‘Such things not be done to disturb and harass people… The whole thing should be made public’
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — The ongoing tussle between the government and the Opposition took a new turn on Monday when Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, an ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, supported opposition call for an investigation into the Pegasus scandal that involve allegations of spying on politicians, journalists, judges and even two ministers in the Central government.
Talking to reporters in Patna, Kumar said that “such things not be done to disturb and harass people… The whole thing should be made public,” according to NDTV.
The alleged use of the Israeli spyware against opposition leaders and others has badly affected the functioning of the Parliament. Opposition’s demand for a discussion and government’s refusal to allow it has disrupted the Monsoon Session.
“There has been talk of telephone tapping for so many days… The issue is being raised in the Parliament and there are news reports in the media… So definitely it should be discussed and looked into… the whole thing should be made public,” the Bihar chief minister responded when reporters sought his comment in Patna.
“There is no guarantee and no one knows how these things can be done. So the whole thing should be examined and after judging each aspect, action should be taken,” he added.
Kumar was in New Delhi on Sunday where he met Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) chief Om Prakash Chautala but insisted that it was a personal meeting and no political agenda was involved.
“I have respect for Chautala ji. We have longstanding ties. I had told him that once I will be in Delhi I will meet him. There is no political agenda for this meeting,” he told reporters, according to NDTV. But he refused to comment on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s meetings with opposition leaders in Delhi and her efforts of forming a united front against the BJP.
In another significant move, his Janata Dal (United) leader Upendra Kushwaha said on Sunday that the Bihar chief minister is “PM material” and has the potential and all qualities to become the prime minister of the country.
Kushwaha’s comment comes at a time when Opposition parties are in deliberation to form a united front against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
