Union Minister VK Singh, who once called Indian journalists ‘presstitutes,’ has referred to New York Times as ‘Supari Media’ for the US-based publication’s expose on Pegasus. The report by New York Times has revealed how Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed a defence deal that included the purchase of Pegasus spyware during his visit to Israel in 2017.
Reacting to the news, Singh wrote on Twitter, “Can you trust NYT?? They are known as ” Supari Media”.
New York Times had reported, “The Modi visit, however, was notably cordial, complete with a carefully staged moment of him and Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu walking together barefoot on a local beach. They had reason for the warm feelings. Their countries had agreed on the sale of a package of sophisticated weapons and intelligence gear worth roughly $2 billion — with Pegasus and a missile system as the centerpieces.”
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Saturday that Modi had committed treason. “Modi Govt bought Pegasus to spy on our primary democratic institutions, politicians and public. Govt functionaries, opposition leaders, armed forces, judiciary all were targeted by these phone tappings. This is treason. Modi Govt has committed treason,” the Congress leader wrote on Twitter.
General VK Singh, former army chief of India, had earlier called journalists presstitutes.