CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on  July 19, 2021VERY concerning information has emerged on the government of India procuring the Pegasus spyware from an Israeli firm, NSO, the worldwide leader in cyber surveillance.  NSO has categorically clarified that it deals only with “vetted” governments.  These investigations reveal a large number of journalists and human rights activists have been targeted for hacking their smart phones for surveillance.  Globally more than 50,000 instances concentrated in countries known to engage in surveillance of

AT the call of the Jharkhand United Platform of Left parties, social and mass organisations, NGOs, college students and concerned citizens, a march to Raj Bhavan was held in Ranchi on July 15, demanding a judicial probe into the death of Father Stan Swamy, and the release of all political prisoners.Hundreds joined the march including Brinda Karat, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member, and Party state leaders Prakash Biplav, Praful Linda, Suknath Lohra and other activists of the Left parties and mass organisations.The meeting was presided over by Dayamani Barla, noted activist and fighter for tribal r

TO facilitate its agenda of wholesale privatisation, the Modi government brought in the Essential Defence Services Ordinance, 2021. The President of India promulgated it under the garb of “maintaining the essential defence services”. But its real aim is to throttle any strike and protest by defence civilian employees’ federations amid continued opposition to the government’s move to dismantle the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and corporatise the 41 ordnance factories situated across the country into seven companies so as to paveway for their ultimate privatisation.

EXTENDED pandemic crisis has disrupted the lives of millions and we understand that its impact is not the same for all. In the midst of this crisis, rising cases of sexual harassment of school children are being reported in Tamil Nadu. This shocking reality hit the public consciousness after a few teachers were accused of sexually harassing girl students by alumnae of not just one school but from some of the most reputed schools in Chennai like Padma Seshadri Bala Bavan (PSBB), Sushil Hari International Residential School, Chettinad Vidyasharam and so on.

The chronology suggests new security collaboration initiated with Israel during NSO Ajit Doval’s visit in March, 2017 preparatory to Modi’s visitTHE Pegasus spyware scandal is not just a case of violation of privacy, or illegal surveillance or snooping by security agencies. It is all that, and much more.  The Pegasus is military grade spyware which takes surveillance and hacking to a new level altogether. The bigger picture must not be obscured.The Pegasus usage is part of the larger authoritarian architecture that has been built up over the past seven years.