Pegasus: Oppn for all-party meet, seeks President intervention

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 27

Political slugfest over the Pegasus snooping row intensified on Tuesday with both Houses of Parliament remaining dysfunctional for the sixth day and the Opposition and government digging in heels on the issue.

The Opposition continued to seek suspension of parliamentary proceedings for a debate on Pegasus in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Home Minister Amit Shah and an SC-led inquiry into the matter with West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge also calling for an all-party meeting on the issue.

In a separate move, the SAD-led six parties BSP, NCP, CPM, CPI, RLP and National Conference wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind for his intervention on the farmers’ and Pegasus issues and prevail upon the Centre for discussions on both.

The seven parties sought the President’s time to apprise him of the deadlock in Parliament with Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal saying, “The letter briefs the President about repeated adjournment notices being given in Parliament to discuss farmers’ issues and how the government has refused to allow discussions.” Signed by SAD chief Sukhbir Badal, the letter also seeks an urgent discussion on the Pegasus spyware matter.

The larger opposition, meanwhile, made it clear that it would not settle for anything less than a debate in the presence of PM or HM.

Accusing the PM of running a “dictatorship”, Kharge said, “The PM is not ready to resolve issues democratically. We are ready for talks. We urge the government to call leaders of all parties for discussions. We want Houses to function.” The government hit back saying the opposition was solely interested in disruptions.

Deputy leader of the Rajya Sabha Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi released letters Congress leaders Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Mallikarjun Kharge earlier wrote to the government seeking a special session to discuss Covid.

“When the PM called floor leaders to discuss Covid, the Congress boycotted the meeting. They are only interested in disruptions,” Naqvi said after the RS was adjourned repeatedly today.

Later today, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attended a meeting of Lok Sabha leaders and sought effective opposition coordination on Pegasus.