Updated: September 16, 2020 10:03:00 pm
Hours earlier, Congress raised the issue of surveillance of prominent Indian personalities in both Houses of Parliament.
The government today created a “Committee of Experts” under the National Cyber Security Coordinator to study revelations, as reported by The Indian Express, that a Shenzhen-based technology company with ties to the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party is monitoring more than 10,000 Indian individuals and organizations in its global database of “foreign targets.
The committee will assess the “implications” of the digital surveillance carried out by Zhenhua Data Information Technology Co. Limited and “will assess any violations of the law and present its recommendations within thirty days.” This was conveyed by Foreign Minister S Jaishankar in a letter to Rajya Sabha Congress Leader and MP, KC Venugopal, who raised the issue at Rajya Sabha today.
The matter, Jaishankar said in his letter, was discussed by the “Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the Chinese Ambassador today.”
“Our Embassy in Beijing also raised it with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Chinese side conveyed that Shenzen Zhenhua is a private company and had publicly stated its position. For its part, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintained that there was no connection between the company in question and the Chinese government, ”said Jaishankar.
The government has established a committee of experts under the National Cyber Security Coordinator to study #ChinaLooking reports @IndianExpresssays Chancellor S Jaishankar. It will assess the implications, assess any violations of the law, and present its recommendations within 30 days. https://t.co/iyDMGGonM3
– P Vaidyanathan Iyer (@iyervaidy) September 16, 2020
Hours earlier, Congress raised the issue of surveillance of prominent Indian personalities in both Houses of Parliament.
As The Indian Express reported on Monday, a Shenzhen-based tech company with ties to the Chinese government and the Communist Party of China was monitoring more than 10,000 Indian individuals and organizations in its global database of “foreign targets. “. (Click here to read our full research)
While members of Congress KC Venugopal and Rajeev Satav raised the issue during Zero Hour, Rajya Sabha President M Venkaiah Naidu told the government to take note of it. “The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, please take note of this. It has been featured prominently. So report to the minister in question, see what can be done and find out the truth, ”Naidu said.
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Pressing for a discussion on the issue, Congress again filed a motion postponement notice in Lok Sabha, but President Om Birla rejected it. Members of Congress had also filed a motion postponement notice on Tuesday, but it was rejected.
Congress now plans to move a notice to draw attention to the issue in Lok Sabha on Thursday.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha, asked the government to make a statement in Parliament. “What will happen to our national security? The IT minister is here. Please tell us what’s going on, ”he said.
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“This aggression from the crown has come from China to India; on the border, Chinese troops have committed the aggression; and now there is also a hybrid war. Is the government aware of this? “, Said.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Congressman Kodikunnil Suresh said it was a “direct attempt at espionage and information harassment by China.”
“Chinese aggression to incite a hybrid war against India and its political leadership is a violation of all laws, international decorum and practices and decency,” Suresh said.
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“The Chinese ambassador to India should be summoned by the government to register a strong protest and appropriate actions should be taken in all forums to prevent such transgressions by China against India,” he said.
Treasury banks did not respond.
In his notice for a motion to postpone on Wednesday, Congressman Hibi Eden said: “This requires a broader debate on our security architecture. This Chinese company is mocking our national security credentials, which has been snooping into the workings of our democracy and its institutions … Any interference in the privacy of our citizens is an intrusion into national sovereignty and is serious concern for the safety and security of our nation ”.
In Rajya Sabha, Venugopal tried to draw the House’s attention to “shocking news that is related to the national security and privacy of Indian citizens.” According to a media report, The Indian Express report, a Shenzhen-based technology company with ties to the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government is tracking more than 10,000 Indian individuals and organizations in its global database. of foreign targets. It is something very shocking. This includes the President of India, and you, Sir, the Vice President of India and the Prime Minister of India. It has opposition leaders, including the president of Congress, senior ministers, and members of Parliament. It has the Chief of Army and industrialists. The company has also compiled a database of bureaucrats in key positions, judges, scientists, academics, journalists, actors, athletes, religious figures and activists, ”he said.
“This is an area of great concern,” he said, and asked the government “if it has taken notice.” “If so, what action has been taken? Every day we hear reports. Chinese entering our borders. We didn’t get any response from the government, ”he said.
His party colleague, Rajeev Satav, noted that even the relatives of key personalities were being tracked. “Then it becomes a serious problem. The government should come out with clarifications so that everything is clear. It is an issue related to the future of the country. How can a Chinese company spy on such prominent people in the country? “, Said.
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