Shiv Sena salutes Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for setting up a panel to conduct a probe into the Pegasus snooping row

News Desk: The Shiv Sena on Thursday hailed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for setting up a panel to conduct a probe into the Pegasus snooping row, saying she has done something which the central government was supposed to do. An editorial in the Sena mouthpiece ”Saamana” criticised the Centre for not paying heed to the opposition”s demand of setting up a joint parliamentary committee for a “detailed inquiry” into the snooping controversy. It is “mysterious” that the Centre does not consider as serious the issue of alleged tapping of phones of two Union ministers, some other MPs, senior officials of the Supreme Court, armed forces and journalists, the Marathi publication said.

Lauding her move, the editorial in ”Saamana” said, “The people of the country will see Pegasus as another associated branch of the CBI, ED, Income Tax. That is why the step by Banerjee is courageous. She set up a judicial commission and initiated the inquiry into the snooping row. She did what the Centre was supposed to do.” It said chief ministers should safeguard the rights and civil liberties of citizens of their states and Banerjee has done a job of “awaking all”. By setting up a panel to conduct a probe into Pegasus snooping row, the West Bengal CM has given a “jolt” to the Centre, the editorial claimed.