful cyber weapon.
At a time when the ghost of Pegasus is still haunting the Modi govt and a case in this regard is still pending in the Supreme Court, the New York Times has published a report which reveals that India did buy the spyware. and the deal to buy NSO made Spyware was struck during the 2017 visit of PM Modi to Israel.
The explosive revelations have led to fresh questions surrounding the govt's claim about Pegasus and snooping. The opposition is up in arms. the report comes at a time when five crucial states including Uttar pradesh and Punjab go for polls.