Rahul Gandhi’s MP status restored days after SC relief in defamation case
The Lok Sabha secretariat Monday morning cleared Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s return to Parliament via a notification days after the Supreme Court stayed his conviction in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his remarks on the ‘Modi’ surname. Jubilant over Gandhi’s return to the Lok Sabha, MPs shouted slogans in support of the Opposition’s INDIA bloc, and within minutes the Lower House was adjourned for an hour till noon. “Garv se bolo INDIA, paschim bolo India, purv bolo India,” Opposition leaders shouted. The speaker warned them that the House cannot be disturbed with slogans, and asked them to attend the Question Hour, but the MPs refused to pay heed. Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as an MP on March 23 this year after he was convicted by a Gujarat court and sentenced to two years in jail in the defamation case.
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday, during his speech in the Lok Sabha on Manipur violence issue, questioned why the sexual assualt video was not shared with the Director General of Police (DGP) promptly.
He said had the video been provided to the police at the time of its occurrence, the perpetrators could have been apprehended and dealt with accordingly.
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The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned for the day, and will now resume at 11 am on August 10 (Thursday).
The Lok Sabha has been adjourned for the day, and will now resume at 11 am on August 10 (Thursday).
Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah on Wednesday appealed to both the the Meitei and Kuki communities not to engage in violence, and said that the tensions, which have caused about 152 people to lose their lives, can be resolved only through dialogue.
On question of sacking Manipur Chief Minister, Union Minister of Home Affairs, addressing the Lok Sabha said, 'A state CM needs to be changed when he isn't cooperating. This CM has cooperated with the Centre."
Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah on Wednesday claimed that the Opposition wanted ruckus, and not a discussion on Manipur violence issue."
"An illusion was spread that the government did not want to discuss Manipur. We were ready for discussion from day one, the opposition wanted ruckus, not discussion," Shah said.
Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah on Wednesday blamed the Manipur High Court order for tensions in the Northeastern state. "The order of the High Court in the month of April added fuel to the fire."
The Manipur HC order then had directed the state government to consider the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list
Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah on Wednesday, addressing the Lok Sabha on Manipur violence issue, said, 'we are pained at incidents of violence in Manipur.'
'PM Modi has visited northeast more than 50 times in the last nine years. This shows that North East is part of our country. They are questioning us over North East, when they themselves did nothing for the region,' Shah said in the Lower House.
Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah on Wednesday, addressing the Lok Sabha on Manipur violence issue, said that the previous governments have not done anything for the North East.
"PM Modi has worked towards bringing the North East into the mainstream. They [Opposition] have done nothing for North East," Shah said, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought "all-round development in the region."
Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah on Wednesday, addressing the Lok Sabha on Manipur violence issue, said, “while the incident is shameful, the politics over it is even more shameful.”
The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday cleared the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023, which lays out procedures on how corporations and the government itself can collect and use information and personal data of India’s citizens.
The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on August 7, 2023.
Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah on Wednesday, addressing the Lok Sabha on no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition against the Centre, said that Narendra Modi-led NDA government has "continuously worked to make Kashmir completely free from terrorism."
Hailing the Modi government for working on matters of national security, Shah said, "We banned PFI in the country, and conducted raids at over 90 locations in the country. Cases regarding attacks on our missions in London, Ottawa and San Francisco handed over to NIA. 26/11 Tahawwur Hussain Rana will also soon face the judiciary in India."
Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah on Wednesday, addressing the Lok Sabha on no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition against the Centre, praised the Narendra Modi-led NDA government for procuring maximum amount of rice on Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the farmers.
"If there is one government that has procured the maximum amount of rice on MSP, then it is the Narendra Modi government," Shah said.
Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah on Wednesday, addressing the Lok Sabha on no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition against the Centre, took a jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his political engagement, saying, 'We have a leader in this House, who has been launched in politics 13 times. However, he has failed every time.'
Further, he said, "I have seen one launching when he went to meet a poor lady from Bundelkhand named Kalavati. But what did you do for her? House, ration, electricity were provided to her by Modi government"
Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah on Wednesday, addressing the Lok Sabha on no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition against the Centre, hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's work to "enhance the prestige of India."
Shah also said, "Under Modi government, India has registered a growth of 231 per cent — maximum in the world — in internet."
Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah on Wednesday, addressing the Lok Sabha on no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition against the Centre, hailed Narendra Modi-led NDA government in the country.
In his address, he said, "It for the farmers of our country to decide - on one side, there was UPA government which offered 'lollypop' of Rs 70,000 crore debt and on the other side there is a government that has transferred Rs 2 lakh 40 thousand crore directly to their accounts with dignity. I want to clarify that this is not 'rewdi'."
The Rajya Sabha Chairman on Wednesday referred the breach of privilege complaint of MPs against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha to the Privileges Committee for examination, news agency PTI reported quoting the bulletin.
Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah on Wednesday, addressing the Lok Sabha on no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition against the Centre, called the no-trust motion, 'a politically-motivated move.'
Shah went on to hail Narendra Modi-led NDA government, saying, "Opposition may not have confidence in PM Modi, but people of India have."
Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah on Wednesday, addressing the Lok Sabha on no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition against the Centre, targeted the Congress party of keeping their promises 'only to words,' hailing the BJP government for their actions towards the progress of the country.
'You kept only to words, we acted,' Shah said as National Democratic Alliance (NDA) MPs hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the House.
"Since Independence, if there is one government which has the trust of the people, it is Narendra Modi-led government," Shah added.
Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah on Wednesday, addressing the Lok Sabha on no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition against the Centre, said, 'people and Parliament have full confidence in Modi government.'
'Narendra Modi has dismantled corruption, dynasty politics, and appeasement, and gave importance to the politics of performance,' Shah said in his address. He also said that people have voted for Prime Minister Modi to power twice, and that he is the 'most successful PM in India.'
Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah on Wednesday, addressing the Lok Sabha on no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition against the Centre, said, “This no-confidence motion is one such where neither the people nor the House has disbelief in the government,” Shah said, hailing the PM for “dedicating 17 hours of work” and “taking more than 50 landmark decisions in the last nine years,” towards the progress of the country.
He said that the motion has been brought “to create confusion among people.”
Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah on Wednesday, addressing the Lok Sabha on no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition against the Centre, hit back at the Opposition with ‘Quit India’ jibe.
He said, “Today, PM Modi has given the slogan of Corruption Quit India, Dynasty Quit India and Appeasement Quit India.”
Jammu and Kashmir National Conference MP Farooq Abdullah on Wedesday, speaking on the no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha, said, 'it is the love of the people that will keep us together. Create that love.'
'Don't hate us... Mohabbat seekho, Mohabbat, nafrat mat seekho (Learn to love, not to hate)," the J7KNC MP said.
'We can change our friends, not our neighbours,' Abdullah continued, adding, 'We have to work with love in Manipur as well, and win the hearts of people there.'
The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Amendment Bill, 2023, in the absence of Opposition leaders from the House.
The Bill aims to add two synonyms for the Mahar community in Chhattisgarh to the state's list of Scheduled Castes.
Passed by a voice vote in the Upper House, the Bill seeks to add "Mahara" and "Mahra" as synonyms of the Mahar community. It was earlier passed by the Lok Sabha in the ongoing Monsoon session.
Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar urged for the passage of the Bill, which, according to him, will help expand the benefits of government schemes and benefits meant for Scheduled Castes in the state to around two lakh more people. (PTI)
Congress MP Geeta Koda, speaking on BJP leaders' complaint to Lok Sabha Speaker against Rahul Gandhi's alleged "flying kiss" gesture, alleged, "Rahul Gandhi has always respected women, but the BJP doesn't want to see him in Parliament."
Leader of Opposition and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, amid ruckus on Opposition's demand to discuss Manipur violence issue in the Rajya Sabha under rule 267, announced that they are walking out of the House in protest.
'We are not being allowed to speak, and the Prime Minister is not ready to come to the House, the governemtn is not ready to listen to us. That's why, we are walking out of the House in protest,' Kharge said, and walked out of the House along with other Opposition leaders.
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi, responding to Kharge's statement on the government shying away from discussion on Manipur violence issue under Rule 267, alleged, 'They [Opposition] don't want a discussion in Manipur, because what had happened during their regime will be revealed,'
The Leader of Opposition and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday, speaking on the no-confidence motion against the Centre, in the Rajya Sabha questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Manipur violence issue.
"Why is the PM silent on Manipur issue?," he asked in the Upper House. Kharge alleged that the government was shying away from discussing the Manipur issue under rule 267. He demanded that the prime minister make a statement in the Upper House of Parliament.
The Rajya Sabha resumed at 3:15 pm, after being adjourned amid ruckus by Opposition MPs on the Manipur violence issue.
NDA women MPs write to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, demanding strict action against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi alleging him of making inappropriate gesture towards BJP MP Smriti Irani in the House. (ANI)
Women MPs from BJP accused Rahul Gandhi of misbehaving inside Parliament, and protested against his "flying kiss" gesture as he was leaving the House.
'When we bring up Manipur, the BJP tries to justify its failure by bringing up instances from other states. This is not correct.... The Centre made lenghty speeches in Parliament today, but there was no word on Manipur. This is because they don't know what is happening in Manipur,' says Lalan Singh in LS.
Union Minister Smriti Irani Wednesday lambasted the Opposition alliance ‘I.N.D.I.A’ saying the name doesn’t suit them as India is not corrupt.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha on the 81st anniversary of Quit India movement, Irani said, “You are not India, for India is not corrupt. India believes in merit, not in dynasty, and today of all the days people like you need to remember what was told to the British – Quit India. Corruption Quit India, Dynasty Quit India. Merit now finds place in India…”
Firing back at the Congress over Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on Manipur, she said the government was always ready to debate on the violence in the northeastern state and it was opposition that ran away.”
Irani in turn invoked 1984 anti-Sikh riots and atrocities on Kashmiri Pandits during Congress’s regimes at Centre and said, “Manipur is not divided and is integral part of India.” She recounted the horrors of Emergency to attack the Congress and said the history of the party’s rule is smeared in blood.
Read the full story on Irani's remarks here.
'I object to something. The one who was given the chance to speak before me displayed indecency before leaving. It is only a misogynistic man who can give a flying kiss to a Parliament which seats female members of Parliament. Such undignified conduct was never before seen in the Parliament of the country,' says BJP MP Smriti Irani in LS.
"Maybe the opposition couldn't hear in its own uproar, I say it again, Manipur is an integral part of India. It was neither divided before, nor it is now, and it will never will be in future," says BJP MP Smriti Irani in Lok Sabha.
Opposition MPs raised slogans of "Manipur, Manipur" during Smriti Irani's address elucidating the achievements of the BJP government in Lok Sabha.
"I condemn the aggressive behaviour seen today (referring to Rahul Gandhi's speech in the House). For the first time in the history of nation, someone spoke about 'Bharat Maa' and Congress kept on clapping," says BJP MP Smriti Irani in Lok Sabha.
"We wanted a discussion on Manipur, it was the Opposition who ran away," says Smriti Irani in LS.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha on the no-confidence motion against the Centre, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the BJP government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for its handling of the Manipur crisis.
Gandhi accused the BJP government of splitting the Northeastern state in two.
The Congress leader said the Centre was "pouring kerosene" all over the country.
"I used the word 'Manipur' but the truth is that Manipur does not remain anymore. You have divided Manipur into two. You have divided and broken Manipur," Rahul said in his first speech in Parliament since being reinstated as Wayanad MP. For PM Modi, the Congress leader said, "Manipur is not India".
Read the full story on Rahul Gandhi's speech here.
Smriti Irani addresses Lok Sabha during no-trust debate, and says, "Article 370 will never be re-instated in India, and the Kashmiri Pandits will get justice."
Responding to Rahul Gandhi's speech, Union minister Smriti Irani targetter Congress and said, You are not India, you define corruption in India'.
Rahul Gandhi's address in Lok Sabha triggered uproar in the Lok Sabha, with ruling MPs protesting against his statements on Manipur.
"A few days back, I went to Manipur. Our PM didn't go, not even to this day, because for him Manipur is not India," says Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha.
"The Bharat Jodo Yatra is not over yet. People used to ask me why you started the Yatra (Bharat Jodo Yatra). Even I was not even aware why I started the Yatra... during the journey, the suffering, pain and troubles of the Indian people became my troubles," says Rahul Gandhi.
Rahul Gandhi kicked off the no-trust debate in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, and began with chiding the BJP: "You (BJP) don't need to be scared today, my speech is not about the Adani issue".
Rahul Gandhi kicked off the no confidence motion debate from the side of the Opposition in Lok Sabha today.
The Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 12 noon.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Dr Sushil Gupta dons garland of tomatoes and ginger, in a bid to make a statement on the rising prices.
The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 2 pm.
Lok Sabha MPs observed a minute's silence as a tribute to the freedom fighters, commemorating the 1942 Quit India Movement. They also paid tribute to the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan on the 78th anniversary of the atomic bombings
The Opposition protested the absence of PM Modi in Lok Sabha seconds after Question Hour began in the House.
Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha begin.
Proceedings begin in the Lok Sabha.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on No Confidence Motion says, 'I've come to know that Union Home Amit Shah will speak in the Parliament today and my question to him is- When he went to Manipur a committee of retired chief justice of HC was set up, what work has the committee done so far? He also set up a peace committee- how many meetings did it have? Manipur's Department of Home has registered an FIR against the Assam Rifles. The Assam Rifles is under Amit Shah. What double-engine government is working?' (ANI)
It is being reported that Union Ministers Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Smriti Irani and Jyotiraditya Scindia are also expected to speak in Lok Sabha today.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey says, "In these 75 years Congress, and parties supported by it, gave three things to the country that is eating up the country like termites. Dynasty...It is time to create an atmosphere against them because democracy is for the common people. The second question is about Corruption. The third is about Appeasement - vote bank politics is being done by misleading minorities and they are not allowing implementation of policies in the country."
Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury says, "They have just one work. They don't think about the nation, about society, about Manipur. Their only duty is to abuse Rahul Gandhi and his family. They don't know anything else. Why are Modi and his government, his colleagues so scared of Rahul Gandhi? I find it very surprising."
Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury says, "Rahul Gandhi will speak today. He will begin from our side at 12 noon." (ANI)