Prashant Kishor Backs Rahul Gandhi On Phone Tapping Citing Own Pegasus Surveillance Episode

PATNA — Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor on Friday validated Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's claims of illegal surveillance, declaring that phone tapping remains an unvarnished reality across India's political landscape.

Surveillance is routine. Kishor, who operated as the country's foremost political strategist before launching his outfit in Bihar, reminded voters that his own personal device appeared on target registries when the Israeli Pegasus spyware controversy erupted.

Kishor's public admission cuts directly into a raging political firestorm sparked by Rahul Gandhi. The Leader of the Opposition claimed earlier that his device houses critical evidence substantiating corruption charges against the Central government — proof he insisted is actively monitored by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Instagram Exchange and the Pegasus Precedent

Gandhi ignited the latest confrontation during an interactive 'Ask Me' session on Instagram. When pressed on why he bypasses Parliament to seek a direct, open-air debate with Prime Minister Modi, Gandhi mounted a sharp counter-offensive. He alleged that presiding officers routinely stifle his voice inside the legislative chamber.

House managers silenced his microphone. Gandhi stated plainly that free debate inside the Lok Sabha is systematically blocked, forcing him to take his claims directly to public platforms. Replying to a subsequent query on where the proof of his accusations against the government resides, Gandhi alleged the evidence is stored on his phone, which he claimed is tapped by the Prime Minister.

Political battle lines hardened instantly across national party headquarters.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav stood firmly behind Gandhi's accusations, warning that unauthorized state eavesdropping undermines democratic boundaries. But the Bharatiya Janata Party hit back with contempt. BJP Kerala unit president Rajeev Chandrashekhar ridiculed the Congress leader's claims, advising Gandhi publicly to "get his head examined" rather than peddling unsubstantiated conspiracy theories.

Shaking Hands at a Shraddh: Kishor Confronts Bihar Critics

Beyond the surveillance battle, Kishor dismantled growing chatter over his brief encounter with Bihar leader Samrat Choudhary. The two crossed paths on Thursday at the 'shraddh' memorial service of veteran BJP leader Ravindra Kishore Sinha, prompting speculation of an ideological thaw.

Critics pounced on the handshake. Kishor has repeatedly assailed Choudhary in public rallies over alleged criminal antecedents and disputed academic qualifications.

The Jan Suraaj chief offered no apologies, framing the interaction as standard civic decency mandated by Indian tradition. Civil decorum at a funeral does not dilute political accountability.

Kishor maintained that his political critiques are anchored exclusively to policy outcomes and executive performance rather than personal animus. He noted that former chief ministers Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar faced identical, uncompromising scrutiny whenever their administrations failed governance benchmarks.