Pegasus disrupts session again, TMC MP snatches, tears minister’s statement

New Delhi, July 22

The Pegasus spying row disrupted parliamentary proceedings on Thursday with both Houses adjourning for the day and a Trinamool Congress MP snatching and tearing IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s statement on the issue in the Rajya Sabha, forcing the summoning of marshals to control the situation.

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The TMC’s Santanu Sen snatched, tore up and tossed the minister’s statement at Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh when the House reassembled at 2 pm after two adjournments, thus preventing the minister from completing it. The statement had to be laid on the table with the presiding officer adjourning the House for the day as Congress and TMC MPs continued to storm the well and raise slogans demanding a judicial or JPC probe into the accusations of spying.

The minister’s statement, same as the one made in the Lok Sabha on Monday, rejected all allegations and termed the Pegasus media reports as “sensationalism and without substance”.

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Alleging that Pegasus snooping row was the biggest crime for political vested interests, advocate ML Sharma has filed a PIL in the Supreme Court demanding an SIT probe.

After Sen snatched the papers from Vaishnaw, heated exchanges ensued between him and Urban Development Minister Hardeep Puri until the situation was eased.

Government sources were said to be mulling a possible motion against the erring MPs but there was no official word on it.

In the Lok Sabha too serial adjournments happened through the day on farmers’ issues, IT raids on media groups and the Pegasus issue, mainly.

“This is not right, this is a wrong practice. This Parliament is yours. The onus of retaining its glory is on you. If you don’t do that, democracy will not be strengthened. I am ready to get discussion done on the issue that is agitating you,” said Speaker Om Birla to the protesting MPs, who forced three adjournments and a final one for the day at 4 pm.

Meanwhile, TMC MP Santanu Sen later in the day alleged threat from a minister. “Indians are not at all safe. Might die due to scarcity of oxygen. Might die of Covid due to shortage of vaccine…. No democratic discussion in Parliament. Now Minister threatens MP inside House,” said Sen. — TNS