Pegasus issue continues to rock monsoon session

NEW DELHI: It was a day of cut and thrust in the Rajya Sabha, with lawmakers from the Opposition bringing up the Pegasus snooping issue and the contentious farm laws, while they were debating a bill introduced in the House. The day was partially washed away on account of protests by the Opposition, and also saw an exchange between defence minister Rajnath Singh and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge.

The Opposition’s strategy -- a response to the government’s unwillingness to have a structured debate on the Pegasus controversy, the farm laws, and high fuel prices -- came on a day Prime Minister Modi said at an event that the Opposition was scoring “self-goals”, criticising them openly for the second time in three days.

The Opposition’s behaviour was a clear intent of their resolve on raising the three issues -- and analysts said it does not bode well for legislative business, although the government has been able to pass key laws amidst the din in both houses of Parliament. Their strategy saw frequent arguments with the Chair and trouble escalated when defence minister Rajnath Singh brought The Essential Defence Services Bill for approval of the Upper House. When Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh cited House rule no. 110 to disallow CPI(M)’s Elamaram Kareem from speaking on Pegasus, a furious Opposition started protesting and received support from TRS lawmaker K Kesava Rao.

“If there was a proposal from the government about a meeting whether it is the parliamentary affairs minister or Rajnath Singh, we are ready for the discussion,” Kharge added.

Singh denied having given any assurance. He said, “I want to make it very clear; I gave no such assurance to Mr. Kharge. However, I called him and requested that there should be peace in the House.”