Page 4 - Lok Sabha

LS Speaker Birla steps in to rectify flaws in Oppn notice to remove him

The opposition notice for removal of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla could have been rejected due to flaws in drafting, but he directed officials to get it rectified so that it can be listed at the earliest, parliamentary sources said. As many as 118 opposition MPs had signed the notice submitted to Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh on Tuesday afternoon. Later in the day, the opposition withdrew the notice and replaced it with another one correcting the date. "The notice reportedly mentions the events of February 2025 four times, on the basis of which it could have been rejected as per the rules," the sources said. The Speaker directed the Lok Sabha Secretariat to have the defective notice corrected and then proceed with it. "Birla ordered prompt action as per the rules," a functionary said. Sources said upon receipt of the revised notice, a speedy review will be conducted as per the rules. Opposition parties on Tuesday put in motion the process to oust Birla as Lok Sabha

Opposition notice to remove Speaker ends stalemate in Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha resumed Budget discussions after Opposition parties submitted a notice seeking Speaker Om Birla's removal, ending a week-long standoff over alleged denial of debate rights

'One-sided': Opposition MPs flag concerns over India-US trade deal

With the Lok Sabha deadlock broken after a notice to remove Speaker Om Birla, Opposition parties accused the government of signing a one-sided India-US trade deal that could hurt farmers

Ugly scenes were possible if BJP MPs had confronted Oppn in LS: Rijiju

Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday said "very ugly scenes" could have taken place had the BJP MPs not been stopped and the party's women MPs been allowed to confront the Congress members who had come to the treasury benches on the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi was supposed to reply to the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address in the Lok Sabha. Commenting on the video that showed opposition women MPs coming to the treasury benches on February 4, Rijiju asked who could justify the behaviour of the opposition members. He said the direction from the BJP leadership was very clear that members belonging to the ruling alliance must maintain the dignity of the House and no MP of the ruling party should get into physical confrontation with the "rude opposition MPs". "The Congress party is proud of the most degrading behaviour by their MPs. If we had not stopped all the BJP MPs and allowed the women MPs to confront the Congress MPs, it would have led to very ugly scenes. We have .

Oppn submits notice for moving resolution to remove LS Speaker Om Birla

The opposition on Tuesday submitted a notice for moving a resolution to remove Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla from office for disallowing Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders from speaking in the House on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address, as well as for the suspension of eight MPs. Congress MP and chief whip K Suresh submitted the notice to the Lok Sabha secretariat on behalf of several opposition parties, including the Congress, Samajwadi Party and the DMK. The TMC MPs, however, did not sign the notice and were not a party to it. About 120 MPs of parties such as the Congress, DMK and Samajwadi Party, had already signed a notice for moving the resolution, the sources said. The Lok Sabha has not been functioning properly ever since Gandhi was not allowed to speak on February 2.

Birla had genuine concerns over PM's safety, LS sources rebut Opposition

With the opposition asserting that there was no imminent threat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha last week, lower House secretariat sources on Monday said that several women MPs had moved "aggressively" towards his seat and Speaker Om Birla had genuine concerns regarding Modi's safety. Citing the sequence of events which unfolded in the House on Wednesday, they said the speaker had "genuine and well-founded concerns regarding the safety of the prime minister" and the "maintenance of order" in the House. Birla's advice to the prime minister not to enter the LS chamber at that juncture was guided solely by the "need to ensure the smooth functioning of parliamentary business and to safeguard the dignity and sanctity of the institution," the Lok Sabha secretariat sources said. The assertion of the sources came hours after Congress' women Lok Sabha MPs wrote to Birla claiming that under pressure from the ruling party to defend the "non-appearance" of Prime Minister Narend

PM's absence in LS was an act of fear, Speaker under BJP pressure: Cong MPs

Congress' women MPs in the Lok Sabha wrote to Speaker Om Birla on Monday, claiming that under pressure from the ruling party to defend the "non-appearance" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he made grave allegations against them. They urged the Speaker to act as an impartial custodian of the Lower House. Their letter to the Speaker comes days after Birla stated in the House that he had "concrete information" that many Congress members might move towards Prime Minister Modi's seat and carry out "some unexpected act" as a result of which he had requested him not to come to the House to reply to the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address. Speaking about the letter signed by her, along with other women MPs of the Congress, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, "There is so much pressure on the Speaker which is not right. There is no question of anyone raising a hand on the PM or do anything like this. There are 11 women MPs, they are all serious MPs." "He (Birla) should not

LS adjourned for day amid uproar over Oppn demand for Rahul to speak first

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm on Monday with opposition parties insisting that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi be allowed to speak before the House takes up discussion on the Union Budget. As Krishna Prasad Tennati called Congress' Shashi Tharoor to initiate the debate on the Budget, opposition members dug in their heels and said Gandhi be allowed to speak first. Tennati underlined that the discussion was on the Budget and Tharoor's name had been given by the Congress as its lead speaker. He said he would need to get clarity on whether LoP can be allowed to speak. He also asked Gandhi whether he wanted to speak on the Budget. Tharoor, meanwhile, said he yields to the LoP. As the stalemate continued, Tennati adjourned the House till 2 pm. Earlier, Lok Sabha proceeding were adjourned till 12 noon after Speaker Om Birla slammed opposition members for "planning" disruptions. As the House took up Question Hour, opposition members started raising issues which they

Parliament session: Both Houses to begin discussion on Union Budget 2026-27

Both Houses of Parliament are scheduled to begin discussion on the Union Budget 2026-27 on Monday, which was presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1.FM Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026-27 in Lok Sabha, for the ninth consecutive time. Asserting that the Budget is driven by "Yuvashakti" and based on "three kartavyas," she proposed seven high-speed rail corridors, new dedicated freight corridors, and the operationalisation of 20 national waterways over the next five years.The Centre also announced an increase in the Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on futures and options (F & O) to discourage speculative trading.While the NDA has welcomed the Budget, the Opposition alleged an exclusion of the marginalised communities. The Secular Progressive Alliance, led by the DMK in Tamil Nadu, has called a protest against the Budget on February 12.While the Houses are scheduled for general discussion on the Budget, the Opposition MPs are likely to demand a ...

India aims for self-reliance in fruits, vegetables, flowers, says Chouhan

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday said India has set a clear target of achieving self-reliance in the production of fruits, vegetables, and flowers, asserting that imports in these sectors would no longer be necessary. Addressing a review meeting with officials at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) here, Chouhan said the focus was on identifying high-demand crops and ensuring that their domestic production is profitable for farmers. Outlining the government's approach, the minister said, "Our target is simple. We will not import fruits, flowers, and vegetables. We have to become self-reliant in these areas." The Union Minister for Rural Development, Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare added that India had already made significant progress, calling current production levels "historic". Referring to crops previously dependent on imports, Chouhan said, "We were importing avocados; now we have started producing them." He stressed the need to extend th

Parliament Session: Lok Sabha to hold general discussion on Union Budget

The House will meet at 11 am to transact government business, beginning with Question Hour

Had inputs Congress MPs may act unexpectedly, asked PM to skip LS: Birla

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday said he had concrete information that many Congress MPs could carry out an "unexpected act" by reaching the spot where Prime Minister Narendra Modi sits and therefore he asked him not to come to the House to deliver his address. If this incident had taken place, then this would have left the democratic traditions of the country in shreds, Birla said as the House reassembled at 3 PM. Lashing out at opposition members, the Speaker said the conduct of some of them in his office on Wednesday was not appropriate and in fact was "like a black spot". "With sadness I have to inform that some members displayed such behaviour in the House on Wednesday that had never been witnessed in its history," he said. The Lok Sabha on Wednesday witnessed dramatic scenes as women opposition MPs charged towards the prime minister's seat holding banners ahead of his scheduled speech, leading to adjournment of proceedings for the day. Modi was not present in the House

LS passes Motion of Thanks on President's address without PM's response

The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Motion of Thanks on the President's address without the customary reply by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, amid vociferous protests by the opposition. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla put the opposition amendments to the Motion of Thanks to vote, which were rejected. The Speaker then read out the Motion of Thanks to the President for her address to both Houses of Parliament on January 28, which was passed by a voice vote, amid sloganeering by the opposition members. As the protests continued, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings till 2:00 PM.

Bedlam in Lok Sabha goes on over ex-Army chief Naravane's 'memoirs'

Opposition protests over ex-Army chief Naravane's memoir derail Lok Sabha for third day, forcing adjournment and delaying PM Modi's reply

Lok Sabha adjourned till 5 pm amid heavy sloganeering by Opposition

BJP MP Dubey said while Rahul Gandhi wants to speak about an unpublished book, he has brought a series of books to expose the Gandhi family

Sensitive sectors safeguarded in US trade deal: Piyush Goyal in Lok Sabha

Parliament Budget session: Piyush Goyal said that India protected sensitive sectors like agriculture and dairy in India-US trade deal, adding that labour-intensive sectors will benefit

Oppn MPs to continue raising issue of Gen Naravane's unpublished 'memoirs'

Eight Opposition MPs were suspended from the Lok Sabha amid uproar over Rahul Gandhi's attempt to cite former Army chief M M Naravane's unpublished memoir

Parliament Budget session: 8 Oppn MPs suspended over 'unruly behaviour'

Eight Opposition MPs were suspended from the Lok Sabha during the Budget session for unruly behaviour after repeated disruptions and protests in the House over the President's Address debate

Opposition walks out seeking Indo-US trade deal debate, govt hits back

Members of several opposition parties on Tuesday staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha while demanding a discussion on the Indo-US trade deal, with the government accusing them of venting out their frustration. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh raised the issue of the Indo-US trade deal soon after the Zero Hour ended and alleged that the information about the deal was being received from Washington instead. As opposition members started protesting in the house, Leader of the House J P Nadda said the government was ready to discuss the matter and will make a statement on the Indo-US trade deal in Parliament on Tuesday. He said the US President had informed about the reduction in tariffs on Indian goods through a post on social media and also referred to the Prime Minister as a "true friend". Nadda alleged that the Opposition's frustration was coming out, and it had started "seeing bad even in good things" while referring to the trade deal. "I want to assure the house that the governmen

Rahul Gandhi's claims on India-China conflict trigger uproar in Lok Sabha

Repeated references by Rahul Gandhi to reports on former Army chief M M Naravane's unpublished memoirs drew objections from the Speaker and ministers