Page 20 - Lok Sabha

Arjun Meghwal to introduce 'One Nation One Election' Bill in LS on Dec 16

Several opposition leaders have questioned the One Nation One election proposal saying it was impractical

PM Modi to reply to debate on 75th anniversary of Constitution in LS today

On Friday, the debate on the Constitution witnessed fiery speeches of Defence Minister Singh and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

Uproar over Mahua's reference to judge Loya's death, Rijiju warns of action

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra's reference to the death of judge B H Loya "long before his time" created uproar in Lok Sabha on Friday as Union minister Kiren Rijiju accused her of raising a matter settled by the Supreme Court, and warned of "appropriate parliamentary action". Participating in a debate on 75 years of the Indian Constitution, Moitra made a passing, but contentious, remarks on Loya's death as she attacked the ruling BJP for allegedly targeting institutions and opposition leaders to silence critical voices. The House was adjourned briefly twice due to the uproar over the matter. BJP member Nishikant Dubey first raised the issue after her speech was over. He also objected to her criticism of former chief justice of India D Y Chandrachud, who recently retired, for a host of reasons, including receiving Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence during the Ganapati festival. Dubey accused Moitra of making insinuation about Loya's death. Rijiju said the case is .

Efforts on to reduce minorities, Muslims to second-grade citizens: Akhilesh

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged Friday that efforts are underway to reduce the country's minorities, particularly Muslims, to "second-grade" citizens, and claimed their rights and properties are being systematically eroded. Speaking in Lok Sabha during a debate on the Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India', Yadav charged the government with fostering inequality and failing to uphold the constitutional rights of marginalised communities. "This Constitution is our armour, our security. It provides us strength whenever needed. The Constitution is the true guardian of the rights of the oppressed, neglected, suppressed, and deprived. For people like us and the weak in the country, especially for PDA (Pichdde, Dalit and Alpsankhyak), saving the Constitution is a matter of life and death," he said. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister accused the government of neglecting minorities, and said their rights and properties are being systematically ...

Parliament highlights: Nehru blamed for everything, why don't you talk about present, asks Priyanka

Parliament winter session 2024 LIVE updates: BJP would have begun changing Constitution, if not for the Lok Sabha election results, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi stated

Better than my maiden speech: Rahul Gandhi hails Priyanka's LS speech

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi lauded Priyanka Gandhi's speech in the Lok Sabha on Friday and said it was better than his maiden speech in the House. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was unmoved over the incidents of violence in Sambhal and Manipur and had not understood that the Constitution was not the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) rulebook. Participating in a debate on the Constitution in the Lok Sabha, the member of Parliament from Kerala's Wayanad said the Constitution is a protective shield of justice, unity and freedom of expression, but the BJP-led government has made every effort to break it in the last 10 years. Asked about the speech, Congress leader and Priyanka Gandhi's brother Rahul Gandhi told reporters outside Parliament, "Wonderful speech.... Better than my maiden speech, let us put it like that." Rahul Gandhi became an MP for the first time in 2004.

Priyanka Gandhi calls for justice, caste census in maiden Lok Sabha speech

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra delivers maiden speech in Lok Sabha, speaks on Unnao case, Sambhal tragedy, reservation and more

Lok Sabha pays tribute to martyrs of 2001 terror attack on Parliament

The Lok Sabha on Friday paid rich tributes to the security personnel who laid down their lives in foiling a terror attack on Parliament on December 13, 2001. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla solemnly reiterated the commitment of the Lower House to fight terrorism and pledged to protect the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the nation. "This House and the entire nation solemnly remembers unfortunate incident of December 13, 2001, when some terrorists attacked India's Parliament, the greatest symbol of our democracy," Birla said as soon as the House convened at 11:00 am. "Our alert security personnel deployed to ensure security of the Parliament premises displayed extraordinary courage and foiled this attack," he said. The Lok Sabha speaker said eight personnel from the Parliament Security Service, Delhi Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) laid down their lives while courageously repulsing the terror attack. One worker of the Central Public Works Department also laid down

Parliamentary panel recommends increasing wages under MGNREGA

It suggested that the number of minimum guaranteed working days under the scheme be increased to 150 days and called for parity in wages that the states pay under MNREGA

Outstanding dues of discoms decline 82% in over 2 years to Rs 24,000 cr

Power distribution utilities (discoms) legacy dues have come down by a whopping 82 per cent in over two years to Rs 24,684 crore this month, Parliament was informed on Thursday. Around 13 states reported arrears amounting to Rs 1,39,947 crore as of June 3, 2022, and rescheduled them into EMIs (equated monthly installments), Minister of State for Power Shripad Naik said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha. The minister said after the payment of 29 EMIs by the distribution utilities, including pre-payment of legacy dues by some utilities, the outstanding dues have reduced to Rs 24,684 crore as of December 6, 2024. The discoms have paid Rs 1,15,263 crore outstanding since June 2022, he added. In another reply, Naik said that the Ministry of Power, in consultation with states, has envisaged a plan to add thermal capacity of a minimum 80,000 MW by 2031-32. Against this target, 29,200 MW thermal capacity is already under construction while 51,520 MW is at various stages of planning & ...

Parliament session highlights: LS debates Disaster Management Bill, Rajya Sabha adjourned

Parliament winter session news updates: Catch all the latest news developments related to the proceedings in the Parliament here

Jorhat-Jhanji portion of NH to be completed by Feb 2025: Gadkari to Gogoi

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday assured Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi that the Jorhat-Jhanji portion of the national highway 37 in Assam will be completed by February 2025. The assurance was given by Gadkari in response to a question posed by Gogoi in the Lok Sabha during the Question Hour. "I had taken 10-12 meetings to discuss about this road. Due to various reasons it was delayed. Work is now going on in full swing. The Jorhat-Jhanji portion will be completed by February 2025," the minister said. Gogoi has been pressing for completion of the construction work of the national highway, which passes through his Lok Sabha constituency Jorhat, for a long time. The Congress leader had met Gadkari in the past and also wrote to him urging that work on the road be completed at the earliest as people have been facing lots of inconvenience due to its poor progress and "deplorable" condition. Gogoi had also said that the construction of the highway has been

Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 pm amid uproar over Soros, other issues

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm on Thursday amid uproarious scenes over US businessman George Soros and other issues. In a change from the past few days, the House sat for the entire duration of Question Hour on Thursday, but trouble broke out in the Zero Hour when the chair called Congress member Jothimani to speak. After which the House was adjourned till 1 pm. When the House resumed at 1 pm, noisy exchanges broke out between the Opposition and BJP members. Following which, Sandhya Ray who was presiding over the House, adjourned it till 2 pm. Earlier, as the Congress member made a reference to the alleged links between a prominent industrialist of the country and the BJP, presiding officer Jagdambika Pal said the businessman's name will not go on records, triggering protests from the opposition. Congress member K C Venugopal sought to know whether the rule was selectively applicable for references made by opposition party members. Venugopal said Commerce Minister

60% of those killed in road accidents in 18-34 age group: Govt in Lok Sabha

As many as 1.78 lakh people are killed in road accidents annually in the country and 60 per cent of the victims are in the age group of 18-34 years, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday. He lamented that people do not fear the law and many drive two-wheelers without helmets and some jump the red signal. "One unfortunate fact is that of the 1.78 lakh people dying in road accidents, 60 per cent are in the age group of 18 to 34 years. Still there is no fear of law. Some do not wear helmets, some jump red signal," he said during the Question Hour, adding that it was a "strange" situation. Responding to supplementaries, he said while Uttar Pradesh leads in deaths due to road accidents, in cities, Delhi tops the chart in such deaths. In Uttar Pradesh, over 23,000 people or 13.7 per cent of the total deaths are due to road accidents followed by Tamil Nadu with over 18,000 (10.6 per cent) deaths. In Maharashtra, the figure stands at over 15

Modi govt believes in democratising technology: Vaishnaw in Lok Sabha

The government on Wednesday said it is "open to the idea" of bringing in a new law to regulate artificial intelligence but a "lot of consensus" is required for it. Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also said that the Modi government believes in "democratising technology" which was not the case during the Congress rule, remarks that triggered protests by opposition benches. Responding to a supplementary on whether the government plans to bring a law on regulating artificial intelligence, Vaishnaw also said that fake narratives is a major challenge faced by societies across the world today. He said accountability has to be established in the society and the legal framework has to change for which "lots of consensus" is required because as on the one hand there is freedom of speech and creating of a real, proper news network on the other. "There are things which need to be debated and if the House agrees and if there is a consensus in the society

Railways Amendment Bill passed; won't lead to privatisation, says Vaishnaw

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed a bill to amend Railway laws with the government insisting that it will not lead to the national carrier's privatisation. Responding to a debate on the Railway Amendment bill, Railway Minister Ashiwni Vaishnaw said in the Lower House that a fake narrative was set afloat that the amendment would privatise railways. "Their (opposition) fake narrative on Constitution has failed... now this will also fall flat," he asserted. The Bill was passed by a voice vote after debate which could not be held earlier due to frequent disruptions of House proceedings during the last week. "A few members have said the Bill will lead to privatisation of railways, an attempt has been made to set a fake narrative. I want to appeal to them with all sincerity not to do this, their one fake narrative about the Constitution has already failed," Vaishnaw said. The Railways (Amendment) Bill 2024 which seeks to enhance the functioning and independence of the Railway Board was

Parliament highlights: RS chairman's conduct has been contrary to post's dignity, says Kharge

Parliament winter session news updates: Catch all the latest news developments related to the proceedings in the Parliament here

Parliament Session: Railways Amendment Bill passed in LS amid disruptions

Minister assures opp that bill won't cause privatisation, calls it "fake narrative"

Dist admin should check irregularities in onion procurement: Agri ministry

The Union Agriculture Ministry has suggested that district administration should be involved in procurement of onion to ensure transparency and check irregularities in the purchase process. In a written reply to Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Food and Consumer Affairs B L Verma said, the Department of Agriculture constituted a fact finding committee to look into allegations of irregularities in the procurement of onions under Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) by National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED). The department, vide OM (office memorandum) dated 4th November, 2024, "conveyed the suggestions that concerned district administration should be involved in the procurement process to ensure transparency and local oversight, to adopt biometric based verification of farmers, and payment to registered farmers bank account through Aadhaar Enabled Payment system", he added. Onions for PSF buffer are procured by NAFED and National Cooperative Consumers' ...

LS adjourned till 5 pm after uproar on TMC leader's remarks against Scindia

Soon after the Lok Sabha met at 4.40 pm on Wednesday, the House was adjourned briefly again following uproar over TMC member Kalyan Banerjee's remarks against Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. Trouble arose when Banerjee was speaking during a discussion on the amendments to the Disaster Management Act. The All India Trinamool Congress member alleged non-cooperation by the central government during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai countered it, saying it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who helped all the states and successfully handled the crisis by taking everyone along. Rai also alleged that the West Bengal government tried to put hurdles in the transportation of Covid vaccines through its territory. Scindia stood up and supported Rai, saying that India had emerged as a "Vishwa Bandhu" during the pandemic and helped all the needy countries across the world. Following this, Banerjee attacked Scindia and made certain remarks against the minist