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<ul><li>More than a day has passed since the New York Times report saying the Indian government bought the spyware from Israel and there is very little in terms of response from the government. </li><li>It shows that either the government doesn’t take lying as a serious charge or it has little material to defend itself and neither of the two is a good show on an elected government in a democracy. </li><li>Check out more stories from the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/bi-newsletter">Simply Put series</a>, Business Insider’s uniquely simple explainers on the hottest news topics every week and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/newsletters_signup.cms">sign up</a> for the weekly newsletter if you like.</li></ul>At first, about six months ago, the question was whether the spyware was used by the Narendra Modi government to trace and track the dissenters. Now, after the New York Times investigation, the first question to be answered is whether Modi's ministers lied to the Parliament. And, the government’s silence on the New York Times charge that it bought Pegasus spyware is eerie. The Prime Minister gave his frequent radio address, called the Mann ki Baat, on January 30, but there was no mention of the Pegasus issue. The opposition is likely to launch a high decibel protest, demanding a response from the Modi government in the Parliament when it opens for <a href="https://businessinsider.in/budget">the Budget session this week</a>. A minister of the Modi government, Ashwini Vaishnaw, had denied the snooping charge in Parliament saying India was not one of the buyers of the Pegasus spyware. The Ministry of Defence backed it up saying it didn’t do any transaction with the NSO Group that sells Pegasus. The government lawyer maintained a similar stance at the Supreme Court of India as well, but the court did not find it convincing. These were some of the court’s observations after the government’s response to the charge that it used national security as an excuse to illegally monitor its detractors: <ul><li>There has been no specific denial by the Centre. Thus, we have no option but to accept the submissions of the petitioner and appoint an expert committee whose function will be overseen by the Supreme Court.</li><li>There is no clear stand from the government. There is a serious concern of foreign agency involvement by surveilling Indians.</li><li>The Solicitor General had suggested that many such reports are motivated. However, such omnibus oral submissions cannot be accepted.</li></ul> Given the Modi administration’s response in the preceding months, the implication of the latest New York Times report is that the Modi administration lied both to the Parliament and the Supreme Court. It’s a charge similar to the Watergate scandal in the United States that toppled the Richard Nixon administration in the early 1970s. Even Subramanian Swamy, a member of Parliament from Modi’s own party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has raised a similar question. <div type="twitter" handle="Swamy39" handlename="Subramanian Swamy" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1326823978174910465/lBQbS0ZX_normal.jpg" favoritecount="15368" retweetcount="4437" status="Modi government must rebut New York Times revelations today that It did indeed subscribe by payment from tax payers… https://t.co/gBWw1J1jfV" createdat="1643424463000" id="1487256113187721217"></div> The New York Times report has alleged that the Indian government under Modi did buy the spyware from Israel as part of a $2 billion purchase of defence equipment. The report also connected this purchase with India supporting Israel at a United Nations (UN) forum ⁠— <a href="https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/politics/israel-palestine-conflict-here-is-how-india-has-voted-in-un-over-the-years-6956341.html">a shift from its long-standing support for the Palestinian cause</a> ⁠— to deny a Palestinian human rights organisation an ‘observer status’. More than a day has passed since the latest report and there is very little in terms of response from the government or the Prime Minister. So far, there is a tweet from a junior minister for civil aviation and road transport and highways, General VK Singh, who has called the New York Times ‘supari media’. Taking a Supari ⁠— the Hindi word for betel nut ⁠— is a colloquially used to describe a hit job. Syed Akbaruuddin, India’s former permanent representative to the UN, <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/utter-rubbish-ex-diplomat-syed-akbaruddin-on-nyt-pegasus-report-citing-indias-un-vote-2736819">has ‘rubbished’ the link</a> with India’s stance in support of Israel against Palestinians. Other than these, there isn’t another official word on the matter so far. Considering the seriousness of the charge, it would be fair to expect that the Prime Minister would have defended the government in his Mann ki baat address to the voters today. But he didn't. <div type="Youtube" id="WdprihSHmmQ" title="PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat with the Nation, January 2022" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WdprihSHmmQ/mqdefault.jpg"></div> There are two ways to look at it. Either team Modi doesn’t take the charge of ‘lying to Parliament’ seriously. It’s not a good show on an elected government in a democracy that it doesn’t take offence to being called a liar, especially in the Parliament. Or, it doesn’t have enough material to defend itself. An expert committee appointed by the Supreme Court, led by a former judge RV Raveendran, is already <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/supreme-court-of-india-verdict-on-pegasus-spying-case-appoints-a-retired-judge-committee-for-probe/articleshow/87299281.cms">looking into the snooping charges</a>. If the three-member panel arrives at a conclusion that there was illegal supervision, it could automatically imply that the tool i.e. Pegasus was purchased by the government. A clean chit from the Justice Raveendran panel would be a good thing for Modi and his government but it isn’t here, at least not yet. Meanwhile, ignoring the charge of lying, or wishing it away, is not an option. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/pegasus-google-reveals-how-the-sophisticated-spyware-hacked-into-iphones-without-users-knowledge/articleshow/88383175.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Google reveals how the sophisticated spyware Pegasus hacked into iPhones without user’s knowledge</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/rupee-is-likely-to-weaken-against-the-us-dollar-in-2022-as-per-experts/articleshow/89218673.cms">Experts say the rupee is likely to weaken against the US dollar this year</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/budget-2022-indian-government-can-help-zomato-swiggy-uber-and-ola-can-increase-salary-of-delivery-partners-and-drivers/articleshow/89180404.cms">There’s a way government can prod Zomato, Swiggy, Uber and Ola to increase salaries of delivery partners and drivers</a>

Simply put, the charge on the Modi government is that it lied to the Parliament about buying Pegasus spyware and it must respond

Prime Minister <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Why-Indias-New-Prime-Minister-Is-The-Most-Impressive-Person-Of-2014/articleshow/45629784.cms">Narendra Modi</a> wants to know your <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/5-best-SelfieWithDaughter-from-the-pages-of-history/articleshow/47866598.cms">Mann ki Baat</a> for his next <keyword id="6364850" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mann-ki-Baat">Mann ki Baat</keyword> episode to be aired on Prasar Bharati on July 26. The popular programme started this January has talked on issues like child foeticide to raksha bandhan. 
 
At Business Insider, given the opportune moment of the ongoing Monsoon session of the Parliament, we list for you 5 issues that should most definitely be discussed. 
 
1.<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Its-not-the-era-of-golden-silence-PM-Modi-Speak-up-before-it-istoo-late/articleshow/48018074.cms">Vyapam scam</a> -More than 25 people died mysteriously in two years, not a single person convicted! What is more shocking is <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword>’s deafening silence around all of it. Will Vyapam case ever be solved with the head of the country showing a tight-lipped attitude towards it? We want to know what is in your ‘Mann’ about this. 
 
2.<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Happy-and-Gay-in-India-Sec-377-could-soon-be-abolished/articleshow/47878073.cms">Gay marriage</a> - After Greenland, Finland and Ireland, United States became the fourth country in 2015 to legalise gay marriage and in all the 50 states. Individuals to big brands and companies celebrated this as a red letter day in US history. That reminds us that we are still far behind in liberating LGBTQ community from the shackles of the ruthless society. This can only happen if we start talking about it. We are waiting to know your Mann ki Baat on it. 
 
3. Digital India- Narendra Modi bedazzled all on July 4 by launching a portal in a stadium, a first in the whole world. What was sad the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Challenges-of-Digital-India-Some-heads-up-for-Narendra-Modi/articleshow/47959238.cms">challenges</a> of the “e-governance projects lying dormant for years repackaged as #DigitalIndia” remained unaddressed at the end of the day. It is an earnest request to Modi to please tell the world how they are going to solve the challenges so that this noble initiative is not added to the list of fake promises made by Prime Ministers. 
 
4. Road safety Bill- With Modi’s Rs. 14000 crore road connectivity plan, road safety bill still awaits to be passed. Trapped in the bureaucratic battle of the different players in the game are the citizens who use this death trap for commuting. The nation is becoming impatient; we want some confirmation of actions now! 
 
5. Reservation in education- Since Modi has come across as a Prime Minister who is exploring those areas which his predecessors dared to think, education quotas would be the perfect issue to work upon next. It is high time that you appeal to the citizens to face the brutal truth that quotas are pulling down the progress in education and take necessary steps. Talking about quotas, caste quotas are not the only one by the way, there is the whole ruckus of management quota as well. 
 
(Image credits: niticentral)

5 Topics that MUST be discussed by Modi in ‘Mann ki Baat’

In the backdrop of PM Narendra Modi’s announcement of ‘Start-Up India, Stand-Up India’, an inter-ministerial, high-level panel will be established, which will scan through startup proposals and see if they can be incentivised. 
 
The ‘Start-Up India, Stand-Up India’ programme will be unveiled on January 16 and will have a slew of incentives for aspiring entrepreneurs. 
 
"On January 16, the government of India will unveil the full action plan of Start-Up India, Stand-Up India. A structure will be presented before you. This programme will be connected to the country's IITs, IIMs, central universities and NITs. Wherever there are youth, they will be linked through live connectivity,” Modi had said in his monthly radio address. 
 
One of the major benefits under this initiative will be reduction in norms needed to establish a business, including approvals and tax breaks. 
 After the panel approves the plan by entrepreneurs, process of business establishment will start. With Modi’s backing to <keyword id="2023759" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="startups-in-India">startups in India</keyword>, India is expected to generate employment. 
 
So on what basis with the committee approve the plan? Innovation is the answer! The panel will see if the plan will make a cut in future and has innovation. 
 
(Image: Reuters)

If your start-up needs funds, then now is the time, because Modi has a brilliant plan up his sleeves!

If everything goes as planned, you never know if India beats Silicon Valley in having more number of startups as the country has the backing of its Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 
 
Modi, during his monthly radio address ‘Mann ki baat’, said he would soon unveil Startup India, Standup India. 
 
"Startup India, Standup India will bring about a big opportunity for the youth of the country. On January 16, the government will launch the complete action plan of the project. All IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management), IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology), central universities, NITs (National Institutes of Technology) will be joined with this programme through live connectivity," Modi said. 
 
This will come as a breather for many people who have creative ideas and lack a slew of things to launch their startups. With the backing of the government, aspiring entrepreneurs will be able to devise new systems. 
 
"We have to change the concept according to the requirements of our country. If a poor man does physical labour and a youth creates something through an innovation which lessens the physical effort of the labourer, I would consider that also a startup. I would ask banks to help such youth. Also, Startup India, Standup India, should not be limited to certain cities - it should spread to all corners of the country. I want to urge state governments also to spread this thought," Modi said. 
 
During his ‘Mann ki baat’ address, Modi reiterated his slogan for clean India and asked people to clean the statues of national and state leaders as part of his pet campaign, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, before January 26. 
 
(Image: Reuters)

PM Modi backs creative heads in the country, talks about Startup India, Standup India

New Delhi, Homegrown Twitter-like platform <keyword id="3518161" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="koo">Koo</keyword> has garnered over 10 lakh new users in just one week, surpassing the 40 lakh-figure in nearly 10 months of its arrival, as Twitter was caught in crosshairs with the Indian government over its direction to remove nearly 1,400 controversial accounts. Koo, a favourite among several Union ministers, including IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad who is at the forefront of the government's war with Twitter, has reached 4.2 million users within no time. According to data analytics platform Statista, as of January 2021, the micro-blogging platform Twitter had an audience reach of 69.3 million users in the US. Japan and India were ranked second and third with 50.9 and 17.5 million users, respectively. The fast-growing vernacular platform Koo describes itself as a personal updates and opinion sharing micro-blogging service. The app won the Atmanirbhar App Innovation Challenge held in August last year and Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> encouraged Indians to use the Koo app in his 'Mann Ki Baat' speech too. However, Koo also found itself in the midst of several controversies including a data leak row and Chinese investment. Koo Co-founder and CEO Aprameya Radhakrishna denied that there was any data leak. "Koo is an India registered company with Indian founders. Raised earlier capital 2.5 years ago. Latest funds for Bombinate Technologies is led by a truly Indian investor 3one4 capital. Shunwei (single digit shareholder) which had invested in our Vokal journey will be exiting fully," Radhakrishna said in an earlier investment. Koo has raised $4.1 million as part of its Series A funding. Infosys veteran Mohandas Pai's 3one4 Capital is the latest addition to the investors on board, according to the company, and <keyword id="144381" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Accel-Partners">Accel Partners</keyword>, <keyword id="1397792" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kalaari-Capital">Kalaari Capital</keyword>, <keyword id="592779" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Blume-Ventures">Blume Ventures</keyword> and Dream Incubator also participated in the round. "We have got more love than we expected. Our systems are facing more load than ever. Thank you for placing your trust in us. Our team is working on overdrive to fix it. We request your patience and support through this time. Let's do this together," Radhakrishna had said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/india-issues-new-guidelines-for-passengers-arriving-from-the-uk-brazil-europe-and-middle-east-countries/articleshow/81083248.cms">India issues new guidelines for passengers arriving from the UK, Brazil, Europe and Middle-East countries</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/not-just-a-tiktok-clone-says-chingari-app-founder-with-their-latest-shop-within-videos-feature-which-he-claims-is-the-next-big-thing-in-social-commerce/articleshow/81084432.cms">‘Not just a TikTok clone,’ says Chingari founder with their latest shop within videos feature which he claims is the next big thing in social commerce</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/samsung-galaxy-f62-review-the-new-mid-range-killer/articleshow/81084382.cms">Samsung Galaxy F62 review – the new mid-range killer</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/cairn-energy-ceo-meets-indian-finance-secretary-as-shareholders-impatiently-wait-for-action-on-the-1-4-billion-tax-dispute/articleshow/81087952.cms">Cairn Energy CEO meets Indian finance secretary as shareholders impatiently wait for action on the $1.4 billion tax dispute</a>

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Simply put, the charge on the Modi government is that it lied to the Parliament about buying Pegasus spyware and it must respond

Sriram Iyer

5 Topics that MUST be discussed by Modi in ‘Mann ki Baat’

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If your start-up needs funds, then now is the time, because Modi has a brilliant plan up his sleeves!

BI India Bureau

PM Modi backs creative heads in the country, talks about Startup India, Standup India

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As Twitter engages in a firefight with the Indian government, homegrown rival Koo crosses 4 million users within 10 months of launch

IANS

Full transcript of PM Narendra Modi's TV interview

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