Pegasus row: Rahul to host Oppn MPs, leaders for breakfast tomorrow

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 2

In a bid to forge unity on the Pegasus and farmers’ issues for priority debate in Parliament, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has invited opposition leaders and MPs from both houses for breakfast tomorrow.

The invitations have been sent to MPs and floor leaders of all like-minded opposition parties. The breakfast meeting is scheduled to be held at Constitution Club tomorrow.

Sources said the aim is to forge a united opposition strategy on Pegasus spyware issue and other principal issues in both houses with the government unwilling to concede a debate.

The government today offered a discussion on Pegasus under rule 193 in the Lok Sabha business advisory committee but the opposition declined.

Likewise in Rajya Sabha the government offered the opposition to seek clarifications on IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s statement on Pegasus but the united like-minded parties said no.

The opposition has demanded a structured debate on Pegasus in both houses under rules that entail voting and suspension of entire business to discuss the issue.

The opposition has also asked the government to convene an all party meeting under the chairmanship of defence minister Rajnath Singh to find a way out.

Rajnath Singh heads the cabinet committee on parliamentary affairs. The government has not yet responded to the opposition demand for debate on Pegasus and has sufficed to term the entire issue fabricated.

Parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi again said today that the opposition was free to get clarifications on Vaishnaw’s statement that clarifies matters. Both Houses of Parliament remained dysfunctional for the 11th day today.

The 19 sitting monsoon session ends on August 13 with complete washout on the cards.

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