QUESTION: There is this Pegasus spyware which spied on the phones of opposition leaders, journalists, and activists. Are you concerned about it? Are you apprehensive about the way the central government is acting in democratic India?

ANSWER: I think it is a development that has serious implications for democracy. If the allegation is true, it is a violation of democracy and human rights. It is does not good for human dignity to spy on people and their conversations with anybody, whether it be personal or institutional. There are many other ways of doing it. Also, we don’t know how the information thus gathered is used by others. Only a government can buy such spyware, as its owners themselves have said. But, so far the government has not said anything. If any-body has done it, it is unethical and we don’t approve of it. It does not augur well for the country, especially when there are so many other bad things happening in society like intolerance, corruption, pain due to the pandemic etc. Do we need more of them in such times? I think the way the present government is going about regard-ing these matters is un-acceptable. We now need everybody working together to build up the nation. There is so much illiteracy, poverty, disease hunger, and backwardness plaguing the country. Our focus should be on improving the quality of education and healthcare for our people. Our people should be able to live in peace and amity. Criticism has a big role to play in a democracy, but the point is how we manage it. Those who disagree are not enemies of the country. It is only that they have alternate perspectives and values.

Bp Henry D’Souza
Bellary