Controversy once again hit the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information and Technology, chaired by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor with a BJP MP accusing another member of the panel from Trinamool Congress of calling him a "Bihari goonda".
Meanwhile, the panel meeting called to question government officials on the Pegasus spyware had to be postponed due to lack of quorum as members from the ruling party refused to participate.
On a day Mamata Banerjee met several Opposition leaders and gave a call for nationwide Opposition unity to take on Narendra Modi-led BJP in 2024 general elections as well in 2022 UP Assembly polls, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey took to Twitter alleging Trinamool Congress member of using the word "Bihari goonda" and abusing people of entire Hindi belt including Bihar.
तृणमूल @AITCofficial ने बिहारी गुंडा शब्द का प्रयोग कर बिहार के साथ साथ पूरे हिन्दी भाषी लोगों को गाली दी है,@MamataOfficial जी आप के सांसद महुआ मोइत्रा की इस गाली ने उत्तर भारतीय व ख़ासकर हिंदी भाषी लोगों के प्रति आपके पार्टी के नफ़रत को देश के सामने लाया है।
— Dr Nishikant Dubey (@nishikant_dubey) July 28, 2021
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Tagging the Twitter handles of Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress, Dubey said, "This abuse by your party MP Mahua Moitra has exposed the hatred of your party towards North Indians, especially the Hindi belt dwellers."
Soon, politics kicked in
Gorakhpur BJP MP Ravi Kishan said, "Us, the people of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, have left the hope of respect from TMC long back". BJP state general secretary of Andhra Pradesh S Vishnu Vardhan Reddy said, "Such a response by a TMC member is not surprising. However, coming from an MP, it is highly condemnable. It has to be seen how Tejashwi Yadav and Manoj Kumar Jha (leaders of RJD in Bihar) respond to it."
Moitra denied the charge saying Dubey was not even present in the panel meeting.
"Am a bit amused by charges of name-calling. IT meeting did not happen because of no quorum - members did not attend. How can I call someone a name who was not even present!! Check attendance sheet!," she tweeted tagging the panel Chairman Tharoor and other Congress and TMC members from the panel Karthi Chidambaram, Nasir Hussain and Nadimul Haque.
Am a bit amused by charges of name-calling.
— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) July 28, 2021
IT mtng did not happen because NO quorum - members did not attend.
How can I call someone a name who was not even present!!
Check attendance sheet!@ShashiTharoor , @KartiPC @NasirHussainINC @MdNadimulHaque6
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Sources close to Dubey said he had gone to attend the meeting but did not sign on the attendance register as BJP members were protesting against the meeting that was supposed to discuss the issue of 'citizens safety' and 'data protection'. Officials from the Information and Technology Ministry and the Home Ministry were to depose before it on the Pegasus issue.
Since the BJP members did not sign the attendance register, it led to a lack of quorum and the meeting could not happen. Also, the officials who were asked to appear before the panel did not arrive, citing various reasons.
Karti Chidambaram tweeted, "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."
He asked why is the BJP "shy/hesitant/reluctant/unwilling/afraid to discuss about Pegasus?"
"Every desperate act of the @BJP4India clearly indicates that they have a lot hide.#Pegasus. The @BJP4India wants to expunge #Pegasus from any debate, scrutiny or enquiry! What are they so afraid of?," the Congress MP asked.