Page 109 - Lok Sabha

Cash-for-query row: Lok Sabha panel hears BJP MP Dubey, lawyer Dehadrai

The Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha has asked TMC member Mahua Moitra to appear before it on October 31 in relation to cash-for-query allegations levelled against her by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who told the panel on Thursday that it was an "open and shut" case and she should be disqualified. Dubey and advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai gave "oral evidence" to the panel against the Trinamool Congress MP during the day, after which its chairperson Vinod Kumar Sonkar said the committee will also seek assistance from the Ministries of Home Affairs and IT in probing the allegations. The panel's meeting began with sharp differences among the 10 members present, excluding the chairperson, on who should they hear first -- the complainant or the accused -- forcing a vote to resolve the matter. Opposition members cited the recent case involving BSP MP Danish Ali and BJP's Ramesh Bidhuri to note that another parliamentary panel had called the ruling party member, accused of making derogatory commen

Cash for Query case: Advocate Dehadrai appears before LS Ethics Committee

Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai on Thursday appeared before the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee to submit oral evidence on his allegations of "Cash for Query' against TMC MP Mahua Moitra

Outreach programme 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra' to be launched on Nov 15

After a political row over its mega outreach campaign to highlight central schemes, the government on Thursday said the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra scheduled for launch on November 15 will skip the five poll-bound states. In an informal interaction with reporters here, Information and Broadcasting Secretary Apurva Chandra said a decision has been taken to drop the word 'rath' to refer to the vehicles publicising government schemes across 2.55 lakh gram panchayats and nearly 18,000 locations in urban areas. "There is no plan to start the 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra' in election-bound states where the model code of conduct is in place. In poll-bound states the yatra will start when the model code of conduct is lifted," Chandra said. "Henceforth, we will not use the word 'rath' for the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) vans," Chandra said, dismissing criticism that government officials were being drafted for a political campaign. Assembly polls in five states -- Rajastha

Cash-for-Query Row: Ethics Committee of Lok Sabha to hold first meeting

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai will appear before the Committee for oral evidence in regard to the complaint filed by Dubey against TMC MP Mahua Moitra

Will BJP's big guns fire in MP polls as party has 4 LS members in fray

After the BJP fielded seven Lok Sabha MPs, including three Union ministers, for the November 17 assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh in a change of strategy, the question doing the rounds in political circles is whether these big guns will fire and propel the saffron outfit into office for a fifth term in two decades by overcoming anti-incumbency. According to some political analysts, the Bharatiya Janata Party's move looks "high on optics but low on substance" and an attempt by the ruling party to maximise its gains by banking on stalwarts who have wide appeal in certain regions of the state. Springing a surprise, the BJP last month fielded seven MPs, including three Union ministers -- Narendra Singh Tomar, Prahlad Singh Patel and Faggan Singh Kulaste -- all seen as potential contenders for the CM's post, in the polls for the 230-member assembly. In addition to them, the ruling party has put up BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, also a potential CM face, from the Indore-1 ...

Second committee meet on 'One Nation One Elections' concludes in Delhi

The central idea behind 'One Nation One Election' is to synchronize the timing of Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections across all States to reduce the frequency of polls throughout the country

Telangana Assembly elections: BJP fields three of its four Lok Sabha MPs

The BJP is also exploring an alliance with actor-politician and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan, who had earlier said his party would contest 32 seats

Ousting BJP from power would be greatest act of patriotism: Kejriwal

Addressing the party's volunteers in his Assembly constituency on Sunday, the Delhi CM gave a clarion call to unseat the BJP at the Centre in the next year's Lok Sabha elections

BJP to start 'Sadbhavna Yatra' in December to connect with minorities

Through this journey, the Minority Morcha aims to bridge the gap between the Muslim community and the BJP and work towards greater Muslim community participation in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections

'Cash for query' scandal: Dubey moves Lokpal against Moitra, demands probe

The move by the BJP Lok Sabha MP to move the anti-corruption watchdog against Moitra comes at a time when the Ethics Committee of the Lower House is already looking into the allegations against her

Election season dawns, demand for charter helicopters hits the sky

Helicopter rentals for election rallies soar 25 to 50 per cent

Hiranandani submits 'sworn', notarised affidavit to Ethics Committee

Moitra had said in the press release that the "contents of the letter are a joke" and that "he was forced to sign a white paper"

Roadmap on simultaneous polls with Kovind committee to be shared on Oct 25

The Law Commission will share next week its roadmap on holding simultaneous polls with the high-level committee headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind. The panel has invited the Law Commission on October 25 to seek its views on how simultaneous polls can be held in the country. The high-level panel, which had in its first meeting recently decided to seek views of political parties, has now written to them to elicit their views on holding sustainable simultaneous polls in the country. In a communication to the parties, it has sought an interaction with with them on a "mutually agreed date", sources said citing the letter. They said parties have also been given an option to send their views in writing in the next three months. Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi-headed law panel is working on a formula to synchronise all assembly polls by extending or reducing the tenure so that these elections can be held along with Lok Sabha polls 2029 onwards. The law panel is devising a mechanism to e

INDI-alliance partners questioning Congress on seat allocation, claims BJP

It opposed the clause in the draft legislation, which mandated that it would be implemented only after a national census and a delimitation exercise

Committee calls BJP MP Dubey for statement in complaint against Mahua

The Lok Sabha's Ethics Committee on Wednesday asked BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai to appear before it for "oral evidence" on October 26 in connection with his "cash for query" allegations against TMC MP Mahua Moitra. "Oral evidence of Dr. Nishikant Dubey, MP, in respect of complaint dated 15 October, 2023 given by him against Smt. Mahua Moitra, MP for alleged direct involvement in cash for query in Parliament," the subject of the Lok Sabha secretariat communication to him read. The letter sent by a secretariat official said, "I am directed to state that the Committee on Ethics has decided to hear you in the above matter, in person, on Thursday, 26 October, 2023..." Dubey has accused Moitra of taking "bribes" from a businessman to ask questions in Parliament and urged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to constitute an "inquiry committee" to look into the charges against her. Moitra has hit back, saying she "welcomes any move against her after the Lok Sabha Speaker

LS Speaker refers complaint against TMC MP Mahua Moitra to ethics panel

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has referred BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's "bribe-for-query" complaint against Trinamool Congress member Mahua Moitra to the Ethics Committee of the lower House. Dubey has accused Moitra of taking "bribes" from a businessman to ask questions in Parliament and urged Birla to constitute an "inquiry committee" to look into the charges against her. Moitra has hit back, saying she "welcomes any move against her after the Lok Sabha Speaker is finished dealing with pending charges against him (Dubey)". The Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha is chaired by BJP member Vinod Kumar Sonkar. On Sunday, Dubey wrote to Birla under the subject "Re-emergence of nasty 'Cash for Query' in Parliament, Direct involvement of Smt. Mahua Moitra, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) for serious 'Breach of Privilege', 'Contempt of the House' and a 'Criminal Offence' under Section 120-A of IPC". Citing a letter he has received from an advocate, Dubey said the lawyer has shared "irrefutable"

Centre directs YouTube to put disclaimers on 'fake news' channels

Attempt to bring down misinformation before elections

LS Speaker meets EU Parl VP, protests resolution on India's internal issues

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Saturday lodged a strong protest with European Parliament Vice President Nicola Beer over its resolution on India's "internal issues". Birla told the European Parliament Vice President that every nation and Parliament is sovereign and internal issues of other countries should not be discussed by others. In July, the European Parliament had adopted a resolution calling on the Indian government to act "promptly" to halt the violence in Manipur and protect religious minorities. "Birla underlined India's sovereignty and protested against bringing a proposal in the European Parliament on India's internal issues," the Lok Sabha Secretariat said in a statement. India had dubbed the July resolution "unacceptable" and "reflective of a colonial mindset". Birla invited the European Parliament vice president to witness the festival of democracy during Indian general elections scheduled for next year. Beer congratulated Birla for a successful P20 Summit and empha

Govt completes Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor, ops begin Nov 1

Freight corridors are special tracks made for goods trains, aimed to decongest the railway network, ensuring faster movement of goods

EVMs have increased transparency, efficiency of poll process: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said nearly 100 crore Indians will be eligible to vote in the Lok Sabha elections next year and asserted that the electronic voting machine has increased transparency and efficiency of the country's electoral system. Addressing the inaugural session of the ninth G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P20) here, he invited the delegates to visit India again next year to witness the "festival of democracy" (the next Lok Sabha elections due in 2024 summer). He said the large voter turnout in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls shows the trust people have in the country's parliamentary practices. Over 67 per cent of the 91 crore eligible voters had exercised their franchise in the last parliamentary polls. He said the electoral process of the country has been modernised and now the electronic voting machine (EVM) has been in use for the past 25 years. The EVM has brought transparency and efficiency to the election process he said, adding now election results a