LEAD

As the logjam in Parliament continued over the Pegasus snooping issue, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday spoke to Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and sought his cooperation to end the impasse. With the government not agreeing to a debate on Pegasus, the Opposition signalled that it was hardening its position and is drawing up plans to step up its offensive against the government.

The Opposition leaders -- from as many as 17 parties from both Houses -- will meet over breakfast on Tuesday on the invitation of senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to strategise on their next course of action. Sources said that some parties have proposed that the MPs hold a mock session in the Parliament premises to highlight what they called the stifling of their voices inside the two Houses.

The Opposition parties have been disrupting both houses of Parliament for two weeks, demanding a structured discussion on the snooping issue in the presence of either Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Home Minister Amit Shah. They want Shah to reply to the discussion.

Opposition parties are likely to register their protest against the government’s “obduracy” on the Pegasus issue by holding a parallel session of Parliament outside Parliament House.

A proposal to this effect was mooted, along with a few others, during a meeting of 14 opposition parties last week, where several MPs said opposition parties, since they are being denied the opportunity to be seen and heard on the floor of the House, should hold a parallel sitting outside to discuss the illegal surveillance mounted on the judiciary, election commission, journalists, civil society, bureaucracy, ministers and opposition leaders.

New Delhi: At least 10 states are witnessing an upsurge in infections and positivity, the Centre warned on Saturday as it urged districts reporting a Covid-19 positivity rate of over 10 per cent in the last few weeks to consider stricter restrictions to prevent or curtail people’s movement and crowding.

With 46 districts showing more than 10 per cent positivity rate while another 53 showing positivity between five and 10 per cent, the Centre has urged the states to ramp up their testing for detection of Covid-19.

The ongoing tussle between the Narendra Modi government and the Opposition over the Pegasus spyware snooping controversy has taken a big hit on Parliament's productivity.

The first two weeks of the ongoing Monsoon Session saw very little business as opposition parties demanded discussion on the snooping controversy, resulting in frequent disruptions and adjournments.

Data compiled by PRS Legislative show Lok Sabha's productivity has been only 14 per cent as it passed five bills in less than an hour. During the Budget Session earlier this year, the average time spent on a bill passed by the Lok Sabha was 2.5 hour.

The Congress leadership is discussing a “plan of action” proposed by poll strategist Prashant Kishor to rejuvenate the party and make it battle-ready for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Sources in the party said members of the Congress Working Committee are meeting in groups to discuss the "reform and revival" agenda.

Sources said the blueprint which is in discussion was submitted by Kishor during his meeting with the Gandhis earlier this month. While he met Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on July 13, he had at least one meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi earlier.

While most of the leaders who are part of the meetings are tightlipped about Kishor's proposals, one leader said he wants to get actively involved in election strategy, coordination, management as well as alliances. Another leader said, "It is a big laundry list on how to revive the Congress and everything. And then Kishor wants to formally come into the party... The discussions are on that and how to take it forward. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been the driving force."