Union Minister Mukhtra Abbas Naqvi

Union Minister Mukhtra Abbas Naqvi on Sunday slammed the Congress, which has been protesting in the Parliament demanding a discussion over the Pegasus row, while saying that the Congress party was ‘James Bond of spying’ when it was in power.

Naqvi said that Congress wants to waste Parliament’s time over ‘fake and fabricated’ issues and that there is ‘no substance’ in its allegations. He said: “These people (Congress) were the James Bond of spying (when in power). They spin a web of spying when in government and when in opposition create a hullabaloo alleging surveillance

In an interview with PTI, Naqvi accused Congress and a few other opposition parties of working with the policy of ‘rant and run’ by making allegations and scooting off. Naqvi said: ” They first said that we want a discussion on corona but then later did not agree to it. They said we want a discussion on farmers and then did not agree on that. There has been the problem of floods in various parts of the country, they are not showing any interest in that also or on the price rise issue that they talk about.”

Also read : PM Modi, Amit Shah hurt soul of Indian democracy: Rahul Gandhi on Pegasus row 

Naqvi added: ” Without wasting time, IT Minister (Ashwini Vaishnaw) had made a statement and they had an opportunity to get a clarification in Rajya Sabha. But instead of taking a clarification they created a ruckus and adopted a violent attitude.”

It is to be noted that both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have failed to transact any significant business, except passage of some bills, amid continued protests by Opposition parties over the Pegasus and farmers’ issues since the Monsoon session of Parliament commenced on July 19. The Opposition and the government are locked in a standoff with the former seeking a debate over the Pegasus issue.