Pegasus allegations not based on facts, Opposition should not link Winter session with assembly polls: Naqvi

Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that there is no point in disrupting Parliament sessions over issues that are not based on facts. He was responding to Congress' intention to raise the Pegasus snooping issue in the upcoming Winter session.

Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi had asserted that the party would raise the issue again and debate it in Parliament after the Supreme Court appointed a three-member panel of cyber experts to investigate the matter last month. The Minority Affairs Minister further asked till when the Opposition will drag out their stories about spying. They are not based on facts or logic. "If you want to disrupt the House over illogical issues, it is up to you," he said.

The Winter session of the Parliament will be held from November 29 to December 23.

The deputy leader of Rajya Sabha said the NDA government is ready to discuss all issues based on the decision of the chair in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. He added that Opposition parties should not link the Winter session of Parliament to the assembly polls. "Problem is that they do not have support on the ground, and that is why they create a furore inside the House," he alleged.

Naqvi also mocked the Congress by saying that PM Modi has established that "democracy delivers" and "dynasty disturbs" in the past seven years. Referring to the last Parliament session, he said that the opposition parties should unite on issues, but last time they united just to disrupt.

He also responded to PTI's question about farmers' announcement of marching to Parliament during the Winter session, saying that the government was always open to dialogue. He added that the Centre is appealing to the farmers to listen.

Naqvi alleged that some people have hijacked the agitation for their own benefit, and main farmers' issues have been resolved. He further asked till when you (farmers) will keep getting exploited.