Nothing new in snooping order

Central government's new statutory order on snooping, signed by Union home secretary Rajiv Gauba, became a slanging match between the opposition parties and the BJP on Friday.

Crying foul in a united voice, the Opposition parties termed the order as fresh attempts by the Modi government to turn the country into a surveillance state as described in George Orwell's novel, The Animal Farm.

Describing the order a big threat to democracy, Congress leader Anand Sharma said, "Through this order, the BJP government is turning India into a 'surveillance state'. It is against the right to privacy... This shows the ultimate use of power."

To challenge Congress' accusation that the new order was Modi government's creation, the government sources brought out a detailed copy of secret annexures on standard operating procedure adopted in 2009 on surveillance methods to claim there was nothing new in the order.

Congress, however, maintained the recent order was devoid of any reasonable, swallow-able justification.

It asked, the Government to clarify, which public interest is being served by giving Commissioner of Police the powers to snoop on every computer in this country.

The political slug-fest continued, as in a dig at PM Modi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "Converting India into a police state isn't going to solve your problems, Modi Ji."

In a counter jibe, BJP chief Amit Shah responded questioning Rahul Gandhi for his "ill-knowledge".

"There were only 2 insecure dictators in the history of India. One imposed Emergency and the other wanted unrestricted access to read letters of common citizens. Guess who were they @RahulGandhi?"

Accusing Rahul Gandhi of indulging in fear-mongering and playing politics with national security, Shah tweeted, "UPA put no barriers on unlawful surveillance. When Modi govt puts safeguards for citizens, Rahul cries conspiracy."

Other opposition parties — Trinamool Congress, SP, CPM, RJD, AMIM and AAP — joined Congress to decry government's step as dangerous for democracy.

FIRST DATA PROTECTION BILL IN OFFING

• India is also in the midst of framing its first data protection Bill.  
   
• The draft of Bill is ready and has been moved for inter-ministerial consultations.  
   
• It will be of critical importance given the debate around data protection and privacy is increasing every day. 

Isn’t there a terror threat for India? Isn’t it true ISI and ISIS are engaging in radicalisation through internet? This order is a robust mechanism for national security 
Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister for Law and IT

This notification needs to be withdrawn... We are becoming dependent in this independent country. 
Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal CM