JOIN USInstruct govt to discuss farmers' issues, Pegasus in Parliament: 7 Oppn parties write to President
MPs from seven Opposition parties, including Akali Dal, NCP and BSP, on Tuesday wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind seeking appointment to complain about the Narendra Modi government "stonewalling" a discussion on Pegasus snooping episode and repealing of three contentious farm laws.
The letter has been signed by 10 MPs from seven parties -- Akali Dal, NCP, BSP, National Conference, CPI(M), CPI and RLP. The signatories include Harsimrat Kaur (Akali Dal), Supriya Sule (NCP), Ritesh Pandey and Danish Ali (BSP).
"We seek your benign intervention to uphold the dignity of the Constitution of India and Parliamentary rules and procedures. The country is going through Emergency-like situation and the Parliament is going through unprecedented crisis," the MPs wrote.
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The MPs said the Opposition has raised the demand for a discussion on both the issues but the ruling BJP has "stonewalled" all attempts to discuss either of the two issues.
"You would appreciate that a human tragedy is unfolding on the borders of Delhi with more than 550 farmers already having lost their lives during the course of the ongoing 'Kisan Andolan' (farmers' agitation). The livelihoods of millions more are at stake due to the three agricultural laws which have been made with the express purpose of handing over the agriculture sector to corporations," the letter said.
"Similarly, the use of Pegasus software to tape telephone numbers of politicians as well as journalists and activists, besides known detractors of the NDA government has sent shockwaves amongst civil society," it said.
It is a known fact that the Israeli company NSO sells the software only to vetted governments and the company has admitted as such, the MPs said in the letter.
"Despite these revelations, the Union government is refusing to disclose why it had used this software against its own citizens, besides disclosing details of the payments made to access the same. The NDA government has also refused to hold a probe into the entire issue," it said.
"We MPs urge you to intervene personally and direct the government to discuss both the issues during the ongoing Parliament session in the spirit of a healthy democracy," the letter added.