The Pegasus spying row over the alleged surveillance on public figures threatens to overshadow the Monsoon session of Parliament beginning today. According to reports, the Opposition is likley to bring an adjournment motion on the issue.

A report published by many prominent news websites alleged that several journalists, including 40 Indian news personalities were made the target of an attempted hack. The reports say that over 10 governments, including India’s, were involved in surveillance of people using Pegasus spyware. 

Also Read | Pegasus spyware: A missed call is all it takes to target a phone

The government has denied the allegation saying, “the commitment to free speech as a fundamental right is the cornerstone of India’s democratic system. We have always strived to attain an informed citizenry with an emphasis on a culture of open dialogue.”

Farmers issue, COVID crisis

The ongoing farmers’ agitatioin over new farm bills is also likley to dominate the session with  Congress president Sonia Gandhi, in a meeting of party MPs from Lok Sabha, decided to vociferously raise issues of farmers’ protest, price rise including of petrol and diesel and “mismanagement” of COVID-19 in the House.

Party MPs would be moving adjournment motions in Lok Sabha to demand a discussion on these issues, party leaders said ahead of the commencement of the Monsoon session from Monday.

Rafale deal

The issue of alleged corruption in the Rafale deal and the economic situation in the wake of rising unemployment would also be raised in both the Houses in the next few days, they said.

Bills to be taken up

Thirty-one bills including two financial bills will be taken up before the
monsoon session of Parliament that begins tomorrow, according to ANI.  

In the run up to the session, an all-party meeting was held on Sunday, which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and floor leaders of various political parties, reports PTI.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Minister and Leader of the House in
Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal were also present at the meeting.

Among Opposition leaders were Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha
Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.   

The monsoon session of Parliament will begin on Monday and go on till
August 13. The first day of the session will see Prime Minister Narendra Modi
will introduce the newly-inducted ministers to both houses of Parliament.

Prime Minister Modi comprehensively rejigged his council of ministers
earlier this month, bringing in a number of fresh faces into his government.

Some new members who have recently entered the Lok Sabha following by-elections
will also take oath as members of the lower house on Monday.

Opposition leaders are also scheduled to decide on their strategy for the
monsoon session today.

Inflation, the government’s handling of the second wave of the COVID-19
pandemic, farmers’ protest against the agriculture laws are likely to feature
in the Opposition’s criticism of the government during the monsoon session.

A meeting of the Executive
Committee of the BJP Parliamentary Party as well as the NDA Parliamentary Party
will be held today.