Pegasus snooping row: Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge gives notice of adjournment of RS proceedings

The Opposition on Monday hardened its stand on the ongoing Pegasus snooping row, demanding that the two Houses of Parliament discuss the issue in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The decision to move jointly on the matter was taken at a meeting of opposition leaders held in the chamber of Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge.

Kharge, the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, later gave a notice of adjournment of Rajya Sabha proceedings to debate the matter.

The Suspension of business notice under Rule 267 of the House proceedings said, “I hereby give notice under Rule 267 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Raiya Sabha) of my intention to move the following motion for the suspension of business listed for July 26, 2021 — That the House do suspend Zero Hour and relevant rules relating to Question Hour and other business of the day to have a discussion in the presence of the Prime Minister or Home Minister on the Pegasus snooping, spying and surveillance scandal that has undermined our democracy and Constitutional rights and to have a Supreme Court-monitored inquiry announced immediately."

Talking to reporters, Kharge reiterated the Opposition's demand for a discussion on the issue of alleged snooping using Pegasus spyware and said that the Central government does not want to go by the rules of the Constitution.

"They don't want to go by the rules of the Constitution. You (central government) are snooping on everyone including army officials, journalists and election commissioners. I am glad that all party leaders have decided to raise this issue together," "We want to have a discussion (on Pegasus snooping issue) within the law and order. Earlier they agreed on the discussion on the COVID-19 crisis but when we started with a discussion, they just gave a statement rather than having a discussion," he said.

Earlier in the day, Congress MP KC Venugopal gave notice under rule 267 in Rajya Sabha for suspension of business for the day to have a discussion in the presence of the Prime Minister or Home Minister on the Pegasus Project issue.

Congress leaders Manish Tewari and Manickam Tagore also gave an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha to discuss the 'Pegasus Project' issue on Monday.

The names of several Opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi, 40 Indian journalists and several other prominent individuals have

appeared on a leaked list of potential targets for surveillance by an unidentified agency using Pegasus spyware, according to reports published in The Wire.