Opposition Leaders Issue Joint Statement Demanding Discussion On Pegasus Scandal & Agri Laws

The parties also said that the discussion on the Pegasus issue should be followed by farmers' issues and agitations arising from the three anti-farmers and black agri-laws. 

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New Delhi: Leaders of various opposition parties issued a joint statement on Wednesday demanding a discussion on the Pegasus Spyware Scandal as a reply to the Home Minister. The leaders include those from Aam Aadmi Party, Congress, Trinamool Congress, and Rashtriya Janata Dal. 

The parties stated that they stand united and firm on their demand for a discussion on Pegasus issue in both the Houses as "it is a matter of national security issue".

The Opposition parties further said that the discussion on Pegasus issue should be followed by farmers' issues and agitations arising from the three anti-farmers and black agri-laws. 

"It is unfortunate that the government has unleashed misleading campaign to malign the combined Opposition and blaming it for the continued disruption in the Parliament. The responsibility for the deadlock lies squarely at the doorsteps of the government, which remains arrogant and obdurate and refuses to accept the Opposition's demand for an informed debate in both the houses," the statement read.

The 18 leaders who signed the joint statement include Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, DMK's TR Balu, Sanjay Raut of Shiv Sena, and Elamaram Kareem of CPI(M), among others. 

The Pegasus row and the farm laws have been the reason why most of the Monsoon Session of Parliament has been disrupted. The Opposition has been demanding a discussion on the two issues since Day One. 

Aside from political leaders, various journalists, doctors, lawyers, and activists have allegedly been targetted for snooping using military-grade Israeli spyware Pegasus, according to an expose by a global consortium of 17 media organisations, including India's The Wire. However, the government has completely denied their reports and termed it a conspiracy to defame the ruling dispensation.