India wants assurance from U.S of no recurrence of surveillance episode

India on Wednesday sought an assurance from the United States (U.S) that any such surveillance on Indian entities, Government and citizens would not recur as it happened in the recent past.

In response to a question on revelations carried in the Washington Post yesterday regarding authorization provided by a US court to the US National Security Agency to intercept information concerning 193 countries and foreign organizations and political parties, Official Spokesperson said, "Government has noted reports in the US media regarding the authorization given to entities of the US Government to intrude upon the privacy of communications of the Indian Government, its citizens, and Indian entities. If such intrusions have indeed been "authorized" and have taken place, it is highly objectionable."

"As has in the past one year, in response to similar disclosures of surveillance of Indian Government entities, our concerns have been clearly expressed at senior official levels to the US Government. In doing so, India has sought an explanation of the information contained in the press reports, and an assurance that such authorizations will not be acted upon by US Government entities, as far as Indian citizens, entities and the Government of India is concerned," the Spokesperson added.