New Delhi: The Opposition, on Monday, sharpened its attack on the Central Government against the Pegasus snooping row demanding a discussion in Parliament over the matter in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
In line with this, Congress' Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge had also given a notice of Adjournment motion to discuss the Pegasus Project in presence of PM and HM, and also to order a Supreme Court-monitored probe. However, the Chairman of Rajya Sabha denied permission for the same.
He said to the media, "This is a very important issue which can hurt the democratic values of the country. Rahul Gandhi's phone was also being tapped since 2019. Then IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had also accepted that the Government has 119 such names and also an investigation was ordered."
"Today, this Government is trying to end democracy, personal liberty, and privacy. Those people whose phones have been tapped, are they terrorists? Even journalists are not being sparred. But when they failed in their motto, they conducted raids on media organizations. So, basically, they are trying to scare people and impose dictatorship in the country," Kharge alleged.
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"We are demanding discussions as per the rules. But this Government is not ready. We didn't even get a chance to question the Government when they issued a statement over this matter," the Congress MP said.
Earlier today, the Opposition parties held a meeting at the LoP Rajya Sabha office in Parliament, to prepare a strategy of raising the Pegasus issue in the house, while asserting the Freedom of Expression.
Another Congress MP and former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh also tweeted over the matter, "The entire Opposition is united. 1) Have a discussion on Pegasus snooping issue in presence of Prime Minister or Home Minister. 2) Announce a Supreme Court-monitored enquiry into the scandal. Parliament is not functioning because Government is not agreeing to these legitimate demands."
