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Parliament HIGHLIGHTS: Government has no role in choosing offset partner, says Nirmala Sitharamanhttps://indianexpress.com/article/india/parliament-live-house-protests-rafale-debate-lok-sabha-rajya-sabha-kashmir-5522759/

Parliament HIGHLIGHTS: Government has no role in choosing offset partner, says Nirmala Sitharaman

Parliament HIGHLIGHTS: As Congress on Friday launched a fresh attack on the BJP Government on Rafale, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman resorted to a point-wise analysis of the whole issue. She said there was no agreement between the HAL and Dassault, and that the Congress was shedding crocodile tears for HAL.

Nirmala Sitharaman attacked the Opposition over the Rafale Deal in Lok Sabha on Friday. (LSTV screen grab)

Taking up the Congress challenge over Rafale, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday resorted to a point-by-point analysis of the deal in Lok Sabha, rejecting a number of accusations by the Congress government. She said that timely purchase of equipment should be the priority while negotiating defence deals. She also clarified there was no agreement between HAL and Dassault Aviation, and that the Congress was shedding crocodile tears for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

Taking a swipe at the Congress party over its allegation that the government did favour to Anil Ambani by making his company the offset partner of the Rafale deal, the defence minister reminded it of Bofors scam and said, “For every ‘AA (Anil Ambani)’ there is a ‘Q (Quattrocchi)’ and ‘RV (Robert Vadra)’,” she said.

Congress chief also asked the defence minister to tell the House who decided on giving the offset contract to Anil Ambani firm. “Price is not part of the secrecy pact. My question is Anil Ambani was brought in for the contract. Who was the one to decide on Anil Ambani?” said Gandhi.

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A day after it was adjourned amid protests, the Lok Sabha resumes debate on Rafale. FOLLOW HIGHLIGHTS here.

Lok Sabha adjourned

The Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 11 am on Monday, January 7

Govt making a mockery of all institutions including Parliament: Derek O'Brien

"Friday evening 5pm. Lok Sabha takes up Aadhaar Amendment Bill for discussion and passing. Convention says House never takes up Bills on Friday afternoon as it is Private Members Bill Day. LS almost empty. This Govt making a mockery of all institutions including Parliament," the O'Brien tweeted.

Aadhaar Amendment Bill passed in LS

The Aadhaar Amendment Bill has been passed in the house.

 

Aadhar Amendment Bill, 2018 for consideration in LS

The Aadhar and other laws (Amendment Bill, 2018) is currently in consideration in the Lok Sabha.


LSTV screen grab

Rajya Sabha adjourned

The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 11 am on Monday, January 7

Defence Minister has completely demolished Congress party's lies: Amit Shah

"Defence Minister has completely demolished Congress party's lies and misinformation campaign on Rafale with her excellent speech loaded with facts. I congratulate her for bringing the truth to the nation," BJP president Amit Shah tweeted.

Govt looking into frauds cases below One lakh transaction: Ravi Shankar Prasad in RS

Government is working with the Reserve Bank (RBI) to look into cases of financial frauds involving amounts which are below Rs 1 lakh, IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said in Rajya Sabha on Friday.

A Financial Data Protection bill has been drafted that aims to address issues related to data theft, including from social networking websites, the minister added.

Rahul Gandhi after Rafale debate in LS

"You (Def Min) accepted in your speech that you started a new contract of buying 36 aircraft, so I asked them if the people involved in the negotiations objected to this bypass surgery, yes or no? Instead of answering this, she ran away," Gandhi said.

Nirmala Sitharaman Sitharaman on offset policy

Earlier today, the Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament said, "As per offset guidelines,defence acquisition council may prescribe varying offset obligations.Accordingly, offset obligation of 50% was prescribed for #Rafale.If you buy for Rs.100,you have to invest or procure Rs.50 from India."

Specifics questions were not answered: Rahul Gandhi

Speaking outside the Parliament, the Congress President Rahul Gandhi said, "Defence minister gave a speech for over two hours and still didn't answer my questions."

You demolished the fake campaign: Arun Jailey to Nirmala Sitharaman

Well done! Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman ji, for an outstanding performance. You demolished the fake campaign. We are all proud of your performance, the Finance minister tweeted.

Have you (Rahul Gandhi) apologised after having winked an eye at PM: Nirmala Sitharaman

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha: Have you (Rahul Gandhi) apologised after having winked an eye at PM, after hugging the PM? This is not the way a House should run.

I have my honour intact..PM has his honour intact: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

"I don't have a 'khandan' to boast on. PM also comes from a poor background. He has come here from hard work. I have my honour intact. PM has his honour intact. We have all come from normal backgrounds," Sitharaman said. 

LSTV screen grab

Who was the one to decide on Anil Ambani, asks Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi in Parliament: Price is not part of the secrecy pact. My question is Anil Ambani was brought in for the contract. Who was the one to decide on Anil Ambani?

CAG's complete draft audit report has been recieved, response under preparation: Sitharaman

CAG's complete draft audit report has been recieved, response under preparation: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

Bofors brought Congress down, Rafale will bring Modi back: Sitharaman

"Def ministry has run without Dalal's under PM Modi leadership. Boforce was a scam, Rafale is a decision taken in national interest," Sitharaman said.

Bofors brought Congress down, Rafale will bring Modi back to build new India and remove corruption stinking around Congress, Sitharaman added.

 (LSTV grab via PTI)

We did not mislead the Supreme Court: Nirmala Sitharaman

Citing the SC's Rafale judgment, the Def minister said, "We did not mislead the Supreme Court."

Sitharaman targets Rahul Gandhi over Rafale deal with France

A Congress spokesperson had said that Congress will not discuss India's defence deals with a foreign head of state, this discussion the Govt has to do with France and not us, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.  But Rahul Gandhi on 20 July in Parliament said that he asked the French Pres about this secrecy pact but he denied its existence. He also told me that he has no issues in making the cost public," she added.  Who is truthful? One of them is misleading the country. I want proof of this, Sitharaman added. 

Cong is misleading country both in and outside the House: Sitharaman

Congress party  has built entire campaign on Rafale on falsehood and is misleading country both in and outside the House. 

Earlier in the day, Congress Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala cornered the BJP government over the issue

Rahul Gandhi stands up alleging Sitharaman took his name while speaking

Congress president Rahul Gandhi stood up from his seat protesting that Sitharaman has taken his name while speaking on Rafale issue. The defence minister is speaking on the issue in the Parliament today. "Congress is shedding crocodile tears for HAL. Congress govt gave 53 waivers to HAL. We have given contracts worth Rs 1 lakh crore," she said.

Sitharaman cites 1982 emergency situation with Pakistan and 1985 while talking about emergency purchases

Sitharaman gives point-by-point analysis of defence deal in connection with Rafale

Two sqadrons are bought always during emergency, says Sitharaman citing previous examples

Sitharaman said 18 fly-aways have been enhanced to 36. She asked the  Congress who had reduced the squadrons purchase to 2. She cited examples of defence dealings by Congress during wars or emergency situations in the past.

"You are misleading country by saying NDA govt reduced 126 Rafale jets to 36. Congress was supposed to buy 18 fly-away, the NDA raised it to 36," she said.

Congress did not intend buying the jets. For every 'AA' there is a 'Q' and 'RV': Sitharaman

There was no agreement of Dassault with HAL: Sitharaman

Responding to the Opposition's query on Rafale, Sitharaman says there was no agreement signed between Dassault and HAL. She said the Congress is shedding crocodile tears on Rafale issue.

First aircraft will be delivered in 2019, 36th in 2022: Sitharaman

Timely purchase equipment should be the priority Sitharaman

Sitharaman said: "We have had wars in northern and western frontiers. Timely purchase equipment should be the priority. We have to recognise the sense of urgency."

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addresses Lok Sabha over Rafale


Addressing Lok Sabha over rafale, Defence Minister Nirmala  Sitharaman said Congress is scared of facts. "National security is important. We can't run away from the facts". She said the environment around India is very volatile. To ensure peace, our Armed forces must be our priority, she said. "It is important for us to purchase ammunition to ensure internal security. Sitharama also cited Atal Bihari Vajpayee's role in Kargil war.

Anurag Thakur attacks Cong for criticising PM Modi's interview with ANI editor

Thakur also condemned the Congress and Rahul Gandhi's criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's latest interview with ANI editor Smita Prakash. "PM Modi answered on every issue in the 95-minute interview. What did Rahul Gandhi expect Ms Smita Prakash to ask? 'What you like to eat, how is your dog etc?' And later Rahul Gandhi attacking the woman journalist for it is extremely condemnable," the BJP MP said.

Anurag Thakur mocks Congress over Rafale, says Opp prepared for more than 20 days

Thakur, while mocking the Congress over Rafale said that the Opp party took more than 20 days to prepare on the issue. "When the opposition brought forward a leader to lead the discussion, it was a confused and a corrupt leader, who is out on bail. Woh 20 minute mein 20 jhooth bol kar chale gaye ," he said.

Centre misguided SC, Public on Rafale, therefore demanding a JPC: Kharge

Launching a scathing attack on the BJP government over Rafale deal, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday said the affidavit submitted by the Centre before the Supreme Court is wrong. He alleged that the Centre has misguided SC and the public. "This is the reason we are demanding a JPC," he told ANI.

Anurag Thakur accuses Congress of corruption in defence deals

BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Friday countered the allegations by the Congress leaders on Rafale deal by accusing the Opposition of corruption in various defence deals. He also cited National Herald case, Agusta Westland case on the the floor of the house. 

There will be criminal investigation on Rafale if Congress comes to power: Rahul


Rahul Gandhi on Friday said there will be criminal investigation on Rafale and accused will be punished if Congress comes to power, reports PTI. "Instead of abusing me, FM Arun Jaitley should answer questions on Rafale raised by us," he said. He said that Congress and the entire opposition wants defence minister to answer questions on Rafale, "tell us if objections on new deal were raised on file."

Mallikarjun Kharge speaking on Rafale deal in Lok Sabha

Kharge appeals for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) report on Rafale. The discussion under rule 193 on the issue as raised by Rahul Gandhi is underway. Earlier in the morning, Congress held a press conference on the issue.

Congress MPs protest with potatoes outside Parliament House (Express Photo by Prem Nath Pandey)
CaptionCongress MPs protest with potatoes outside Parliament House (Express Photo by Prem Nath Pandey)

Discussion on Rafale fighter jets underway in Lok Sabha

SP MP from Badaun (UP) in Lok Sabha, Dharmendra Yadav is speaking on Rafale deal. Yadav is raising questions over the increase in Rafale jets prices. 

BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi speaks on Sabarimala issue in Lok Sabha

Meenakshi Lekhi has accused the Kerala Government of not maintaining law and order in the state and transporting women in ambulances to Sabarimala. She accused those backing entry of women in Sabarimala as transgressors of religion and anti-religious. "They are not followers of Ayappa," she said.

Congress MPs sell potatoes in Parliament premises to protest over farmers issues

Earlier in the day, Congress MPs protested on the farmer issues in the Parliament premises. TDP MLAs who were protesting for special status for Andhra Pradesh also joined the protest with the Congress MPs.

Kanimozhi cites Sabarimala issue during discussion on women's reservation

DMK MP from Tamil Nadu, KaniMozhi cites Sabarimala issue, as the discussion on Women's Reservation Bill is underway in Rajya Sabha during Zero Hour. 

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Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Rajya Sabha on Thursday. (PTI/LSTV grab)

In Rajya Sabha, Private Members' Business (Resolutions) is scheduled for today. The upper house proceedings started with a discussion on Women's Reservation Bill and other issues of public interest.

The debate on Rafale didn't materialise in the Lok Sabha yesterday. However, the Rajya Sabha debate on Kashmir issue saw a face-off between Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and Finace Minister Arun Jaitley.

When Azad asked whether the government was willing to hold assembly elections along with Lok Sabha polls, Rajnath Singh said “yadi Election Commission chahta hai toh hamari sarkar ko koi aapati nahin hogi" (If the Election Commission desires, our government will have no objection).

Rajya Sabha then passed with a voice vote a resolution moved by Singh, seeking approval of the House for imposition of President’s rule.

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