Oppn disrupts House over Pegasus row
NEW DELHI: Day 4 of the Monsoon Session of Parliament was once again disrupted following protests by Opposition parties which raised slogans on the Pegasus snooping row and the farmers’ issue.
As soon as the Lok Sabha met for the day at 11 am, some opposition MPs rushed to the Well of but they were prevented from doing so by floor leaders of their respective parties as Speaker Om Birla wanted to make observations on the Indian squad participating in the Tokyo Olympics.
Birla extended best wishes to the Indian contingent on behalf of the House. The mega carnival of sports is from Friday. Members thumped benches in support of the Indian squad.
Soon after Birla had made his observations, several members from Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Shiromani Akali Dal gathered in the Well of the House raising slogans and holding placards.
The TMC shouted slogans demanding details of the money allegedly spent by the government on Pegasus spyware. Congress members had placards demanding a Supreme Court monitored judicial probe into the Pegasus allegations. They also showed their phones to the Speaker.
Harsimrat Kaur Badal (SAD) was holding a placard demanding rollback of the three farm laws.
Slogans included “jasoosi karna band karo” (stop indulging in spying).
As disruptions continued, the Speaker adjourned the House till noon. As the House reassembled, Kirit Solanki, who was in the Chair, asked protesting members to take their respective seats.
During the brief period for which the House functioned, resolutions were passed to appoint
and elect new members in various parliamentary panels as some of the members have become ministers in the recent reshuffle of the Union Cabinet.
As the opposition uproar continued, Solanki said that such behaviour does not suit senior elected members of the House and adjourned the proceedings for the day.
The House will now meet on Monday after the weekend break.
In the Rajya Sabha, proceedings were adjourned for the day too following protests by opposition parties over the Pegasus row.
The Upper House of Parliament was adjourned four times on Friday amid uproar by opposition members for a discussion on the issue.
When the House reassembled at 2.30 pm following a third adjournment, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge demanded a discussion on the Pegasus spyware controversy.
“I have given a notice under rule 267 regarding the recent allegations in the media of government carrying out spying and online surveillance of several senior politicians, judges of Supreme Court and high courts, journalist of...,” Kharge said.
However, Bhubaneswar Kalita, who was in the Chair, said a statement has already been made by the government and a discussion has been started on this issue. Opposition members, however, continued with their protest, following which Kalita adjourned the House till Monday.