Snooping row: TMC demands clear-cut answer from Modi govt

TMC has surrounded the PM Modi-led BJP government from all directions over the Pegasus spyware issue. In Bengal, Mamata Banerjee held a presser against the saffron party while in Delhi TMC Rajya Sabha MPs held a press conference targeting BJP over the issue and demanded a clear-cut answer.

New Delhi:Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MPs have sought a clear-cut answer from Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government on the Pegasus spyware issue. Trinamool Congress (TMC) has launched a scathing attack against the BJP government, with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee holding a presser over snooping case on Thursday while TMC MPs creating ruckus in New Delhi with Rajya Sabha MP Shantanu Sen snatching a copy of IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnav's statement on the Pegasus issue, tearing it up and throwing at Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh. The incident has led the House proceedings adjourned till Friday.

BJP objected to the behaviour of Shantanu Sen in the Rajya Sabha and also sought appropriate action against him but Sukhendu Shekhar Roy said that TMC does not even care whatever action is being taken. Meanwhile, Shantanu Sen accused Hardeep Puri of misbehaving with him. Following this, the TMC Rajya Sabha MPs, in a press conference, said that the party seeks a blunt answer from the government over Pegasus spyware allegations but the ministers are turning things around.

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They said that TMC wants to discuss an issue with the government but only after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah give their statements in this regard in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. "We want both the houses of Parliament to run but all the issues related to the citizens of this country must be discussed. We have given notices in both the houses for discussion on Pegasus but the Centre did not pay heed to them," the TMC said.

Trinamool MP Derek O'Brien said that he is expecting many more names to emerge in the list of those who were spied on by the government. "I believe that the government knows the name of all those whose phones have been hacked and spied in India. The victims of Pegasus spyware feel that the PM and the Home Minister are fully aware of the crisis," Derek O'Brien said. Rajya Sabha's Business Advisory Committee meeting on farmers' protest was scheduled to be held on Thursday to discuss the three farm laws but the TMC MPs denied to participate in it citing that first, the Centre should repeal all farm laws only after than any discussion will be held over the issue.

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Derek O'Brien also said that now the biggest goal of Trinamool Congress is to defeat the BJP in 2024 elections but refrained from answering on if he sees Mamata Banerjee as the next Prime Minister. A meeting was also held between Trinamool General Secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee and poll strategist Prashant Kishor in New Delhi on Thursday at the residence of MP Sukhendu Shekhar Roy but the party denied sharing any information about the discussion between the two leaders.

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