Centre Requests Rajya Sabha To 'Disallow' MP's Question Over Pegasus Contract: Report

In a letter written to Rajya Sabha secretariat, Govt requested that Provisionally Admitted Question asked by CPI (M) MP not be allowed as "Pegasus issue is subjudice after several PILs filed in SC."

Parliament

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing daily disruption in Parliament by opposition over Pegasus spyware row, the Central government has sought to disallow a question seeking details on whether the government entered into a contract with Israeli cybersecurity firm NSO Group to hack phones of journalists, activists and politicians, the Centre.

In a letter written to the Rajya Sabha secretariat earlier this week, the Centre requested that a "Provisionally Admitted Question" asked by CPI (M) MP Binoy Viswam not be allowed as "the ongoing issue of Pegasus" is subjudice after "several PILs have been filed in the Supreme Court."

Citing Rule 47 (xix) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Council of States (Rajya Sabha), the Centre told Rajya Sabha secretariat that an admitted question “shall not ask for information on matter which is under adjudication by a court of law having jurisdiction in any part of India

Viswam's Provisionally Admitted Question is scheduled to be answered on August 12 in the upper house.

Reacting to the move, the CPI (M) MP reportedly accused the Government of misusing Rajya Sabha rules.

"I have been informed informally that my question was disallowed but I am yet to get a formal response... the Government is misusing Rajya Sabha rules and taking an alien stand on truth," Viswam said, as quoted by Hindustan Times.

The national daily in its report stated that Viswam in his Provisionally Admitted Question asked the Minister of External Affairs to provide the number of MoUs Government entered into with foreign companies and whether any of these MoU’s with foreign companies has been in order to curb terror activities through cyber security.

He also questioned whether Government has entered into a MoU with NSO Group in order to curb terror activities through cyber security across the nation and if so, to provide details thereof.