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Key Modi rival Rahul Gandhi among potential Indian targets of NSO client
- baybal2 5y agoIndia's analog of PRISM, and a complete regulatory carte blanche for domestic espionate is not BJP's doing. The prime majority of India's very, very intrusive surveillance laws were passed in 1999-2009. The Congress though it will rule India forever. Everything you do while in power, can be used against you when you loose it. I bet the Congress leadership is now pulling its hair for letting the 2007 telegraph act amendment go. Congress was trying to push CMS (a.k.a. India's PRISM) through the legislature multiple times though 200x, but only succeeded after Mumbai attacks. https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/india-central-monitoring-system-something-to-worry-about https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/india-central... https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/in-the-dark-about-indias-prism/article4817903.ece https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/in-the-dark-abo... https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indias-surveillance-project-may-be-as-lethal-as-prism/article4834619.ece https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indias-surveillance-p...
- wolverine876 5y agoModi is doing it now, and violating freedoms and oppressing people. Congress didn't. Changing the subject is convenient for the criminal.
- screye 5y agoModi has his fair share of problems, but the English news coming out of India / western outlets is alarmist and has massive vested interests when it comes to their relations with the Gandhi/Congress family. For 50 years, India was practically run by the Gandhis as a family business. Everyone and anyone who flourished did so with their blessing. Any excellence that was funded was made to abide by central ideological ideas espoused by the Congress. Lastly, many family-businesses survived purely because of the Gandhi's patronage and suppression of any new-elite. From tenured profs to owners of top media organizations, the English speaking elite squarely despises Modi. Part of it is historical ideological filtering & a general fondness for the Gandhis. But, the biggest cause is that patronage and revenue has died out, now that the BJP does not put them on a pedestal nor consults with them as de facto elites. It is the collapse of falsely propped up elite. In this turmoil, they have turned to their only natural ally. The western elite at NYT, WaPo and american universities. They attend panels and write columns about how India is undergoing collapse. Because guess what ? Only western outsiders with no visibility into India would believe it. From abuse of UAPA to surveillance to the controversy regarding Rafales. You will find that the Congress has its hands just as dirty as the BJP. That's Indian politics 101. The most egregious was Modi's diplomatic visa being revoked. 2002 was a tragedy of huge proportions and Modi had an active case ongoing in the Supreme court blessed by the opposition. (The court systems in India are completely independent, but having establishment support always helps) Additionally, Modi was mainly accused of not-doing enough to stop it, rather than actively causing it. Hell, even after being acquitted as innocent by this adversarial supreme court, his visa was still no restored. > Modi remains the only person ever to be banned to travel to the United States of America under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) provision of US Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).[42] In 2012, A Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the Indian Supreme Court found no "prosecutable evidence" against Modi and cleared him of all charges Think about it. Does Modi even make page-1 of failed overseer during major religious riots in India?; let alone the world at that time ? He deserved to be chasitized for what was a complete failure of Govt. mechanisms, but to target him in such an obvious manner highlights what I am talking about. (Modi has had terrible economic policies and has mishandled many a scenario, but I rarely see anyone talking about either. Every conversation is around the same old culture war topics of interest to the west: Issues that have always been a problem in India irrespective of Modi's presence or Congress rule. Hilariously: Aadhar, CAA, 370 removal and the farm bill are all policies that were raised in some part by the previous Congress Govt. None of these were viewed as polarizing until Modi picked them up. (370 removal was polarizing, but the bill was being routinely weakened by every consecutive India Govt.))
- demux 5y agoThis is probably the most accurate take on Modi I've seen on any forum, even one as high-quality as HN. It's almost incredible how the blatant corruption of Congress is forgotten; they were even using Cambridge Analytica (which probably added more fuel to the media trend [0]). [0] https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/whistleblower-claims-cambridge-analyticas-partners-in-india-worked-on-elections-raising-privacy-fears/2018/03/28/1168c04c-328a-11e8-b6bd-0084a1666987_story.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/whistleblo...
- random314 5y ago> Additionally, Modi was mainly accused of not-doing enough to stop it, rather than actively causing it. That is a misrepresentation. He was the primary organizer of the pogrom. In the words of the gujarat riots convict babu bajrangi, at 6:30 timestamp. https://youtu.be/mfnTl_Fwvbo https://youtu.be/mfnTl_Fwvbo https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haren_Pandya https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haren_Pandya Haren Pandyas wife accuses Modi of planning her husband's murder. Modi was pandyas only real enemy.
- srean 5y agoThe legal proceedings that found insufficient evidence against Modi also had several flaws that benefited Modi. Call record metadata of BJP politicians just prior to the outbreak of violence was stopped from being produced in court. All this is part of public record and a part of Sanjeev Bhatt's petition to the court and murder of Modi's own state cabinet minister Haren Pandya who had testified Modi's involvement in Gujarat riots (these documents can be accessed and downloaded). The senior police officer Sanjeev Bhatt, then serving as an intelligence officer had approached the court with evidence and allegations about Modi's direct involvement. The call records were suddenly lost. Bhatt was then convicted for life for a death of a person who died after being released post questioning. This death had happened some 20 years ago and Bhatt, then a newly minted police officer, had been cleared of responsibility at that time. This incident was dug up, case reopened and he was convicted. Judges in Indian courts are often bought, by money and by favors or by threats of harassments.
- sound1 5y ago
- vijaybritto 5y agoAlthough this is not surprising at all (because Modi is a mass murderer), what took everyone by surprise is the fact that the govt planted evidence in multiple activists' devices and arrested them under a draconian act called UAPA. So many political prisoners are currently in prison without any trial for years
- connectsnk 5y agoThe malware could have been planted by a foreign spying agency which won’t be the first time such a thing has happened. The wording of the title makes you assume an adversary just because the title lists them first.
- naturalauction 5y agoThat foreign adversary would have had great timing then. > The selection of Indian numbers largely commenced around the time of Modi’s 2017 trip to Israel, the first visit to the country by an Indian prime minister and a marker of the burgeoning relationship between the two states, including billions of dollars in deals between Delhi and Israeli defence industries. Modi and the then Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, were pictured during the trip walking barefoot together on a beach. Days before, Indian targets had started being selected.
- virtuabhi 5y ago> Modi and the then Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, were pictured during the trip walking barefoot together on a beach. Days before, Indian targets had started being selected. Wow! You are a genius! Do you want to apply for Director position at CIA?
- sss111 5y agoNo need to get snarky. I recommend you read this: https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
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- Bhilai 5y agoThis article has some scathing stuff. If true, these paint Modi govt in a very bad light. Sounds like complete abuse of power with no checks and balances. > Analysis of the more than 1,000 mostly Indian phone numbers selected for potential targeting by the NSO client that hacked Kishor strongly indicate intelligence agencies within the Indian government were behind the selection. > The phone number of a woman who accused India’s then chief justice of sexual harassment was selected shortly after her claims became public, along with 10 other numbers linked to her including those used by her husband and two other family members. > Forensic analysis detected Pegasus activity as recently as this month on a phone used by Sushant Singh, a journalist who investigated a controversial billion-dollar contract awarded to one of Modi’s close allies in business to build a fleet of fighter jets with the French manufacturer Dassault. > The Wire reporter Rohini Singh is facing civil and criminal defamation charges over an investigation she produced into the finances of the son of India’s home minister, Amit Shah. She was selected as a target over the two years ...
- sinyug 5y agoIf the Radia tapes[1] didn't affect the Congress/UPA government, why would this affect Modi? > Sounds like complete abuse of power with no checks and balances. There are checks and balances. They are called elections. The Indian constitution grants the government of the day an extraordinary amount of power. But the government is eventually formed by elected members of parliament. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radia_tapes_controversy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radia_tapes_controversy
- wolverine876 5y agoIf government uses its powers to suppress the opposition and prevent criticism of itself, then elections are not a check. Elections also aren't a check for people who have already suffered from the oppression. Governments operate under the rule of law and respect for democracy and human rights. 'To protect those rights, governments are instituted among men.' They serve the people with power delegated to them by the people. They aren't elected as temporary gods or kings.
- Arun2009 5y agoIt's very disturbing to me as an ordinary Indian citizen that a foreign private company was given the carte blanche to spy on prominent individuals in India. India's history is replete with incidents where seeking the help of foreign agents to subdue local opponents compromised India's security and Indians' liberty. Traitors don't necessarily have to set out to commit treason against their country - they can be just unsophisticated simpletons greedy for power. And they can commit treason and sabotage the nation in the name of patriotism.
- wolverine876 5y agoIf it wasn't a foreign agent, would that stop Modi from doing the exact same thing to the people of India? From what I see (a limited amount) the problem is unrelated to a foreign agent being involved.
- physicsyogi 5y agoIt wasn't a foreign agent being used for spying. It was software the government paid for.
- boruto 5y agoHopefully courts take suo moto on this case and drag Gov through mud. I really cannot believe people who defend this sort of thing. One more reason why a country needs independent media.
- yann2 5y agoCan you imagine monitoring the jabberings of modern journos and politicians 24*7. I would probably jump out of a window on the first day.
- wolverine876 5y agoCould you imagine reading Internet forums? Isn't yours and everyone's presence here - and much worse, in most other forums - an example of people doing exactly that for free?
- smoldesu 5y agoDoes anyone else feel like India's government is starting to spiral? Particularly their censorship of domestic media has concerned me, and hearing about these crazy surveillance campaigns is starting to give me "human rights violation" vibes.
- wolverine876 5y ago> starting to give me "human rights violation" vibes That has been going on for awhile. Look up their treatment of Muslims and other non-Hindus, for example.
- puranjay 5y agoIts only going to get worse imo. India is an economic hole - much of it of our own doing - that is going to be very hard to get out of. Poorer governments tend to be desperate and authoritarian.
- srean 5y agoIt is not surprising that barring one appointment, the ministry of finance was/is held by people who had no background in workings of an economy. The one appointment that did come from a background in economics kept covering her failings by blaming behavior of millennials, international economic scenario and Covid, as if the las two affected India only.
- portpecos 5y agoRahul Gandhi's grandmother also went on a banning spree of political opposition parties, after she declared emergency powers and went authoritarian. Given the legacy of similar behavior from Congress since the birth of the nation, I have little confidence that Congress and Rahul Gandhi will behave any different.
- puranjay 5y agoI fail to see how Congress is relevant to this argument at all. I expected HN to not fall victim to whataboutism so quickly
- virtuabhi 5y agoWhy are two Cabinet Ministers (Ashwini Vaishnaw and Prahlad Patel from Modi govt.) are in this list?
- srean 5y agoPossibly for the same reason that blackmailers mail themselves, a trick as old as the woods.
- meepmorp 5y agoInternal politics? Some people have more enemies than others.
- duxup 5y agoTesting? Or someone was suspicious of them? History shows that surveillance, oppression, and the targets of paranoia rarely limited to outsiders. ... The folks in power always seem to turn on their own too.
- random314 5y agohttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_R%C3%B6hm https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_R%C3%B6hm Internally spied upon and executed on the basis of fake charges.
- perfectstorm 5y ago> Analysis of the more than 1,000 mostly Indian phone numbers selected for potential targeting by the NSO client that hacked Kishor strongly indicate intelligence agencies within the Indian government were behind the selection. this is disturbing but i'm not surprised. Modi will go to any extend to keep his power. People often claim BJP (ruling party) has a weak opposition but if it's so weak why do they even care about spying on the opposition leader? No matter who comes to the top, they are going to be spyed on by this government which is a shame.
- naruvimama 5y agoRahul Gandhi and the congress party signed a secret MOU with the CCP even as Indian soldiers were getting killed by PLA infiltrators. Kishore's strategy for winning elections include stoking communal hatred and starting riots. I am happy that they are under surveillance.
- srean 5y agoAny reliable/credible source ?
- naruvimama 5y agoThe congress party signing an MOU is public information, but the contents are secrets.
- srean 5y agoIn other words, there is nothing relevant that you can substantiate by citing a credible source. Got it.
- naruvimama 5y agoThe congress party itself put out pictures and press release of them signing an MOU. If you need more proof, you can try Pegasus perhaps?
- srean 5y agoThe key word you missed is 'relevant'. Signing MOU is not a crime and neither is it relevant to the discussion. You alleged Kishor of trying to fomenting riots, lets see some credible substantiation of that.
- naruvimama 5y agoYeah signing an MOU with China while we are at war with them. Even a child would know the congress can not be trusted. I see where you might be coming from, the far left So here is a gem of a discussion, https://youtu.be/matXpPAHao4 https://youtu.be/matXpPAHao4
- LoveLeadAcid 5y agoGhandi’s well known to be a commie. Don’t disagree with me, for I am your father.
- ashleshbiradar 5y agoAmong other individuals is the name of the Election Commissioner of India, who was put on the list after he was critical of Modi’s conduct in Election rallies. This is big, the Election Commission is an important constitutional body of India, this needs to have bigger consequences.
- rishav_sharan 5y agoSo apparently most of the pro-Modi commentators are going with the narrative of - Congress also did it, so its ok. No its not ok. Congress is not the one in power and frankly I don't give two hoots about its corruptions when it was in power. BJP and Modi are the ones in power and they have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar.
- portpecos 5y agoAnd you all claim it's only going to get worse...unless what? Unless Congress is elected back to majority? That's a bold assertion considering the history of corruption and spying under the Congress Dynasty.
- rishav_sharan 5y ago> unless what? Unless Congress is elected back to majority? Thats your assertion. For some reason BJP supporters cannot see beyond Congress and Nehru. I myself will be happy if any good party with a more pro-democracy and progressive views takes up the mantle. Be it a new party, a regional party which has gone national or even a revitalized congress.
- nisanth074 5y ago@rishav_sharan Unfortunately, a party like the one you describe is yet to emerge. This is a not a realistic option. > I myself will be happy if any good party with a more pro-democracy and progressive views takes up the mantle. Be it a new party, a regional party which has gone national or even a revitalized congress. Politics almost always is a choice between bad and worse. Until a better third option emerges or the (dynastic, corrupt & inept) Congress changes its leadership / policies (of which there are no indications), BJP is a far less worse choice. > Thats your assertion. For some reason BJP supporters cannot see beyond Congress and Nehru.
- girishso 5y agoYou're saying there's no dynasties in BJP? Anurag Thakur, Poonam Mahahjan, Pankaja Munde, Kiran Rijju, Pankaj Singh, Vasundhar Raje, Varun gandhi all these and many more are direct descendants of former BJP leaders.
- Superblazer 5y agoThe comments remind of the horribly biased people on the Indian subreddit. All Indian political party's are disgusting.
- known 5y agoWhat else can we expect from Brahmin/RSS https://archive.is/XlOXf https://archive.is/XlOXf "Gandhi stands for the substitution of Brahmin domination for British rule in India" --Churchill
- wewake 5y agoThis raises questions on the legitimacy of 2019 GE.
- hypocry12 5y agoIndia is a democracy on paper. But the abject poverty, corruption, and utterly abusive behaviour towards certain groups (called casts, much like in the middle ages) point towards a semi dictatorship through and through.
- naruvimama 5y agoHow shocking national security agency keeping tabs on key people? What next tax authorities conducting audits to catch tax evaders? Yes, Modi bad man hai.