Jaitley Praises NIA For Busting ISIS Inspired Terror Module, Says Cyber Surveillance Necessary For National Security

Defending the centre’s recent decision allowing intelligence and investigative agencies to monitor users’ computers, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley took to Twitter to heap praise on the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for its efforts which led to the busting of an Islamic State (IS) inspired terrorist module, reports Business Standard.

Jaitley tweeted, “Would this crackdown of the terrorist module by the NIA have been possible without interception of electronic communications?"

The central government had recently passed an order which empowers 10 security agencies to snoop on private computers.

"Well done NIA for cracking the dangerous terrorist module," he said in another tweet.

He also highlighted how the maximum number of interceptions of digital data by government agencies were made in the UPA era, joking that surely George Orwell wasn’t born in May 2014.

"National security and sovereignty are paramount. Life and personal liberty will survive only in a strong democratic nation - not in a terrorist dominated state," Jaitley reasoned.

Jaitley’s remarks come in the wake of an Islamic State (IS) inspired terror outfit called ‘Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam’ being dismantled by counter-terrorism authorities. 10 members of the group were arrested across 17 different raids in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. The terrorist module was said to be planning attacks on major security installations and crowded public places in the national capital, as well as possibly targeting well-known political personalities.