Govt trying to turn country into surveillance state: Mamata Banerjee on Pegasus row
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday accused the government of making attempts to turn the country into a surveillance state with the use of spyware Pegasus.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday accused the government of making attempts to turn the country into a surveillance state with the use of spyware Pegasus.
Addressing the people online on Martyr’s Day, Banerjee called for the Opposition parties to form a united front and plan to defeat the BJP in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections while pointing to the threat posed to democracy in the aftermath of the Pegasus scandal. She said she would go to Delhi on July 27 or 28 and will be available for an opposition meeting if one is held.
Several Opposition leaders such as P Chidambaram, Digvijaya Singh, Sharad Pawar, Ram Gopal Yadav, Manoj Jha, Tiruchi Siva, Supriya Sule, Sanjay Singh, K Keshava Rao, Jaya Bachchan were among those who heard her address in Delhi where it was played live on giant television screens.
Banerjee, whose nephew and senior party leader Abhishek Banerjee listed on the leaked list, said three things make democracy- media, judiciary, and the Election Commission, and Pegasus has captured all the three. She said Israeli spyware is dangerous and they are harassing people. Phones of ministers, judges are being tapped and they have finished the democratic structure. Instead of a democratic state, they want to convert it into a surveillance state, she said.
Holding up her phone, she showed how her phone camera was covered with tape and she cannot talk to other opposition leaders fearing if her phone is also being tapped. She said the government should also be plastered over, otherwise this country will be destroyed. Taking names of Opposition leaders like P Chidambaram, Sharad Pawar, Arvind Kejriwal, and others, she said cannot talk to anyone. Instead of giving money to the poor, you are spending a lot of money on spygiri, said Banerjee while taking potshots at the ruling government.
Banerjee also appealed to the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognizance against the use of spyware Pegasus. She urged the apex court to set up a panel to probe, as only the judiciary can save the country, she said.
Recalling her Assembly election victory slogan Khela Hobe, Banerjee said one game has happened in Bengal and another game is afoot. She said she will declare August 16 as Khel Divas in Bengal.
She also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, by asking him to not mind her saying that he and maybe the Home Minister, have been deploying law enforcement agencies against Opposition leaders. She added that the government had been spending tax money on spyware and not on the welfare of the people while pointing at the surging petrol prices.
Further, she said that the BJP has destroyed the Constitution, and their party members have become NHRC members. The Centre is interested in violence, divisive politics, clashes, mistrust among people, when people want freedom and progress, good healthcare, education and jobs, she said.
TAppluading her governance, Banerjee said, that her party is ready to give free ration to the nation. They distributed 10 lakh student credit cards besides laptops, hostel fees, tuition fees, etc. and also giving Rs 10,000 to farmers. She said Bengal is the real model, not Gujarat and urged the common people to protest against Pegasus snoop gate.
Massive violence broke out in Jammu and Kashmir’s Katra after the protestors pelted stones and clashed with the security forces during their protests against the proposed ropeway project along the trek route to the holy shrine of Vaishno Devi atop Trikuta hills.
Reports said that the protestors hurled stones at the security personnel and damaged a CRPF vehicle. Paramvir Singh, Reasi SSP told media that the protest was going on peacefully for the past three days but on Monday some protesters pelted stones at the security forces.
In Jammu and Kashmir’s Katra, the shopkeepers and labourers on Sunday took out a protest rally on the third day of their strike and held a sit-in outside the office of the subdivisional magistrate and Shalimar Park in Katra, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the shrine.
A member of the joint committee of shopkeepers and pony and palanquin owners had said that the 72-hour strike has been extended by another 24 hours, adding that they will meet again and announce our future course of action. Notably, the three-day strike called by them began on Friday.
Reports stated that while the businesses located at the base camp of Katra remained operational, shops lining the pilgrimage route from Ban Ganga to Charan Paduka observed closures. Nonetheless, the suspension of pony and palanquin services is causing hardships for the pilgrims, especially the elderly and differently-abled, to continue their sacred journey.
The residents have been complaining that the project would negatively impact the environment and their livelihoods. They asserted that the ropeway project would render them jobless, and also accused the authorities of pushing through the development without adequate consultation.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has assured the protestors of their employment. He mentioned that the committee headed by the Divisional Commissioner has been deliberating on the ropeway project and the rehabilitation of the locals. Furthermore, he also emphasised that the genuine concerns of the locals would be considered while the development of the region would not be ignored.
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) had announced implementation of the long-awaited ropeway project to facilitate a safer and faster journey for the pilgrims. As per the project details, the ropeway will be developed with a cost of Rs 250 crore between Tarakote Marg to Sanji Chhat along the 12-kilometre track.
Delhi Pollution: GRAP IV restrictions to continue in national capital, says Supreme Court
The court also pulled up the Delhi Police over no checkpoints at the borders of the city for checking the pollution measures and said that it was a serious lapse.
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to relax GRAP IV measures in Delhi and ordered the CAQM to consider relaxing norms for students. The apex court observed that several students cannot avail midday meals, online classes and cannot access air purifiers.
The court also pulled up the Delhi Police over no checkpoints at the borders of the city for checking the pollution measures and said that it was a serious lapse. A bench headed by Justice AS Oka stated that they would consider prosecution of the Delhi Police Commissioner under the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) Act for deploying police personnel at only 23 checkpoints, when Stage 4 of the GRAP was implemented.
Earlier, the court has also appointed 13 members from the court as commissioners to check whether the GRAP IV measures are being implemented or not. On Monday, the commissioners submitted their report to the court.
Subsequently, the court told the Delhi government that there were no checkposts at borders of the city and that the ban on trucks entering into the capital was not being followed properly.
The top court bench said that they were informed that no police or government personnel were present at the border checkpoints, and they were only manned by toll collection staff of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Mentioning that they will direct prosecution against all officials, the court questioned why the police were not directed to take action under Stage IV of the GRAP.
Responding, Advocate Shadan Farasat representing the Delhi government said that the CAQM had issued directions. Consecutively, the court asked him to show what written instructions were given by the state and the central government to the police on November 18. To this, Advocate Farasat said that directions were issued to post police personnel at 23 checkpoints where trucks could enter the city.
The court continued that this was negligence, adding that it will direct CAQM to prosecute the Delhi Police Commissioner.
After the Maharashtra Assembly Elections results, NCP leader Ajit Pawar criticized NCP faction led by Sharad Pawar for its decision to field his nephew Yugender Pawar against him in the family bastion of Baramati. Ajit Pawar also mentioned that his decision to field wife Sunetra Pawar against his sister Supriya Sule in the Lok Sabha election was a mistake.
Sharad Pawar led NCP had fielded Yugender Pawar, son of Ajit Pawar’s elder brother Shrinivas Anantrao Pawar, in the Baramati Assembly segment. The constituency was represented by Sharad Pawar for over two decades, followed by Ajit Pawar for over three. In this assembly election, 33-year-old Yugendra Pawar was backed by Sharad Pawar and four-time Baramati MP Supriya Sule. However, Yugender Pawar lost out against his formidable uncle by a margin of over 1 lakh votes.
While addressing the media, Ajit Pawar said that Yugendra is a business person, and he had no connection with politics. He added that there was no reason to field his own nephew against him in the elections.
Earlier in the Lok Sabha elections 2024, Ajit Pawar had fielded his wife Sunetra Pawar against his cousin and Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule, who won the contest by a 1.5 lakh votes margin. Later, Ajit Pawar admitted that it was a mistake.
Sharad Pawar had defended the decision to field Yugendra Pawar, mentioning that someone had to contest the polls. He had also said there was no comparison between Ajit Pawar and Yugendra Pawar.
Notably, a 2023 rebellion led by Ajit Pawar against his uncle split the NCP founded by Sharad Pawar. Since then, the senior Pawar has been fighting to win his party’s name and symbol back.
Previously In the Lok Sabha election, the veteran had trumped his nephew, with his faction winning 8 seats compared to Ajit Pawar’s score of 1. However this time, the tables turned as NCP (Sharad Pawar) scored 10, but Ajit Pawar’s party won 41.
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