Parliament Budget Session Day 6 Highlights: Ruckus continues in both Houses, day after PM Modi’s fiery speech in Rajya Sabha

Lok Sabha has been adjourned on Thursday till February 10. The lower house of Parliament will meet at 11 AM, Monday.

Earlier today, around 30 National Democratic Alliance MPs felicitated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the budget announcements regarding the state, with Assembly elections scheduled for November this year, the state received significant attention in the Budget.

The Delhi High Court Friday reserved its order in the plea by Baramulla Independent MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh alias Engineer Rashid seeking custody parole to attend the ongoing Parliament session.

The first part of the Budget Session of Parliament ends on February 13. Noting that the court has jurisdiction to exercise its discretion in such cases, relying on past judicial precedents, Justice Vikas Mahajan orally remarked to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) counsel Akshai Malik and senior advocate Siddharth Luthra that “there has to be material” to indicate that there might be a security concern or risk.

Luthra highlighted that “Parliament is a sovereign body,” with its own secretariat, and to send a person on custody parole to attend House sessions requires that Parliament also be consulted. “Our concern is, third party (Parliament) norms, security issues, and concerns are involved which is beyond the NIA’s domain,” he added.

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". (PTI)

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. (PTI)

TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, during the Budget discussion, said that BJP stands for 'Bhashand, Jumla and Propoganda', taking a dig at the Centre for the Union Budget 2025.

Banerjee said that India's economy and education system is failing because of the policies introduced by the Centre, but now the common man is waking up.

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. (PTI)

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman entered the Lok Sabha shortly after Opposition MPs questioned her absence during the Budget session in Parliament.

Congress MP Dharamvira Gandhi also questioned why state governments are not consulted while preparing the Budget.

After Question Hour concluded, Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm by the Speaker.

Meanwhile, Lok Sabha proceedings are currently underway.

The Centre on Friday asserted that there was no shortage of urea in the country and urged state governments to actively intervene and crack down on those creating unnecessary scarcity to profit by influencing the markets.

Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister JP Nadda rejected the claim of urea shortage in Uttar Pradesh's Dhaurahra made by Samajwadi Party member Anand Bhadauriya.

"I wish to tell the House, there was never a shortage of urea. Shortages are created by some who are keen to influence the markets," Nadda said.

The rakes of urea reach their intended destinations on the appointed dates and details in this regard are available with the ministry, he said.

He added, "Some people try to make profits by creating scarcity unnecessarily. State governments should intervene actively and members of Parliament should also step in." Supply of fertilisers is planned in consultation with the Union agriculture ministry, Nadda said. (PTI)

Opposition MPs from Tamil Nadu on Friday staged a protest at the premises of the Parliament, demanding to bring back Indian fishermen detained by Sri Lankan forces.

The parliamentarians held banners and raised slogans over their demand at the premises.

The opposition earlier expressed disappointment over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reply in the Rajya Sabha to the motion of thanks on the President's Address, accusing him of remaining silent on issues such as inflation and unemployment.

Ruckus continues in Lok Sabha on Day 6 of the Parliament, as Opposition MPs express frustration after their adjournment motions were dismissed by the Speaker.

Lok Sabha Speaker dismissed all the adjournment motions moved in the House, sparking a ruckus in the Lower House.

On PM Modi's speed in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said, "PM Modi is so experienced, doesn't he know that he had to talk about the government's plans for the future. He kept on criticising Congress and saying what Congress had not done... It felt like a defeated, exhausted, disappointed person was speaking."

Congress leader Manish Tewari strongly criticised the statement made by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in the Lok Sabha over deportation on Indian nationals from the US, accusing him of 'defending' the use of handcuffs and shackles by the Donald Trump administration.

"The statement of @DrSJaishankar in the Lok Sabha justifying , defending and endorsing the use of handcuffs and shackles by the @realDonaldTrump administration & @USBPChief is both deeply shocking and acutely disturbing," he posted on X.

The Question House in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha resumed at 11 am, with Opposition MPs posing questions related to health and economy in the country.

The Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha resume proceedings for the day at 11 am. Debate over Motion of Thanks to President's address is expected to continue.

Congress whip in Lok Sabha, Manickam Tagore, on Friday moved an adjournment motion and demanded an immediate statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the "inhumane treatment" of Indians nationals in the US.

"I rise to move an adjournment motion in the House to address a deeply concerning issue regarding the treatment of Indian nationals, particularly those deported from the United States, and to question the position of our Government on the same," the notice read.

While talking about PM Modi's address in the Rajya Sabha, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "He (PM Modi) spoke for about 90 minutes and lied throughout his speech. He has only two weapons, first to defame Congress and second is to distort our history. He targeted Jawaharlal Nehru and Congress and tried to present a new history at the Parliament which is completely false."

Speaking about Make in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Rajya Sabha, "It is the nature of democracy to have opposition to governments; it is also the responsibility of democracy to have opposition to policies. But extreme oppositionism, extreme pessimism and efforts to shorten the lines of others without lengthening one's own line can become obstacles to a developed India. Today, the country is taking a sigh of relief after being freed from the clutches of Congress."

After ruckus in Parliament on Day 5 of the Budget session, it is expected that the key issue in focus in both Houses today will be the row over US deporting illegal Indian immigrants.

Opposition MPs in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha protested against the way in which the immigrants were deported - in a military plane and shackled - while EAM S Jaishankar said that if there is any objection in the same, it will be raised with the United States in due time.

The debate on Motion of Thanks to President's address will continue in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha today.

Both houses are set to resume proceedings at 11 am today.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, PM Narendra Modi said that BR Ambedkar understood the fundamental problems plaguing SC and ST community. During his reply to the President's address, Modi said Babasaheb "experienced it first hand and he had the jazbaa (will) to change things. He had presented a clear roadmap".

Modi also said that Ambedkar had drawn a roadmap. Quoting the chief of the Constituent Assembly, Modi said: "He said a very important thing. I want to quote - India is an agrarian country, but for Dalits, it cannot become their main source of livelihood. First, buying land is beyond their means. Second, even if they have money, they are unable to buy land."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi says that Congress destabilised, and disturbed other governments.

Alleging that its allies were deserting it, Modi blamed Congress' behaviour for the same. "Because of this those who were with them during Lok Sabha elections are not with them now. The country’s oldest party is in dire straits now. I am giving unsolicited advice, if you stop disturbing others, it may allow you to come 10 metre closer (in power)."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has finished his speech and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar is putting amendments to vote. So far all amendments have been voted down by voice vote.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, PM Narendra Modi said that the middle-class was supporting the government and will power India's economic growth.

Jawaharlal Nehru's 'stop-gap' government amended constitution to curb freedom of speech, did not even wait for elections, said PM Modi in the Rajya Sabha. PTI

Word 'Constitution' does not suit Congress as it handcuffed, chained leaders like George Fernandes during Emergency: PM Modi in RS.

The welfare of the poor, and deprived is our priority. Modi worships those ignored by others, said the Prime Minister.

Welfare of poor, deprived our priority; Modi worships those ignored by others, says Prime Minister in Rajya Sabha. PTI