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Tag: Nishikant Dubey

  • Cash-for-query row: Lawyer Dehadrai, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey appear before Ethics Committee of LS

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai and BJP leader Nishikant Dubey on Thursday appeared before the Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha to record their statements in connection with the cash-for-query allegations against Trinamool Congress member Mahua Moitra.

    In his complaint to Speaker Om Birla, BJP member Nishikant Dubey has cited documents shared by Dehadrai to back his cash-for-query allegations against Moitra.

    Birla had referred the matter to the committee headed by BJP member Vinod Kumar Sonkar.

    Dehadrai was the first to record his statement before the Ethics Committee, while Dubey appeared before the panel in the afternoon.

    Dubey told reporters that he would reply to whatever questions the committee would ask him.

    “Documents don’t lie,” Dubey said when pointed out that Moitra had refuted all the allegations levelled against her.

    In the letter to Birla dated October 15, Dubey said the advocate, close to Moitra before they fell out, has shared “irrefutable evidence of bribes exchanged” between her and businessman Darshan Hiranandani to target the Adani Group and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    The fiery TMC member dismissed the charges as a “jilted ex’s lies”, a reference to Dehadrai, and accused the Adani Group of being behind them to target her as she has been relentless in raising questions on the conglomerate’s practices and transactions.

    In his letter to the speaker, Dubey said 50 of 61 questions she asked in Lok Sabha till recently were focused on the Adani Group.

    In a signed affidavit, Hiranandani, the CEO of real estate-to-energy eponymous group, who allegedly paid her to raise questions in Parliament, said the TMC leader targeted Gautam Adani to “malign and embarrass” Modi whose impeccable reputation gave the opposition no opportunity to attack him. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    NEW DELHI: Lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai and BJP leader Nishikant Dubey on Thursday appeared before the Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha to record their statements in connection with the cash-for-query allegations against Trinamool Congress member Mahua Moitra.

    In his complaint to Speaker Om Birla, BJP member Nishikant Dubey has cited documents shared by Dehadrai to back his cash-for-query allegations against Moitra.

    Birla had referred the matter to the committee headed by BJP member Vinod Kumar Sonkar.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Dehadrai was the first to record his statement before the Ethics Committee, while Dubey appeared before the panel in the afternoon.

    Dubey told reporters that he would reply to whatever questions the committee would ask him.

    “Documents don’t lie,” Dubey said when pointed out that Moitra had refuted all the allegations levelled against her.

    In the letter to Birla dated October 15, Dubey said the advocate, close to Moitra before they fell out, has shared “irrefutable evidence of bribes exchanged” between her and businessman Darshan Hiranandani to target the Adani Group and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    The fiery TMC member dismissed the charges as a “jilted ex’s lies”, a reference to Dehadrai, and accused the Adani Group of being behind them to target her as she has been relentless in raising questions on the conglomerate’s practices and transactions.

    In his letter to the speaker, Dubey said 50 of 61 questions she asked in Lok Sabha till recently were focused on the Adani Group.

    In a signed affidavit, Hiranandani, the CEO of real estate-to-energy eponymous group, who allegedly paid her to raise questions in Parliament, said the TMC leader targeted Gautam Adani to “malign and embarrass” Modi whose impeccable reputation gave the opposition no opportunity to attack him. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • Cash-for-question row: TMC oscillates as BJP mounts offensive over MP Mahua Moitra

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Launching a scathing attack on Trinamool Congress (TMC) over the ‘cash-for-question’ controversy surrounding its MP Mahua Moitra, the BJP on Sunday asked the ruling party of West Bengal to clear its stand on the issue. 

    Meanwhile, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who has been relentlessly attacking Moitra, said that he will observe a “ceasefire till Dussehra on October 24”.

    Breaking its silence on the controversy, TMC on Sunday said that it will take an appropriate decision after the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee completes its investigation into the charges against Moitra. 

    Speaking to the media, TMC’s Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien said, “The member concerned has been advised by the party leadership to clarify her position regarding the allegations levelled against her. She has already done that. However, since the matter has to do with an elected MP, her rights and privileges, let the matter be investigated by the right forum of Parliament, after which the party leadership will take an appropriate decision.”

    He added that the party has observed media reports on the matter.

    TMC’s West Bengal general secretary and spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said the party has nothing to say on the issue and that the “person around whom this controversy is revolving is best suited to react to this”.

    BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla asked the TMC central leadership to clarify its official stand on the row.

    Taking to X, he asked, “TMC’s official stand on Mahua Moitra is that ‘we won’t comment’. The said MP will defend herself. Does it mean: 1) TMC accepts Mahua Moitra has made serious breaches, including giving her login to be operated from foreign soil by a rival corporate entity in exchange for kickbacks? 2) If so, then why is TMC still retaining her rather than sacking her? 3) Is the TMC afraid of taking this action because the party itself has something to hide? Perhaps people in the party knew or endorsed it? TMC must clarify.”

    The events unfolded last week after Nishikant Dubey and Moitra’s estranged partner and lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai alleged that the TMC MP took favours from business tycoon Darshan Hiranandani and shared her Parliament login credentials to raise questions in the lower House.

    Dubey also wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to constitute a committee to look into the charges against Moitra and to suspend her from the House till the panel completes its inquiry.

    Birla has deferred the complaint against Moitra to Parliament’s Ethics Committee, which will record the statements of Dubey and Dehadrai on October 26.

    Moitra has steadfastly denied the allegations and has welcomed inquiries from the CBI and the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee. She also said that she has turned down two offers of a peace deal.

    Darshan Hiranandani, the CEO of the Hiranandani Group, who allegedly paid Moitra to raise questions in Parliament about the Adani Group, recently claimed in a signed affidavit that she targeted Gautam Adani to “malign and embarrass Prime Minister Modi”.

    Moitra has refuted all the allegations and raised questions over the credibility of Hiranandani’s affidavit. She has alleged that his affidavit appeared to be drafted by the Prime Minister’s Office and Hiranandani might have been forced to sign it, faced with the threat of a “total shutdown” of his family’s businesses.

    Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    NEW DELHI: Launching a scathing attack on Trinamool Congress (TMC) over the ‘cash-for-question’ controversy surrounding its MP Mahua Moitra, the BJP on Sunday asked the ruling party of West Bengal to clear its stand on the issue. 

    Meanwhile, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who has been relentlessly attacking Moitra, said that he will observe a “ceasefire till Dussehra on October 24”.

    Breaking its silence on the controversy, TMC on Sunday said that it will take an appropriate decision after the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee completes its investigation into the charges against Moitra. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Speaking to the media, TMC’s Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien said, “The member concerned has been advised by the party leadership to clarify her position regarding the allegations levelled against her. She has already done that. However, since the matter has to do with an elected MP, her rights and privileges, let the matter be investigated by the right forum of Parliament, after which the party leadership will take an appropriate decision.”

    He added that the party has observed media reports on the matter.

    TMC’s West Bengal general secretary and spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said the party has nothing to say on the issue and that the “person around whom this controversy is revolving is best suited to react to this”.

    BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla asked the TMC central leadership to clarify its official stand on the row.

    Taking to X, he asked, “TMC’s official stand on Mahua Moitra is that ‘we won’t comment’. The said MP will defend herself. Does it mean: 1) TMC accepts Mahua Moitra has made serious breaches, including giving her login to be operated from foreign soil by a rival corporate entity in exchange for kickbacks? 2) If so, then why is TMC still retaining her rather than sacking her? 3) Is the TMC afraid of taking this action because the party itself has something to hide? Perhaps people in the party knew or endorsed it? TMC must clarify.”

    The events unfolded last week after Nishikant Dubey and Moitra’s estranged partner and lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai alleged that the TMC MP took favours from business tycoon Darshan Hiranandani and shared her Parliament login credentials to raise questions in the lower House.

    Dubey also wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to constitute a committee to look into the charges against Moitra and to suspend her from the House till the panel completes its inquiry.

    Birla has deferred the complaint against Moitra to Parliament’s Ethics Committee, which will record the statements of Dubey and Dehadrai on October 26.

    Moitra has steadfastly denied the allegations and has welcomed inquiries from the CBI and the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee. She also said that she has turned down two offers of a peace deal.

    Darshan Hiranandani, the CEO of the Hiranandani Group, who allegedly paid Moitra to raise questions in Parliament about the Adani Group, recently claimed in a signed affidavit that she targeted Gautam Adani to “malign and embarrass Prime Minister Modi”.

    Moitra has refuted all the allegations and raised questions over the credibility of Hiranandani’s affidavit. She has alleged that his affidavit appeared to be drafted by the Prime Minister’s Office and Hiranandani might have been forced to sign it, faced with the threat of a “total shutdown” of his family’s businesses.

    Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • Bribe for questions row: Trinamool MP Moitra sends legal notice, Adani Group expresses ‘shock’

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra sent a legal notice to Supreme Court advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai and BJP leader Nishikant Dubey among others after the lawyer alleged that she was raising questions in Parliament on behalf of businessman Darshan Hiranandani and ‘specifically targeting’ Gautam Adani.

    “Such tweets, videos and news reports being carried by Noticee Nos. 3 to 21 (media houses) contain and propagate defamatory allegations which are ex facie false, misconceived and designed to curry political mileage and extract personal vendetta and do not have an iota of truth to the same,” read her legal notice.

    In an official statement, the Adani Group expressed “shock” at the lawyer’s complaint, which is claimed to be with the CBI in the form of a “sworn affidavit”, bringing on record “the commission of an elaborate criminal conspiracy.”

    The Adani Group said this development “corroborates” their statement of October 9 that “some groups and individuals have been working overtime to harm our name, goodwill and market standing.”

    Taking to the ‘X’ platform, Moitra criticised BJP leaders, saying the CBI is welcome to inquire into any allegations.

    ALSO READ | BJP MP charges Moitra with cash for query, writes to Birla

    “Also welcome  @CBIHeadquarters  enquiry into my alleged money laundering right after they finish investigating Adani’s offshore money trail, over invoicing, benami accounts. Adani may use BJP agencies to browbeat competition & buy airports but just try doing it with me,” her post read.

    She further quipped, “Am using all my ill gotten cash & gifts to buy a college/ university in which Degree Dubey can finally buy a real degree.Please @ombirlakota @loksabhaspeaker  finish the enquiries against him for false affidavits & then set up my enquiry committee.”

    The Hiranandani Group criticised the allegations, saying they have “no merit”. “We have always been in the business of business and not in the business of politics. Our group has always worked with the government in the interest of the nation and will continue doing so,” said a spokesperson of the Hiranandani Group.

    BJP MP Nishikant Dubey kickstarted a political storm on Sunday after he wrote a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, seeking action against Moitra for allegedly taking bribes to raise questions in the House.

    Dubey’s letter stemmed from Dehadrai’s complaint claiming to have “irrefutable evidence” that Moitra took bribes from Hiranandani. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra sent a legal notice to Supreme Court advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai and BJP leader Nishikant Dubey among others after the lawyer alleged that she was raising questions in Parliament on behalf of businessman Darshan Hiranandani and ‘specifically targeting’ Gautam Adani.

    “Such tweets, videos and news reports being carried by Noticee Nos. 3 to 21 (media houses) contain and propagate defamatory allegations which are ex facie false, misconceived and designed to curry political mileage and extract personal vendetta and do not have an iota of truth to the same,” read her legal notice.

    In an official statement, the Adani Group expressed “shock” at the lawyer’s complaint, which is claimed to be with the CBI in the form of a “sworn affidavit”, bringing on record “the commission of an elaborate criminal conspiracy.”googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The Adani Group said this development “corroborates” their statement of October 9 that “some groups and individuals have been working overtime to harm our name, goodwill and market standing.”

    Taking to the ‘X’ platform, Moitra criticised BJP leaders, saying the CBI is welcome to inquire into any allegations.

    ALSO READ | BJP MP charges Moitra with cash for query, writes to Birla

    “Also welcome  @CBIHeadquarters  enquiry into my alleged money laundering right after they finish investigating Adani’s offshore money trail, over invoicing, benami accounts. Adani may use BJP agencies to browbeat competition & buy airports but just try doing it with me,” her post read.

    She further quipped, “Am using all my ill gotten cash & gifts to buy a college/ university in which Degree Dubey can finally buy a real degree.Please @ombirlakota @loksabhaspeaker  finish the enquiries against him for false affidavits & then set up my enquiry committee.”

    The Hiranandani Group criticised the allegations, saying they have “no merit”. “We have always been in the business of business and not in the business of politics. Our group has always worked with the government in the interest of the nation and will continue doing so,” said a spokesperson of the Hiranandani Group.

    BJP MP Nishikant Dubey kickstarted a political storm on Sunday after he wrote a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, seeking action against Moitra for allegedly taking bribes to raise questions in the House.

    Dubey’s letter stemmed from Dehadrai’s complaint claiming to have “irrefutable evidence” that Moitra took bribes from Hiranandani. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • Lok Sabha briefly disrupted as Oppn protests tickers on Sansad TV ‘highlighting govt works’

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha was briefly disrupted on Tuesday during a discussion on the no-confidence motion following opposition members’ loud protest against tickers running on Sansad TV that highlighted development works of the government during the live broadcast of the debate in the House.

    Soon after BJP member Nishikant Dubey began speaking against the motion, several opposition members, including the Congress, TMC and the DMK, protested over the issue.

    Some members of the treasury benches, including ministers, were seen taking a swipe at the Opposition for its inability to come to terms with the development ushered in by the government.

    Speaker Om Birla sought to calm down opposition members, noting that a different system was in place to run the Sansad TV after it was created following the merger of the Lok Sabha TV and the Rajya Sabha TV.

    He later said he has given instructions, a suggestion that the tickers will stop running, and that happened in a couple of minutes.

    Opposition members were seen saying that tickers should only refer to the current proceedings in the House.

    A debate on the no-trust motion moved by the Opposition against the government is on and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to reply on August 10.

    NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha was briefly disrupted on Tuesday during a discussion on the no-confidence motion following opposition members’ loud protest against tickers running on Sansad TV that highlighted development works of the government during the live broadcast of the debate in the House.

    Soon after BJP member Nishikant Dubey began speaking against the motion, several opposition members, including the Congress, TMC and the DMK, protested over the issue.

    Some members of the treasury benches, including ministers, were seen taking a swipe at the Opposition for its inability to come to terms with the development ushered in by the government.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Speaker Om Birla sought to calm down opposition members, noting that a different system was in place to run the Sansad TV after it was created following the merger of the Lok Sabha TV and the Rajya Sabha TV.

    He later said he has given instructions, a suggestion that the tickers will stop running, and that happened in a couple of minutes.

    Opposition members were seen saying that tickers should only refer to the current proceedings in the House.

    A debate on the no-trust motion moved by the Opposition against the government is on and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to reply on August 10.

  • Twitter war erupts between Jharkhand BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, Deoghar DM

    By IANS

    NEW DELHI: Amid the ongoing political crisis in Jharkhand, a war of words erupted on Twitter between BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and IAS Manjunath Bhajantri, the District Magistrate (DM) of Deoghar.

    In a series of tweets, the DM asked who authorised the MP and his children to enter the air traffic control (ATC) room at the Deoghar airport.

    Replying to Bhajantri, Dubey claimed that he took the necessary permission from the airport authorities and that he has the right to inspect as chairman of the Airport Advisory Committee.

    देवघर हवाई अड्डा में हवाई जहाज के नाइट लैंडिंग, टेक ऑफ टेक ऑफ एवं अन्य व्यवस्थाओं के निमित्त आ रही कठिनाईयों के निष्पादन हेतु एयरपोर्ट निर्देशक को आवश्यक व उचित दिशा निर्देश एयरपोर्ट अथॉरिटी के अधिकारियों को दिया।@HemantSorenJMM @mbhajantri @prdjharkhand @aaideoghar
    — DC Deoghar (@DCDeoghar) September 2, 2022
    “Hon’ble MP Sir, I had entered the airport terminal after taking legitimate entry pass. DC is also a Member on the Board of Directors of Deoghar Airport,” said the IAS officer when the BJP MP questioned.

    “Who gave you permission to enter CCTV room? Apron? ATC tower? You breached all the norms. Pathetic,” said the BJP MP after getting the reply from the DM.

    Responding to this, the IAS officer said: “Hon’ble MP Sir, I have not entered Apron, ATC tower. This incident is better left to be inquired by the Competent Authorities.”

    Subsequently, the BJP MP replied, saying: “The CCTV information sought by the appellant is not available with the CISF/ state police Moreover, CISF/ state police is not the holder of the information and is entrusted only for providing security cover at the Airport. -Supreme Court. You breached national security.”

    On this, the Deoghar DM asked: “Hon’ble MP Sir, Few questions. 1. Who authorised you to enter ATC Room? 2. Who authorised your two children to enter ATC Room? 3. Who authorised your supporters to enter ATC Building?”

    Replying to this, the BJP MP said that he took the necessary permissions. “1.) I took the necessary permission from the Airport authorities. 2.) As Chairman of the Airport Advisory Committee, I have the right to inspect. 3.) I am in High Court fighting a case for your delay in facilitating night landing facilities. You are in contempt of court.”

    NEW DELHI: Amid the ongoing political crisis in Jharkhand, a war of words erupted on Twitter between BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and IAS Manjunath Bhajantri, the District Magistrate (DM) of Deoghar.

    In a series of tweets, the DM asked who authorised the MP and his children to enter the air traffic control (ATC) room at the Deoghar airport.

    Replying to Bhajantri, Dubey claimed that he took the necessary permission from the airport authorities and that he has the right to inspect as chairman of the Airport Advisory Committee.

    देवघर हवाई अड्डा में हवाई जहाज के नाइट लैंडिंग, टेक ऑफ टेक ऑफ एवं अन्य व्यवस्थाओं के निमित्त आ रही कठिनाईयों के निष्पादन हेतु एयरपोर्ट निर्देशक को आवश्यक व उचित दिशा निर्देश एयरपोर्ट अथॉरिटी के अधिकारियों को दिया।@HemantSorenJMM @mbhajantri @prdjharkhand @aaideoghar
    — DC Deoghar (@DCDeoghar) September 2, 2022
    “Hon’ble MP Sir, I had entered the airport terminal after taking legitimate entry pass. DC is also a Member on the Board of Directors of Deoghar Airport,” said the IAS officer when the BJP MP questioned.

    “Who gave you permission to enter CCTV room? Apron? ATC tower? You breached all the norms. Pathetic,” said the BJP MP after getting the reply from the DM.

    Responding to this, the IAS officer said: “Hon’ble MP Sir, I have not entered Apron, ATC tower. This incident is better left to be inquired by the Competent Authorities.”

    Subsequently, the BJP MP replied, saying: “The CCTV information sought by the appellant is not available with the CISF/ state police Moreover, CISF/ state police is not the holder of the information and is entrusted only for providing security cover at the Airport. -Supreme Court. You breached national security.”

    On this, the Deoghar DM asked: “Hon’ble MP Sir, Few questions. 1. Who authorised you to enter ATC Room? 2. Who authorised your two children to enter ATC Room? 3. Who authorised your supporters to enter ATC Building?”

    Replying to this, the BJP MP said that he took the necessary permissions. “1.) I took the necessary permission from the Airport authorities. 2.) As Chairman of the Airport Advisory Committee, I have the right to inspect. 3.) I am in High Court fighting a case for your delay in facilitating night landing facilities. You are in contempt of court.”

  • Pegasus row: Lok Sabha Speaker meets officials on not appearing before Tharoor-led Parliment panel

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Taking note of a complaint filed by Congress leader and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on IT Shashi Tharoor, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is learnt to have met the secretaries of the home, information technology and telecom ministries, sources said on Wednesday.

    The three secretaries wrote to Tharoor conveying their unavailability to depose before the panel at its meeting on July 28, in which the committee was expected to take up the Pegasus snooping issue.

    A day after the meeting, Tharoor wrote to Birla informing him that the three secretaries were called to depose on “citizens’ data security and privacy”.

    The meeting was cancelled after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members boycotted it, resulting in a lack of quorum.

    The BJP MPs had accused Tharoor of using the committee for “forwarding the Congress agenda”.

    Tharoor met the speaker on several occasions on the issue of non-appearance of government officials before the standing committee meeting on July 28.

    Birla was expected to hold an informal meeting of all the panel members but so far, no such meeting has taken place.

    The committee is again expected to meet on August 17 to adopt the reports on “Internet Shutdowns in India” and “Media Ethics”.

    BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has been demanding Tharoor’s removal from the committee for allegedly forwarding his party’s political agenda.

  • ‘Some elements’ reducing parliamentary panel on IT to ‘ping pong match’: Shashi Tharoor

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: With the BJP members of a parliamentary panel opposing his decision to question government officials on the Pegasus row, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who heads the committee, took a swipe at them on Thursday, saying “some elements” have chosen to reduce it to a “ping pong match” that is not in the spirit of Parliament.

    Asked about reports of BJP MP Nishikant Dubey moving a “privilege motion” against him, Tharoor told reporters that it has no “validity” as no constituted procedure was followed in introducing the motion that requires the Speaker to get the leave of the House before it can be introduced.

    Hitting back, Dubey said the Congress MP is unaware of the rules and has gone into “frustration” as he is focussed more on becoming the leader of his party in Lok Sabha in place of Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

    Official sources said Dubey has moved a “privilege notice” in the Speaker’s office against Tharoor for allegedly misusing his power as the head of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information and Technology.

    It will be for Speaker Om Birla to decide the fate of the notice. The panel that was set to question government officials on Wednesday on the Pegasus spyware issue was postponed due to lack of quorum. BJP members of the panel who were present in the meeting room didn’t sign the attendance register in protest leading to a lack of quorum required for holding the meeting.

    Tharoor said he was very disappointed with the development. “I am very disappointed that some elements on some issues have chosen to reduce this committee to some sort of a ping pong match which I dont believe is in the spirit of Parliament or parliamentary committee,” he said.

    Asked about divisions among the panel’s members along political lines, the former union minister noted that when he was the chairman of the parliamentary committee on external affairs for five years where its members worked in an extremely amicable and cooperative spirit. “That committee also had a strong BJP majority,” he added.

    He also expressed his ignorance about Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra allegedly calling Dubey a “Bihari gunda” when the panel members had assembled for the meeting.

    “How can I tell you about a meeting which never happened? I am completely unaware if somebody allegedly said something at a meeting that never took place to somebody who was not there. How am I to be concerned about it?”

  • BJP MP Nishikant Dubey accuses TMC member of calling him ‘Bihari Gunda’, raises matter in Lok Sabha

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Thursday raised in the Lok Sabha the issue of a TMC member allegedly calling him a ‘Bihari Gunda’ during a Parliamentary committee meeting.

    “I want to draw attention of all members of this House. This is my 13th year as an MP and the way I was called ‘Bihari Gunda’ at the Parliamentary committee meeting yesterday by a woman, by Trinamool Congress, I have not seen this in my life,” Dubey said, amid din in the House due to protests by opposition over Pegasus and farm bill issues.

    “What is our mistake? Our mistake is in developing this country. We have worked as labourers, as Hindi-speaking people whether from Uttar Pradesh or Madhya Pradesh…we have worked hard. We have learnt sessions from Lord Ram,” Dubey said.

    However, Dubey did not name the TMC member. As Dubey was speaking, Rajendra Agrawal, who was chairing the proceedings, adjourned the House till 12:30 pm. As the House reassembled at 12:30 pm, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal urged the Chair to allow Dubey to complete the issue he was raising before the House got adjourned.

    However, Agrawal called for papers to be laid on the table. As opposition slogan shouting continued, Agrawal adjourned the proceedings till 2 pm.

    The meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information and Technology, chaired by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, on Wednesday was set to question government officials on the Pegasus spyware issue.

    However, the meeting was postponed due to lack of quorum. Even though the meeting did not take place, the gathering of BJP and opposition party members witnessed drama. Dubey had alleged that Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra called him a ‘Bihari Gunda’.

    Dubey, in a tweet on Wednesday tagged TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and alleged that Moitra’s comments show her party’s attitude towards the people of Bihar and the Hindi-speaking parts of the country.

    Moitra denied the charge, saying Dubey was not even present for the meeting.

  • BJP’s Nishikant Dubey demands Shashi Tharoor’s removal as head of Parliamentary panel on IT 

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Wednesday demanded the removal of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor as the head of the Parliamentary panel on Information Technology, alleging that he was using his position in a discriminatory manner.

    Dubey raised the issue in the Lok Sabha, saying a letter has already been submitted to the Speaker in this regard on Tuesday.

    The parliamentary panel’s meeting that was set to question government officials on Wednesday on the Pegasus spyware issue was postponed due to lack of quorum.

    A number of members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information and Technology sat in Parliament to discuss ‘Citizens’ safety and date protection’. However, BJP members of the panel who were present in the meeting room didn’t sign the attendance register in protest leading to a lack of quorum required for holding the meeting.

    The panel’s chair Tharoor had said the panel members will question officials from the Information and Technology Ministry and the Home Ministry who will depose before it on the Pegasus issue.

    BJP members opposed this alleging that when the Congress is not allowing discussion on this issue in Parliament then it can’t be discussed in the committee meeting.

    “BJP members come to the IT Committee and refuse to sign the attendance register to deny a quorum. Further, all the witnesses called from MiEIT and MHA wrote in excuses and didn’t appear as called to testify. It’s very clear that Pegasus is a no go area for this government,” the Congress’ Karti Chidambaram, who is a member of the panel, said on Twitter.

    Since the beginning of the Monsoon Session on July 19, both Houses have seen repeated disruptions as opposition parties have been demanding a Supreme Court-monitored judicial probe in this matter.

    The 32-member Parliamentary Standing Committee on IT was scheduled to meet on Wednesday, for which the listed agenda was — Citizens’ data security and privacy — according to a notification by Lok Sabha Secretariat.

    The panel, which has the maximum members from the ruling BJP, had summoned officials from the Ministry of Electronics, Information and Technology and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

    An international media consortium has reported that over 300 verified Indian mobile phone numbers were on a list of potential targets for surveillance using Israeli firm NSO’s Pegasus spyware.

    Opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi, two union ministers — Prahlad Singh Patel and Railways and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, businessman Anil Ambani, a former CBI chief, and at least 40 journalists are on the list on the leaked database of NSO.

    It is, however, not established that all the phones were hacked.

  • Well within Parliament panel’s mandate to seek clarification from Centre on ‘manipulated media’ issue: Tharoor

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Amid the ongoing ‘toolkit’ row, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday said the parliamentary panel on information and technology had written to the IT ministry over its communication with Twitter on the ‘manipulated media’ issue and has received a detailed reply on it.

    Hitting back at BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who had accused him of using his position as chairman of the panel to tarnish the image of the Centre, Tharoor asserted that it was well within the mandate of the committee to seek a clarification on Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s (MEITY) “contacts” with Twitter on the ‘manipulated media’ issue.

    In a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, the BJP MP, who is a member of the panel, had referred to some recent remarks made by Tharoor on the Union government on the “toolkit issue”, and alleged that the Congress leader was “misusing” his official position to “tarnish” the image of the Union government as well as Parliament by raising issues which are outside the purview of the parliamentary panel.

    Taking to Twitter, Tharoor said that with reference to allegations circulated publicly recently by a member of the Parliamentary Committee on IT relating to the ‘manipulated media’ issue, it is clarified that given the committee’s inability to meet in current circumstances, it communicates with ministries in writing as required.

    On the subject of the IT ministry’s “contacts with Twitter” on ‘Manipulated Media’, the Committee Secretariat wrote to MEITY by email and received a detailed and comprehensive reply dated May 26, which is being circulated to all members for their information, Tharoor said in a series of tweets.

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    The committee is already examining the subject ‘safeguarding citizens’ rights & prevention of misuse of social/online media platforms” which relates to this issue, he said.

    It is therefore well within the committee’s mandate to seek a clarification on this matter from the ministry concerned, Tharoor asserted.

    In a jibe at Dubey, he said, “As a matter of established practice and good form, members with issues to raise relating to the work of a parliamentary committee are advised to communicate directly with the Chairman and/or the Committee Secretariat, rather than ventilating their concerns in the media without discussion.”

    Hours after a BJP spokesperson’s tweets on an alleged ‘toolkit’ on the Centre’s COVID-19 response were labelled as ‘manipulated media’, the government on Friday had asked Twitter to remove the tag, saying the social media platform cannot pass judgment on a matter under investigation.

    MEITY wrote “a strong communication” to Twitter registering objection to the use of ‘manipulated media’ tag on certain tweets, according to sources.

    ALSO READ | WhatsApp moves Delhi HC against govt on new social media intermediary rules: Sources

    The BJP had accused the Congress of creating a ‘toolkit’ that seeks to tarnish the image of the country and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the handling of the Covid pandemic.

    However, the Congress denied the allegation and claimed that the BJP is propagating a fake ‘toolkit’ to defame it.

    Last week, Twitter labelled as “manipulated media” a tweet by Sambit Patra on the alleged ‘toolkit’.

    Twitter says it “may label tweets that include media (videos, audio, and images) that have been deceptively altered or fabricated”.