Page 25 - Parliament

BJP MP flags 'alarming' rise in junk food consumption, urges govt action

Stating that the consumption of junk food has increased multifold over last few years, Rajya Sabha BJP MP Sujeet Kumar on Friday urged the government to make regulations related to packaged food more stringent, and levy additional tax to discourage people from consuming it. Raising the issue in the House during Zero Hour, the MP from Odisha said the increase in consumption of junk food can be linked to the rise in non-communicable diseases in India. "There is an alarming rise in consumption of junk food, which are high in salt, sugar, unhealthy fat, but offer minimal nutrition," Kumar said. He quoted a WHO report from 2023, and said there has been a 40 times increase in consumption of packaged junk food between 2006 and 2019. "Excessive consumption of junk food combined with poor lifestyle is one of the key reasons for increase in non-communicable diseases (NCD)," he said. Kumar cited an ICMR report to say that NCD-related deaths increased "from 37.9 per cent in 1990 to 61.8 per c

Opposition MPs protest against arrest of Indian fishermen by Sri Lanka

Opposition MPs on Friday held a protest in the Parliament complex against Sri Lanka continuing to arrest Indian fisherfolk, and demanded that the government find a permanent solution to the issue. The protest was led by DMK, Congress and Left party MPs from Tamil Nadu and joined by parliamentarians from several other opposition parties, including Derek O'Brien of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Sudama Prasad of CPI(ML) Liberation. The protesting MPs held up placards with slogans that read "Justice For Tamil Fisherman", "Bring Back Our Fishermen", "No More Arrests", and "Tamil Nadu Fishermen Are Indians". DMK MP Tiruchi Siva said the matter of Tamil fisherfolk's arrest was a national issue as they were Indians being mistreated by Sri Lanka. "Many other parties also took part in the protest. It is an issue which should not be restricted to the state. They are Tamil fishermen, they are Indians," Siva told PTI. "Fishermen are being tortured, harassed and killed for years and the ...

HC reserves order on Rashid's plea for parole to attend Parliament

The Delhi High Court on Friday reserved its order on a plea by jailed MP Rashid Engineer, facing trial in a terror funding case, seeking custody parole to attend the ongoing Parliament session. Justice Vikas Mahajan heard the counsel appearing for the Baramulla MP as well as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and said, "Judgement reserved." The counsel appearing for the NIA opposed the grant of custody parole, saying Rashid had no vested right to attend Parliament. It was further said that he did show any "specific purpose" while seeking the relief and there were security concerns as well. Rashid's counsel emphasised that his constituency was not being represented in Parliament and he ought to be allowed to attend the session. "I represent the largest constituency of J&K. Don't prevent the representation when the process of inclusion has started... Don't stifle the voice of the constituency," the counsel argued. The court was hearing Rashid's petition alleging that he had ..

Centre takes note of China's announcement of mega dam project: MoS

The Union government has "taken note" of China's announcement of a mega dam project on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo (upper reaches of the Brahmaputra) river in the Tibet Autonomous Region, the Centre informed Parliament on Thursday. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in a written response to a query in Rajya Sabha also said various issues relating to trans-border rivers are discussed with China under the ambit of an "institutionalised Expert Level Mechanism," which was established in 2006, as well as through diplomatic channels. The ministry was asked whether China's decision to construct a hydropower dam on the Brahmaputra river, which flows into India and Bangladesh, has raised concerns about its potential impact on millions of people living downstream. "The Government of India has taken note of China's announcement of a mega dam project approved on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo (upper reaches of the Brahmaputra) River in the Tibet ..

The world seeing 'Bharat rate of growth', says PM Narendra Modi

The PM said economists coined the phrase "Hindu rate of growth" to describe the country's economic progress during the tenure of the Congress governments

Working to ensure deportees not mistreated, says EAM S Jaishankar

Opposition protests treatment meted out to Indians by US authorities

New income-tax Bill likely to receive Cabinet approval on Friday

New bill will not impose any additional taxes or create new burdens, says finance secretary

No water from Sutlej, Beas rivers flows to Pak except during monsoon: Govt

India does not release water from the Sutlej and the Beas to Pakistan except in rare cases during the monsoon, the government said on Thursday. Water sharing between India and Pakistan, governed by the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, has been a point of contention for decades. Under the treaty, India has control over the Sutlej, Beas and the Ravi rivers while Pakistan manages the waters of the Indus, Jhelum and the Chenab. Water from the Sutlej and the Beas rivers only reaches Pakistan in exceptional circumstances, particularly during the monsoon season when heavy rainfall leads to increased levels in reservoirs, Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary said in a written response to a query in the Lok Sabha. "No water from the Sutlej and the Beas rivers flow to Pakistan except during the monsoon season ie during floods when substantial rainfall occurs in the catchment of these rivers," he said. "Such a situation may arise in exceptional circumstances or during ...

Parliament Budget Session highlights: We're realising Ambedkar's dreams via Mudra scheme, says PM

Parliament Budget Session: Catch all the Parliament updates here

Watch: Uproar in Parliament over deportation of Indians from US

Proceedings of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned till 12 noon as opposition MPs sought to raise issue of deportation of Indian nationals by US.

Uproar in LS over deportation of Indians from US, House adjourned till 2 pm

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm on Thursday amid vociferous protests by opposition members on the issue of deportation of illegal Indian immigrants from the United States. As soon as the House reassembled at 12 noon after the first adjournment of the day, the opposition members were on their feet trying to raise the issue. Congress members had submitted notices to move adjournment motions. Raising slogans against the government, opposition members trooped into the Well of the House. BJP member Dilip Saikia, who was in the Chair, adjourned the proceedings till 2 pm after laying of parliamentary papers on the table of the House. Earlier, the Lok Sabha was in turmoil when it convened for the day. Speaker Om Birla tried to pacify the agitating members by saying that the government has taken note of their concerns seriously. "The issue is serious. It is a matter of foreign policy. The government has taken it seriously. The foreign country also has its own rules and ...

Both Houses adjourned till noon after ruckus on deportation of Indians

Opposition MPs were continuously sloganeering and demanding to discuss the issue of deportation of Indian nationals

Parliament updates: We live by spirit of Constitution & do not resort to politics of poison, says PM

Parliament Budget Session news: Catch all the major updates from the ongoing Budget session of the Parliament

Neither UPA nor NDA solved unemployment issue, says Rahul Gandhi

Opposition leader in Lok Sabha calls President's address the 'same laundry list'

Some parties are like 'AAPda' for youth: PM Modi taunts AAP in Lok Sabha

PM Modi's remark comes a day before Delhi Assembly elections, where the BJP is the main challenger to the ruling AAP

India has robust system to tackle pandemics: Health min tells Rajya Sabha

India has a very robust system to deal with future pandemics and public health emergencies, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda asserted in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Replying to supplementary questions in the Rajya Sabha, Nadda highlighted the steps taken by the government in the last 10 years to strengthen India's health system, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. India has proven under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that we have got a very robust system to address the issue of any pandemic that comes, the minister said. Listing out India's capabilities, Nadda said the country has the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), which oversees and keeps surveillance. "It is the apex body which takes care of the diseases and the pathogens, and the other emerging virus mutation, which takes place," he added. Under the NCDC, he said the country has an integrated disease surveillance programme, a platform for disease ...

Gaurav Gogoi moves adjournment notice in LS to discuss Mahakumbh stampede

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi claimed that the root causes of the stampede, primarily mismanagement and the VIP culture that prioritized certain individuals over public safety, must be fully addressed

Rahul slams Centre on jobs, China, economy in fiery Budget session speech

While he acknowledged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi tried to boost domestic manufacturing through 'Make in India' initiative, he quickly added that it failed to bring the desired outcome

'Neither UPA nor NDA solved unemployment issue': Rahul Gandhi in Parliament

Rahul Gandhi also pointed out that despite rapid economic growth, both the UPA and NDA governments have struggled to provide concrete solutions to the country's unemployment problem

Oppn filed dissent on 281 of 428-page JPC report on Waqf Bill: JPC chairman

The Opposition first misled the JPC by claiming that passing this Bill would result in the seizure of all Waqf properties. Now, it is extending this narrative as part of its appeasement strategy