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Opposition leaders meet to formulate strategy on Pegasus, farm issues

News Bureau — Wed, 11 Aug 2021 07:44:27 +0000

New Delhi: To evolve a joint strategy on the Pegasus snooping row and other issues, Opposition leaders from various parties, including the Congress again met on Wednesday.

As many as 14 parties were represented took part in this meeting held in the chamber of leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge.

Earlier, 15 opposition parties including Congress leaders DMK, TMC, NCP, Shiv Sena, SP, CPM, RJD, AAP, CPI, NC, IUML, LJD, RSP and the KC(M) were present in the meeting on Monday.

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi also attended the discussions while other leaders were present at the meeting also included the Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena, National Conference, NCP, CPM, RJD, CPI, IUML, RSP, VCK and the LJD.

Besides, Punjab MPs from the Congress and the SAD staged a protest in Parliament complex in support of farmers seeking a repeal of the new agri laws.

The is seen as a crucial meeting to counter the BJP-led government on various issues including the pressuring Union government for a discussion on the Pegasus snooping issue and the farmers’ problems, who have been agitating against Centre’s contentious three-farm bills.
Parliament has failed to transact any significant business since it met on July 19 for the Monsoon session. Some bills, however, have been passed amid the ruckus by the opposition. However, opposition decided to cooperate with the union government to clear a constitutional amendment bill.

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Chidambaram questions PM’s silence on Pegasus row

News Bureau — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 08:54:36 +0000

New Delhi: Launching a fierce attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Tuesday questioned PM’s silence on the allegations of snooping by government agencies using Pegasus software in India.
“If the defence ministry did not have any transaction with the NSO Group, which is at the centre of the Pegasus controversy, then only PM Modi could answer on behalf of all ministers and departments over the issue,” Chidambaram said.
NSO Group, an Israeli surveillance software company, has been under increasing attack following allegations that its Pegasus software was used for surveillance of phones of people in several countries, including India to spy on journalists, politicians and judges.
Replying to a question in parliament, minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt said that the defence ministry has not had any transaction with NSO Group Technologies.
The reaction has sparked a political row in the country as opposition leaders are blaming Modi-led BJP government for spying on them.
Chidambaram on his official Twitter account wrote, “MoD has ‘absolved’ itself of any deal with the NSO Group, Israel Assuming, MoD is correct, that takes out one Ministry/Department. What about the remaining half a dozen usual suspects? Only the PM can answer on behalf of ALL ministries/departments. Why is he silent?”
Earlier, it has come to fore that over 300 verified Indian mobile phone numbers, including that of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Union ministers Prahlad Singh Patel and at least 40 journalists, were on the list of potential targets for surveillance using Israeli firm NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware.
The Union government, however, refuted the opposition’s allegations in this matter.

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15 opposition parties hold meeting to take up Pegasus snooping controversy, Farmers issue in Parliament

News Bureau — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 08:08:49 +0000

New Delhi: Senior leaders of 15 opposition parties on Monday held a joint meeting at the Parliament complex to formulate a common strategy on issues like the Pegasus snooping controversy and farmers’ concerns as the Monsoon session of Parliament entered its final week.
Besides the Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi, leaders of the DMK, TMC, NCP, Shiv Sena, SP, CPM, RJD, AAP, CPI, NC, IUML, LJD, RSP and the KC(M) were present in the meeting held at the chamber of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge.
The is seen as a crucial meeting to counter the BJP-led government on various issues including the pressuring Union government for a discussion on the Pegasus snooping issue and the farmers’ problems, who have been agitating against Centre’s contentious three-farm bills.
Parliament has failed to transact any significant business since it met on July 19 for the Monsoon session. Some bills, however, have been passed amid the ruckus by the opposition. On Monday, however, opposition decided to cooperate with the union government to clear a constitutional amendment bill.
Opposition leaders told the media that they have decided to cooperate for the passage of the127th Constitution Amendment Bill 2021 but their protest will continue on other issues against the nefarious BJP-led union government.
The Constitution Amendment bill aims to bypass a May 2021 Supreme Court ruling that said only the Centre could notify socially and educationally backward classes (SEBCs) — and not the states.

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