Parliament highlights: Oppn attacks BJP, says it wants to erase reservation

11:36 PM

BJP issues whip to its MPs asking them to be present in LS, RS on February 11

The BJP has issued a whip asking its members of parliament to be present in their respective Houses on Tuesday when Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to reply to discussions on the Union Budget in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

 

Sitharaman is likely to speak in Lok Sabha first and then in Rajya Sabha. Read more

10:17 PM

Lok Sabha adjourned

Lok Sabha has been adjouned for the day.

10:04 PM

Central varsities organised debates, lectures to raise awareness about CAA: HRD minister

Central universities have organised debates and lectures to create awareness among students about the amended citizenship law, Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' informed the Lok Sabha on Monday.
 

The Union HRD minister was replying to a question about the steps taken by the government to overcome the situations in university campuses in the country in response to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

10:03 PM

BJP issues three-line whip to all of its Rajya Sabha MPs

8:57 PM

SC decision on reservation 'great setback': Sharad Yadav

The Supreme Court ruling on reservation in jobs for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is a "great setback", opposition leader Sharad Yadav said on Monday.
 

In a statement, he blamed the BJP for the development and said it is the party's "mindset" to snatch the rights of under-privileged classes of the society.

8:52 PM

Centre should file review plea: Opposition on SC ruling on reservation

Opposition parties in Rajya Sabha on Monday demanded that the government file a review petition in the Supreme Court over its ruling on reservation in jobs and promotions for SC/STs, and walked out of the House over its "unsatisfactory" response.

 

Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale said the apex court's decision was "unjust" and the reservation subject should be brought under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.
 

It is a "serious" issue and the entire country is concerned about it, NDA ally LJP and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said.
 

"There is not need to worry. The Modi government will protect and will do whatever best possible to protect the interest of SCs and STs," Paswan, a dalit leader, said.
 

He said the reservation issue should be brought under the Ninth Schedule of Constitution and pitched for reservation for the community in judiciary also.
 

After the minister's statement, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said it is a serious issue as it concerns about one-fourth of the country's population.

"Immediately, a cabinet meeting should be called and take a decision to file a review petition," Azad said.

8:49 PM

Opposition expresses concern over falling growth, sliding investment

Opposition in Lok Sabha on Monday expressed concern over the declining growth and falling investment and asked the government to take corrective measures to arrest the slowdown and generate employment.
 

Participating in the debate on the Union Budget 2020-21 in Lok Sabha, BJD member B Mahtab called for financial sector reforms to revive rapidly declining investment.
 

"We are measuring GDP growth... more the investment, the growth would be faster and quicker," he said, adding that adequate corrective measures were necessary to boost growth which is estimated to slip to five per cent in 2019-20.
 

Banks were not in a position to lend to infrastructure, Mahtab said and asked the government not to lose sight of wider reforms in the public sector.

"There is a need to bring competition within the banking sector," he said.
 

The NCP's Supriya Sule termed the budget as "long and tiresome" and said it has exposed the failure "of this government when it comes to fiscal health".

She said the government talks about achieving $5 trillion economy but "we are not even barely crossing five per cent (growth)".
 

She said the government was talking about bullet train but the fact was not even a single acre of land was acquired for the same.

"They are in a fairy-tale world... they live in a make- believe world," she said.

8:46 PM

Congress accuses BJP of conspiring to end reservations for SCs/STs

The Congress on Monday accused the BJP and the RSS of conspiring to end reservation for the SCs, STs and Other Backward Classes, saying they have been "sabotaging" reservation to these oppressed sections for years.
 

The party's remarks came after the Supreme Court held that states are not bound to provide reservation in appointments and there is no fundamental right to claim quota in promotions.
 

It also accused Union Social Justice Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot of misleading Lok Sabha on the issue and said it would move a privilege motion against him.

8:45 PM

Govt living in denial, budget proposals unrealistic: Opposition

The Opposition in Rajya Sabha on Monday poked holes in the Budget proposals, saying they are based on "unrealistic" assumptions, and accused the Government of living in denial over the state of the economy.
 

Initiating the debate on the Union Budget for 2020-21, Congress leader P Chidambaram said the economy was close to collapse and was being attended by "very incompetent doctors."
 

He said rising unemployment and falling consumption was making India poorer and "fear and uncertainty prevails in the country".

7:26 PM

Rajya Sabha adjourned

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 11:00 AM on February 11