Govt allows agencies to monitor computers, sparks privacy fears

‘ORWELLIAN STATE’ Oppn slams Centre; provision was laid down by UPA govt, says Jaitley

NEW DELHI: The government and the Opposition on Friday sparred over a notification allowing 10 central agencies, including the Delhi police, rights to snoop into anyone’s computer, with Congress president Rahul Gandhi raising the spectre of a “police state” and finance minister Arun Jaitley and IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad clarifying that this was merely a repetition of rules passed during the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime in 2009.

Jaitley maintained in the Rajya Sabha that “authorised agencies have right under the law to intercept any attempt to subvert national security, defence, public order or integrity of India”, even as Congress president Rahul Gandhi seized the opportunity to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his tweet that said, “Converting India into a police state isn’t going to solve your problems, Modi Ji. It’s only going to prove to over 1 billion Indians what an insecure dictator you really are.”

Onthursday,unionhomesecretary Rajiv Gauba issued a statutory order authorising 10 “security and intelligence” agencies to lawfully “intercept, monitor and decrypt” information through a “computer resource”. It became the latest bone of contention between the Opposition and the government.

BJP chief Amit Shah hit back at Gandhi. “Yet again, Rahul does fear-mongering and plays politics with national security. UPA put no barriers on surveillance. When Modi govt puts safeguards for citizens, Rahul cries conspiracy,” he tweeted.