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Defence Ministry denies transaction with Pegasus spyware maker NSO

The Defence Ministry on Monday said that it has not made any transaction with the Israeli firm NSO, which is also the vendor of the Pegasus spyware, which is at the centre of the huge political storm that has been disrupting the monsoon session of Parliament. The Ministry of Defence “has not had any transaction […]

The Defence Ministry on Monday said that it has not made any transaction with the Israeli firm NSO, which is also the vendor of the Pegasus spyware, which is at the centre of the huge political storm that has been disrupting the monsoon session of Parliament. The Ministry of Defence “has not had any transaction with NSO Group Technologies”, read the written response from junior defence minister Ajay Bhat.

Despite these assurances, the proceedings of both the houses of Parliament were disrupted several times on Monday as the Opposition parties continued their protest over the Pegasus saga, farm laws and other issues. The Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC) and DMK also staged a walkout in the Rajya Sabha.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday slammed the Opposition for creating ruckus in the Parliament during the monsoon season. He said that the Opposition is not ready to discuss anything as they do not have any firm policy on anything, earlier they were asking for discussion over the issues of price rise, economy, farm laws and we told them that we are ready for the discussion but they didn’t discuss these issues, so Opposition should clear their intention first.

In Rajya Sabha, the proceedings were adjourned twice in the pre-lunch session following uproar by Opposition members. As the House met, Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu lauded India’s “medal winners and gritty losers in close finishes” at the Tokyo Olympics and said that India shall look at breaking into the top 10 at the earliest possible. He termed the Indian contingent’s performance at the Tokyo Olympics “the first moment of national awakening in sports”.

Following his speech, Opposition parties insisted on a discussion on the issue of the Pegasus saga. As Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said he has admitted the discussion on the farmers’ agitation against the farm laws, price rise, and the flood situation in some parts of the country, the Opposition parties insisted that the Pegasus issue should also be discussed. Some Opposition members stood up and moved towards the Well of the House, following which Naidu adjourned the proceedings till 12 pm.

When the House meet at noon after an adjournment, Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh, who was in the chair, proceeded with the scheduled Question Hour. But the Opposition members continued to create an uproar and jumped in the well sloganeering over the snooping controversy, farm laws and other issues. Immediately after that Singh adjourned the House till 2 pm.

The House then assembled at 3.30 pm with Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge protesting against the taking up of the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, saying the supplementary agenda was circulated at 2.15 pm. He said the members of the House cannot do justice during the debate on “bill which gets circulate only a few hours before being taken up”.

Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha on Monday passed three bills without discussion—the Limited Liability Partnership (Amendment) Bill, 2021, the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2021, and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021, amid ruckus in the house.

Soon after the Lok Sabha resumed at 12:30 pm Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moved for considering and passing the Limited Liability Partnership (Amendment) Bill, 2021. The Bill aims to amend the Limited Liability Partnership Act 2008. It proposes to decriminalise 12 offences under the Limited Liability Partnership Act and foster ease of doing business in the country.

“The Bill is a very important bill which aims to bring the ease of doing business between smaller and big partners. Many criminal offences will also have been brought down to the minimum, where it is compoundable, we will compound them,” Sitharaman said.

She also moved Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2021. The bill will insure bank deposits up to Rs 5 lakh. Under DICGC Bill 2021, 98.3 per cent of all deposits will get covered and in terms of deposit value, 50.9 per cent deposit value will be covered.

The Union Finance Minister urged the opposition to participate in the discussion, but the ruckus continued. Both the bills were passed without discussion.

Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was moved in the Lok Sabha for consideration and passing by Union Minister Arjun Munda. This bill was also passed without discussion in the house.

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