LIVE: 'We haven't told anyone to show fewer Covid deaths,' says Mandaviya

Modi government rejects Opposition charge of spying on their phone conversations; Jeff Bezos will fly to the edge of space. Stay tuned for Latest LIVE news

6:35 AM

Parties spar over govt's medical oxygen statement

Opposition parties on Wednesday attacked the government for telling Parliament that no deaths due to medical oxygen shortage were reported by states and UTs during the second Covid-19 wave in April-May. The BJP accused them of politics and said Opposition-ruled states had not reported such fatalities.

6:31 AM

West Bengal CM attacks central govt

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday accused the central government of trying to establish a "surveillance state". She asked the Supreme Court to take note of the Pegasus scandal, according to PTI.

 

6:16 PM

Rajya Sabha adjourned till July 22

6:02 PM

Centre compiles and publishes the data sent in by state govts, says Mandaviya

5:54 PM

Centre procuring 110-120 mn Covishield doses a month, says Mandaviya

5:44 PM

Never did politics over pandemic, says Health Minister

5:21 PM

There shouldn't be politics in Covid crisis: Health Minister

4:45 PM

Puri laments about 'false narrative'

4:07 PM

Reports say more Covid deaths than govt's official figures, says Shiv Sena MP

3:37 PM

Current health Budget is fake, actual Budget is only Rs 72,000 cr, says SP MP

3:14 PM

Lok Sabha adjourned till July 22

2:43 PM

Govt seeks to spend net Rs 23,674.81 crore extra

Government seeks Parliament nod to spend net Rs 23,674.81 crore extra in current fiscal year, says PTI

2:34 PM

Congress's conduct 'irresponsible, unfortunate': Modi

The Congress's conduct in Parliament was "irresponsible and unfortunate", said Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was addressing a weekly meeting of BJP MPs. "Congress still has sense of entitlement that it has ruled the country for 60 years and it is because of this that they haven't been able to digest the fact that people have chosen us,” he said, according to NDTV.com.

2:28 PM

Rs 40,000 cr approved to contain Covid-19

The Central government has approved Rs 40,000 crore for preventing COVID-19 and ramping up health infrastructure. The amount is apart from funds allocated under the National Health Mission, said Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai in Lok Sabha.

2:15 PM

Lok Sabha adjourned till 3pm; Rajya Sabha resumes

Rajya Sabha resumes proceedings after multiple adjournments, reports the Indian Express. A discussion on India's handling of covid-19 crisis, and management is underway. Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 3pm, says NDTV channel.

 

2:05 PM

Congress demands JPC probe

The Congress demanded on Tuesday that a joint parliamentary committee investigates the Pegasus controversy. Opposition parties stalled proceedings of both houses of Parliament over alleged spying on Indian citizens.

1:25 PM

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 4pm

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 4pm as Opposition parties continue protest over Pegasus spyware controversy

1:01 PM

Modi meets BJP MPs

Congress and other Opposition parties creating negative atmosphere in Parliament, says PM Narendra Modi at meeting with BJP MPs, reports NDTV. Support for the Congress party is dwindling in the country, he says.

12:06 PM

Congress MP attacks govt

Former IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad wanted a probe against NSO;  the current IT Minister is defending the company, says Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, referring to the Israeli firm that builds the spyware 

11:54 AM

Opposition MPs carry placards

The Indian Express reports some Opposition MPs in Lok Sabha carried placards asking both PM and Home Minister to resign. The House was adjourned till 2pm

11:31 AM

Govt has no link with Pegasus: Minister Joshi

"No iota of link between the government and Pegasus issue," says Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi, according to CNN-News18 on Twitter

11:21 AM

Lok Sabha adjoruned till 2pm , Rajya Sabha till noon

Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 2 pm as Opposition protests the Pegasus spying report. Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 12 noon

11:17 AM

4 Opposition parties give notice for Rajya Sabha debate

The Congress, the Trinamool Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party and the CPM, all opposition parties, have given notices in Rajya Sabha, demanding suspension of the scheduled business of the House to discuss the Pegasus spyware controversy, reports NDTV.com.

11:07 AM

Lok Sabha adjoruned till 2pm

Lok Sabha adjoruned till 2pm as Opposition MPs keep up protests on Pegasus spyware controversy.

11:02 AM

BJP MPs meet at Parliament

The Indian Express reports that the BJP held a meeting of its MPs at Parliament, ahead of the second day of the Monsoon Session. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, among others were present at the meet.

 

10:44 AM

Pegasus controversy in Parliament

Trinamool Congress MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray has given a notice, seeking suspension of Rules of business in the Rajya Sabha to discuss the Pegasus spyware controversy, NDTV.com reports. IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will give a statement regarding "compromise of phone data of some persons as reported in the media" after 2 pm.

10:36 AM

Rockets land near Kabul presidential palace during Eid prayers: Reuters

Rockets landed near the Afghan presidential palace in Kabul on Tuesday during prayers for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, a live television broadcast showed. There were no immediate reports of injuries. President Ashraf Ghani and others in the vicinity had to stop the prayers after multiple loud explosions shook the area, Reuters reported quoting TV reports.

10:32 AM

Apple delays office return by at least a month

Apple Inc. is pushing back its return to office deadline by at least a month to October at the earliest, responding to a resurgence of Covid variants across many countries, people familiar with the matter said, according to Bloomberg.

 

9:56 AM

Latest news LIVE updates: Opposition strategy meet at 10 am on Pegasus case

The Pegasus scandal is expected to have ripples in parliament today as the opposition plans to corner the government over the issue. Sources said the opposition parties will hold a strategy meet at the Parliament House at 10 am to discuss the alleged illegal surveillance through the Israeli spyware Pegasus on political leaders, journalists, bureaucrats and others.

Trinamool Congress's Sukhendu Sekhar Ray has given a 267 notice, seeking suspension of Rules of business in the Rajya Sabha, for a discussion on Pegasus.

 

The Upper House was likely to discuss 'Covid management' today afternoon. Later on Monday, the agenda showed that new IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will make a statement regarding "compromise of phone data of some persons as reported in the media" after 2 pm.

8:50 AM

Congress MP Manickam Tagore gives Adjournment notice in Lok Sabha on 'Pegasus Project' media report issue

Congress MP Manickam Tagore has given Adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha on 'Pegasus Project' media report issue.