Pegasus is not a serious issue, Joshi tells Oppn

Both Houses of parliament saw repeated adjournments over the Opposition’s demand to have a discussion over the Pegasus spyware controversy. The issue has snowballed into a political controversy, disrupting Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha since the start of the Monsoon session on July 19.

IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had given a statement on the issue in both the Houses but the Opposition parties were not satisfied and were demanding specific answers.

As yet another day of Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned due to vociferous protests, Pralhad Joshi, the Union parliamentary affairs minister, urged the protesting members to allow the House to function while speaking during the Question Hour.

While describing the Opposition’s behaviour as “unfortunate”, the minister said in the Lower House that the spyware issue was not a serious one.

“There are so many issues directly related to the people of India... government is ready for discussions,” he said. This week, the Lower House passed some Bills without much discussion amid the din.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu on Friday said he was concerned over the Opposition members resorting to whistling in the House and warned members not to act like this.

Naidu said that if this is allowed then it would become a tradition or action should be taken against such acts.

He appealed to members of the House to desist from unparliamentary behaviour. The Opposition members on Thursday resorted to sloganeering. After a sound of whistle was heard in the House during the sloganeering, deputy chairman Harivansh warned that he will name the member.

Soon after the papers were laid, the House was adjourned till 12 noon. After the House assembled again, the question hour was continued for some time but was adjourned till 2.30 p.m. and when it assembled for the third time in the day, Deputy Chairman Mr. Harivansh asked the members to move private member Bills to which only members from the treasury benches moved while opposition MPs did not move.

The Opposition continued with its protest.