The Congress’s Alappuzha MP and party organisation in-charge KC Venugopal on Saturday was alerted about a “malicious spyware” detected in his phone.

“Thank you PM Modi ji, for sending your favourite malicious spyware on my phone also,” Venugopal wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Apple has been kind enough to intimate me about this special present of yours!”

The Telegraph Online had earlier this week reported a similar alert sent to Iltija Mufti, daughter of former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti.

The alert to Venugopal came on the day the BJP lost all three seats it had won in Bengal in the 2021 Assembly polls to the Trinamul and was ahead in only two seats of the 13 that went to polls across the country.

Apple had sent a similar alert to Venugopal on October 30, 2023.

A screenshot of the Apple alert that the Congress leader shared on the social media platform read: “This is not a repeat notice -- this is to inform you that we detected another attack against your device.“

Like in the case of Iltija Mufti, Apple alerted Venugopal saying he was likely being targeted for who he was. “This attack is likely targeting you specifically because of who you are or what you do. Although it’s never possible to achieve absolute certainty when detecting such attacks, Apple has high confidence in this warning — please take it seriously.”

Venugopal wrote: “Let’s be clear the Modi government is acting in a criminal and unconstitutional manner, going after political opponents and invading their privacy in this manner. The message of the Lok Sabha elections was that the people reject any attack on the Constitution and the BJP’s fascist agenda. We will oppose this blatantly unconstitutional act and breach on our privacy tooth and nail.”

On Friday, Union home minister Amit Shah had announced June 25, the day when in 1975 Emergency was declared by late prime minister Indira Gandhi, would be observed as Sanvidhaan Hatya Diwas to remember the assault on civil liberties.