Page 15 - Opposition

Security breach: Cong stages protest against BJP MP Simha demanding arrest

A protesting Congress worker said, "We demand his arrest and immediate disqualification. We have seen he is linked with the intruders and he provided them with the pass

Parliament security breach: Opposition demands statement from Amit Shah

Leaders of various opposition parties on Thursday demanded that Home Minister Amit Shah make a statement on the issue of Parliament security breach followed by a discussion on the matter in both houses. This was decided at a meeting of opposition leaders held in the chamber of Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge. "In view of the gravity of the situation adversely impacting upon the security of the institution of Parliament and Parliamentarians, on behalf of the opposition and INDIA parties, we demand that a statement of Union Home Minister on this serious matter be followed by a discussion in regard to urgent remedial security measures in the abode of Democracy," Mallikarjun Kharge said in a post on X after the meeting. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the INDIA parties are demanding a detailed statement by the Home Minister in both Houses, followed by a discussion on the security breach witnessed in the Lok Sabha. They are also demanding strict action agai

Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 pm amid Opposition protests over security breach

Lok Sabha proceedings on Thursday were adjourned till 2 pm following vociferous protests by Opposition members demanding a statement from the government on the security breach in the House. Speaker Om Birla said the responsibility of the security matters of the Lok Sabha is with the House's secretariat. However, the Opposition members continued with their demand for a statement from the government. As the protests continued, Birla adjourned the proceedings till 2 pm. At least two questions and their supplementaries were taken up during Question Hour which went on for about 15 minutes. In a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack on Wednesday, two persons -- Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D -- jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released yellow gas from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by the MPs.

Oppn welcomes HC ruling on Pune LS seat bypoll, BJP says avoid politics

Opposition parties in Maharashtra have welcomed the Bombay High Court order asking the Election Commission of India (ECI) to immediately hold the bypoll for Pune Lok Sabha seat, stressing people from the constituency cannot be left unrepresented for a long time. However, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Pune mayor Murlidhar Mohol said the HC's ruling must be respected and should not be seen through political prism. He said as a political party, the BJP is always ready to contest elections and pointed out that the Pune Lok Sabha seat was won in 2019 by its candidate Girish Bapat, whose death has necessitated the bypoll. The HC on Wednesday passed its order on a plea filed by Pune resident Sughosh Joshi against a certificate issued by the Election Commission to not hold bypoll to the constituency, which fell vacant following the death of sitting BJP MP Bapat on March 29. A division bench of Justices Gautam Patel and Kamal Khata ripped into the ECI's stand on not holding

Maharashtra Winter Session: Oppn stages protest against ban on onion export

Opposition legislators on Monday staged a protest on steps of the Vidhan Bhavan building here in Maharashtra against the ban on export of onions by the Centre. Some of the legislators wore garlands made of onions as a mark of protest, before the House proceedings began on the third day of winter session of the state legislature. Leader of opposition in the legislative assembly Vijay Wadettiwar, LoP in the legislative council Ambadas Danve, NCP leader Anil Deshmukh and many other leaders participated in the protest. They raised slogans against the government while demanding a roll-back of the ban on export of onions, proper price for the key kitchen staple and assistance for farmers. The Centre has banned onion exports till March 31, 2024, to increase domestic availability and keep prices in check. Talking to reporters in the Vidhan Bhavan premises, Danve claimed the central government's policy of ban on onion export was "anti-farmer". The onion farmers were suffering, he said, ad

INDIA bloc to work on 'Main Nahin, Hum' motto at next strategy meet

Evolving a "core positive agenda", seat sharing and a programme to hold joint rallies are among the main challenges before the opposition INDIA bloc that will be taken up at its next meeting in the national capital. The parties intend to move forward with the unity theme - "Main Nahin, Hum" (We, Not Me) - as a counter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the meeting which is likely to be held around December 18-19, a senior leader of the Congress said. The meeting is being held in the backdrop of the Congress' poor show in the just concluded assembly elections, where it suffered humiliating defeats in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, while the BJP asserted that people have affirmed their faith in "Modi's guarantees" and will re-elect his government in 2024. The challenge before the opposition parties now is to come out with an alternative positive agenda to counter the BJP in the next general elections, the leader said. Sources said during the meeting, the parties would

Feeling of distrust due to EVMs: SP chief bats for Ballot papers in polls

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday batted for the use of ballot papers, and referring to EVMs without naming it said that these machines and the (poll) results have created a feeling of distrust in people's minds. Giving the example of US elections, Yadav said if India is following Americans on burgers, pizzas and jeans, then their use of ballot papers should also be copied. Referring to the ruling BJP, Yadav said that the party has power and will set the narrative, and will tweak anything anyone else says. I had said a number of times that we understand technology. We have grown up with technology. In UP, the SP government had distributed the maximum number of laptops, Yadav said while speaking to reporters at the SP office here. "The most powerful country in the world, America, where voting is done for months, and then months are spent for counting, he said. Over 140 crore people decide the country's future. Why do you want results in three hours? Why can't countin

With Putin's reelection all but assured, Russian Oppn vows to undermine him

Behind bars in penal colonies or in self-exile abroad, Russian opposition figures vow they will still put up a fight against President Vladimir Putin as he seeks yet another term in office in an election in March. Although they believe Putin will be declared the winner no matter how voters cast their ballots, they say they hope to undermine the widespread public support he enjoys, turn popular opinion against the devastating war he unleashed on Ukraine, and show those who oppose it already that they are not alone. No one but us will step into this battle for the hearts and the minds of our fellow citizens. So we need to do it and win, imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said in an online statement relayed from behind bars. Putin, 71, announced Friday that he will run for president again, to pile another six years onto his two dozen in power. He could even run again in 2030. The vote is scheduled for March 15-17, with his victory all but assured. The vast majority of

Conflict between governors, elected govts affecting governance: Oppn MPs

Opposition members in the Rajya Sabha on Friday expressed concern over differences between governors and elected governments, saying such conflicts affect governance and erode harmonious relationship between the Centre and states, and demanded changes in the way governors are appointed. Most of the time governors abide by the ruling dispensation at the Centre rather than constitutionalism, Congress MP L Hanumanthaiah said during a discussion on a private member's bill. The bill, moved by CPI(M) MP V Sivadasan, seeks amendments to constitutional provisions related to the appointment and term of office of governors to end "colonial-era indulgences". Hanumanthaiah said, "The Supreme Court has expressed serious concern about the delays by governors in assenting to bills passed by the elected state legislators. This violates the constitutional provision and doctrine of constitutional morality. The fact that there is a conflict between the governor's office and the elected government is a

Opposition members in Lok Sabha seek time-frame for assembly polls in J-K

During the debate, which was initiated by Congress member Amar Singh, several members also said that the government should restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir

Economic indicators paint concerning picture: Opposition targets govt in RS

Opposition parties on Tuesday targeted the government in Rajya Sabha, saying while it claims there has been economic growth, indicators such as trade deficit, rising inflation and growing unemployment paint a concerning picture. Participating in a short discussion on the economic situation of the country, members from opposition parties, including the Congress, also raised questions over the impact of schemes. The ruling BJP, however, claimed there has been a turnaround in the economy under its government. Congress member Amee Yajnik raised issues related to landless farmers and MSMEs. Following the Covid pandemic, thousands of MSME units, considered the backbone of the economy, closed down but the government does not have proper data on it, she claimed. "You are continuously comparing with Germany, the UK, the US and other foreign countries. Have you tried to look internally? You are giving ration to more than 50 per cent of the population, but what about unemployment?" she ...

Rajasthan Congress meeting to decide on Leader of Opposition in Assembly

Rajasthan Congress MLAs will be convening a meeting on Tuesday in Jaipur to analyse the party's performance in the state Assembly elections and choose a LoP

INDIA bloc huddle postponed to third week of December, says Congress

According to Congress sources, several key opposition leaders will not be able to attend the meeting that was earlier scheduled on Wednesday

Akhilesh Yadav has no plans to attend INDIA bloc's Wednesday meeting: SP

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has no plans to attend the INDIA bloc meeting scheduled in Delhi on December 6, Samajwadi Party spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said on Tuesday. When asked if the decision was taken after the declaration of assembly poll results in four states, the spokesperson said there was no information about the meeting earlier. "The Samajwadi party national president has no plans to attend the meeting of the INDIA bloc tomorrow. Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav or any other leader authorised by the national president will go for the meeting," Chaudhary told PTI. Leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc are set to meet at the residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi on December 6 to formulate a strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. After the announcement of the results of the recent assembly elections in four states, the SP chief on Monday said he was not disappointed and expressed hope that results will be different in the 2024 Lok Sabha ...

Winter session: Kharge calls meeting of parliamentary leaders of 'INDIA'

Meanwhile, the first day of the Winter Session of Parliament saw two bills being passed with the Rajya Sabha also deciding to discontinue suspension of AAP MP Raghav Chadha

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'INDIA' to raise leak of ethics report before it is tabled in Parl: Report

The all-party meeting of the parliamentary party leaders of the INDIA bloc took place at the office of the LoP in Rajya Sabha

INDIA bloc parliamentary leaders to meet in Kharge's chamber today

The leaders of the block are expected to discuss their floor strategy in Parliament. Kharge is the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha

'INDIA' leaders to meet in Delhi on Dec 6 to chalk out LS poll strategy

Leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc will meet at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence in Delhi on December 6 to chalk out a strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, sources said on Sunday. During the meeting, which will be held in the evening, the leaders are likely to discuss and finalise their plan to take on the BJP ahead of the polls, they said. The Congress was awaiting the results of assembly elections in five states -- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram -- before finalising further strategy plans. Counting of votes for Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana elections began at 8 am on Sunday. Votes for the Mizoram assembly elections will be counted on Monday. At least 26 parties have come together as part of the INDIA bloc to take on the BJP in the general elections and have so far held three rounds of deliberations in Patna, Bengaluru and Mumbai. The sources said the opposition leaders would now plan joint rallies t

Verdict will set 2024 tone for INDIA: Cong MP Gogoi ahead of counting day

Dismissing BJP's claim that it was on course to secure an absolute majority in Congress-ruled Rajasthan, Gogoi said grand old party will buck anti-incumbency trend and return to power in state