The Rajya Sabha Secretariat's refusal to accept modifications to the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address on the Pegasus spyware snooping issue has sparked a political scandal. The CPM has written to Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, expressing its displeasure and requesting a decision on the matter.
In a letter to Naidu, CPM Rajya Sabha leader Elamaram Kareem said the Secretariat's decision to reject amendments proposed by him and others on the Pegasus issue and Covid management "could create the impression among the public that the Rajya Sabha Secretariat deliberately excluded the amendments which deal with incidents that could expose the Union Government."
Apart from Kareem and his party colleagues John Brittas and V Sivadasan, one of the ten changes submitted by Congress's Shakti Singh Gohil dealt with the Pegasus case.
He wrote in the letter, "This unilateral action is completely undemocratic and unethical." "I would like to voice my displeasure with the Rajya Sabha Secretariat's refusal to allow some of the revisions offered by me under Rule 16 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States — on the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address," he wrote.
According to Kareem, only 10 amendments from a single member will be considered on the Motion of Thanks. "I presented ten amendments outlining several of the government's flaws that were not addressed in the President's Address. However, only eight of these revisions are included in the list of accepted amendments," he stated.
"Those citing the Pegasus issue and the Union government's failure to effectively deal with the pandemic and formulate a comprehensive vaccine strategy are forbidden amendments." Many other members, it is understood, are having the same problem, with amendments on these topics being completely forbidden," he stated.
"It is regrettable and condemnable that such a judgement has been made, infringing on a Member of Parliament's fundamental right," he stated (Rajya Sabha). These changes reflect the concerns of the people, and it is our job as their representatives to bring them up on the House floor. Excluding
modifications unilaterally is unpleasant and disorderly."
"We can't find the word Pegasus or a line about state-sponsored illegal monitoring over the people anywhere in the list of admitted amendments," Kareem stated. Points that could be used to highlight the Union government's failure to manage the pandemic are also removed. It is up to the House to decide whether or not these amendments should be considered. On the House floor, we can debate and discuss these issues. If the House determines these concerns are not worthy of consideration, it can always be voted down."
"It is not the proper procedure to reject suggested changes before the House has even considered them." As a result, I'm requesting a judgement from the Chair on how and why the Secretariat should consider or reject a set of revisions presented by a member," he stated.
"Amendments to the Motion of Thanks are to be moved in such form 'as may be thought suitable by the Chairman,'" he added, citing Rule 16 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States. As a result, it is up to the Chair to decide whether or not to accept or reject changes. However, there should be some grounds for making that judgement as well."
Surprisingly, the Lok Sabha has accepted revisions to the snooping bill submitted by members. "This categorical exclusion has occurred only in the Rajya Sabha." As a result, the Upper House cannot avoid its obligation to maintain transparency in disclosing the cause for the exclusion," he stated.
Kareem told Southat that he and his fellow party members Brittas and Sivadasan had proposed similar changes. When the amendments were introduced in the House on Wednesday, Brittas and Sivadasan were not present.
"But regret that the Address does not mention about: the government of India's engagement with the Israeli firm, NSO, and the state-sponsored illegal surveillance over hundreds of journalists, activists, Opposition politicians, government officials, business executives, and even judges of the apex court using the Pegasus spyware," Kareem proposed as an amendment to the motion.
"However, we regret that the Address does not mention: the government's failure to handle the Covid 19 pandemic, the unfortunate incident of dead bodies floating in holy rivers, and the government's failure to formulate an effective vaccine policy to ensure free vaccination for all citizens and adequate supply of vaccines to all states," the amendment said.
"However, we regret that the Address does not mention when and why the government purchased Pegasus software, or how much money was spent on it," Gohil said in his amendment.
Also read : Pegasus purchased from Israel by Indian intelligence
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