Parliament Session Highlights: ‘Forced to step in Well to get Chairman’s attention,’ says Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge

Rajya Sabha MP and Shinde Sena leader Milind Deora, while speaking during the discussion on the President's address in the Upper House, said that cities like Mumbai had been completely eradicated of terror attacks in the last decade. While pointing out the terror attacks before that, like the 2006 train blast and the 26/11 tragedy, he said that such incidents had been stopped. "The national secuirity of our country is paramount...I congratulate this government for ensuring that not just in Mumbai but rest of country," Deora said.

While speaking during the discussion on the President's address in the Upper House, Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora said that the upscaling of women in the country's workfoce would prove to be very useful. "If we look at immediate neighbours, countries like Vietnam, they have a much higher participation of women," he added.

While speaking on the Kallakurichi hooch deaths, Tamil Manila Congress MP G K Vasan said it was a 'manmade diaster', which could have been averted had the Tamil Nadu government taken timely action against the 'liquor mafia.' He further said that the village affected by the tragedy was largely populated by people from the Scheduled Caste, and most of those killed affected to the same community. 'I request a fair probe to ensure that the perpetrator faces the full brunt of the law,' Vasan added. 

Haryana BJP MP Ram Chander Jangra, speaking on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address, on Friday said that it was "unfortunate" that those who had tried to crush the Constitution were talking about protecting it. He further alleged that the Opposition had spread rumours before the elections, including claims like the elections would be stopped and that reservations would be removed if Prime Minister Narendra Modi comes back to power for a third term. 

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that the Opposition INDIA bloc wanted to have a constructive debate on the NEET exams and the paper leak issue. "It is unfortunate that we weren’t allowed to do so in Parliament today. This is a serious concern that is causing anxiety to lakhs of families across India," Rahul said. Taking to X, he further urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to debate on the issue and "give the students the respect they deserve." 

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sudhanshu Trivedi slammed the Congress, while alleging that the Constitution had always come under attack whenever the grand old party was in power. During the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President, Trivedi said that the Congress had spoken about protecting the Constitution but had "disrespected" it in letter and spirit. 

Trivedi also took a dig at the Congress's remarks wherein party members said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former PM Jawaharlal Nehru could not be compared. He said that unlike PM Modi, Nehru was "not a unanimous choice."

“It is unfortunate that such an incident took place in Rajya Sabha today. One woman MP fell unconscious and it was found that her blood pressure was almost at stroke level. 12 MPs from our side are accompanying her to the hospital. The session is still going on, is the life of a woman MP of no value? I am surprised at this behaviour,” says Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury speaking to reporters outside the Parliament this afternoon.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan who has taken "moral responsibility" for the NEET paper leak issue said the government is ready for discussion on matter but that should take place as per tradition and by maintaining decorum.

Interacting with reporters after the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day amid protests by the opposition demanding a discussion on the alleged irregularities in the conduct of NEET-UG, the minister appealed to them not to confuse the students "The government is ready for every kind of discussion, but everything should happen following norms and maintaining decorum. The President spoke about the exam in her speech yesterday and it shows the government's intention that we are ready to face any issue," Pradhan said outside Parliament.

He said the government's responsibility is towards the youth and students of the country. "When the government is ready to put forth its side then what is the confusion? We are going to take the strictest action and the CBI is going to nab everyone (involved). We will not spare anyone," Pradhan said.

“All party leaders from the INDIA alliance have given an adjournment motion in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to discuss NEET which has become a burning issue. DMK’s stand has always been that NEET has to be banned because it is not an eligibility test, it is an eliminating test,” says DMK MP Kanimozhi amid continuous disruptions over the NEET row.

"Amidst all the chaos in the Rajya Sabha today because of the adamant refusal of the Govt to agree to an IMMEDIATE discussion on NEET, NET, and other paper leak scandals, Congress MP Phulo Devi Netam, who is recovering from dengue, suddenly collapsed and had to be rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia hospital. We hope she recovers quickly. All INDIA MPs have gone to meet her," Congress leader Jairam Ramesh wrote in a post on X.

This came after the MP was taken to RML hospital.

Rajya Sabha LoP & Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said 'Under Rule 267 we are demanding a special discussion on it in the House, and after that, we will state our demands.'

Rajya Sabha MP from the Congress party Phulo Devi Netam was taken away in an ambulance from Parliament after she felt dizzy and fell. She was protesting in the Well of of the House over NEET issue when the incident happened. She is being taken to RML hospital.

On entering the Well of Rajya Sabha, Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge told news agency ANI: "It is his (Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar's) mistake...I went inside to draw his attention. But even then he was not looking... I was drawing attention. He was only looking at the ruling party. When I draw his attention as per the rules, he should look at me, but instead, he deliberately ignored me to insult me. So what was left for me? So to draw attention I would have to either go inside or shout very loudly. So I will definitely say that it is Chairman Sahab's mistake. I say that he should not do this and should maintain the dignity of this Rajya Sabha...There have been such big scams, NEET exam, the paper has been leaked, lakhs of children are worried. So to draw attention to the problem of people, we asked for a specific discussion. We did not want to disturb anyone, we only wanted to raise the issues of the students...But he did not give it a chance, did not even pay attention to it and that is why we had to do this."

After Sudhanshu Trivedi of the BJP delivered his address as part of the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address, the House has been adjourned till 2.30 pm.

Once the Rajya Sabha met again at 2 pm, Sudhanshu Trivedi of the BJP continued to speak on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address amid protests by opposition members demanding a discussion on paper leaks.

Earlier as the Chair adjourned the House till 2 pm, Dhankar said: “Honourable members, today’s day in the history of Indian Parliament will be remembered as stained when LOP himself in Well of the House. This has never happened. I am hurt, and surprised that Parliamentary tradition will fall so much that LOP will come to the Well, and deputy Leader will be in the Well.”

When the Rajya Sabha met again at noon, former prime minister and JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda said that without taking sides, he would like to say that the “government has taken the right decision by starting a CBI inquiry” in the NEET issue. “Lakhs have been affected (by the NEET issue)... The CBI has arrested people from different states… The government can’t take a decision till the inquiry is concluded,” he said, appealing to members to let proceedings run in the Upper House.

Opposition members shouted slogans of “Tanashahi Nahi Chalegi (Won’t allow dictatorship) ” and “Isteefa Do (Give your resignation)” as BJP member Sudhanshu Trivedi spoke on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address amid their demands for a discussion on the paper leaks.

Before adjourning the Upper House, Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankar said this day will be remembered in history of Parliament when Leader of Opposition in RS stood in the well.

BJP MP J P Nadda begins speaking on the motion of Thanks on the President's address even as uproar over the demand for debate on the NEET issue continues.

"The intention was to disrupt proceedings of the House," says Nadda addressing the Chair Jagdeep Dhankar

"Our LoP put forward a view which can be accepted by the government side. Toiday, the most important issue is the NEET exam irregularities issue. Thousands of students are in anxiety, we need to find a permanent solution for this exam. One day dedicately we can discuss about this, from both the government and Opposition sides. Government should allow that and that's why we moved an adjournment motion, but the government is not ready... The government is not even allowing the recognised LoP who is the leader of 237 MPs to speak for one minute... The way this government is going is like older dictatorship only. I think this is going to be a big problem for our entire democratic system," senior Congress leader and MP from Alappuzha K C Venugopal said after the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day following continued ruckus.

BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi has initiated the discussion on motion of thanks to the President's address.

As Trivedi started his speech, initially several opposition members entered the Well of the House raising slogans. They were also demanding resignation of the union education minister.

Amid slogans of "mantri hatao, mantri bhagao (sack the minister, chase the minister)" in the Rajya Sabha, former PM Deve Gowda who is also the chief of Karnataka's JD(S) said that as the inquiry is underway, no one else should take responsibilty of taking a decision and that the government has done its duty so far.

"We can discuss about who is responsible only after the inquiry report is submitted. I appeal for the proceedings to continue smoothly," he added.

As ruckus over demand for discussion on NEET paper leak continued even after proceedings resumed in the Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla who gave several warnings to the MPs adjourned the Lower House till Monday (July 1) 11 am.

The Opposition MPs kept pushing for a dedicated discussion on the NEET issue even as the Speaker and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said all matters can be taken up during the discussion on President's address which was scheduled in the bulletin for the day.

Lok Sabha resumes. Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju moves Motion of Thanks to the President's address to Parliament.

Rajya Sabha resumes. It is being chaired by Harivansh Narayan Singh

"While Narendra Modi is not saying anything on NEET, the Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi is raising the voice of the youth in the House. But on such a serious issue, a conspiracy is being hatched to suppress the voice of the youth by doing cheap acts like switching off the mic," the Congress party said in a post on X.

This comes after the Lower House was adourned till 12 pm amid disruptions. Rahul Gandhi was seen standing up to push for a discussion to send out a "joint message by the government and the Opposition over the issue". He addressed Speaker Om Birla who responded by saying that all matter can be taken up during the discussion on the President's address.

"We have been raising questions over NEET issue. The government is showing irresponsible behaviour. The PM has not said anything over this. I believe that the exam should be cancelled and conducted again," says RJD MP Misa Bharti outside the Parliament today

"This is the issue concerning the youth, and the INDIA bloc thinks this is the most important issue," he said.

"Parliament should send message to the youth that the government and opposition are together in raising concerns of students. I urge PM Modi to hold respectful, good discussion on NEET issue in Parliament as it concerns the country's youth," he added.

“We need a discussion on the NEET issue today. I want to tell all the students that it’s their matter, their issue for their future. I request PM to participate in it. I hope for a respectful and peaceful discussion,” Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said before the House was adjourned this morning.

Rajya Sabha Chair Jagdeep Dhankar was seen reprimanding Opposition MPs over their conduct in the Upper House. The MPs were pushing for a discussion on the NEET paper leak issue after an adjournment motion wasn't allowed.

The Upper House has been adjourned till 12 pm.

Vice President and Chair in Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankar says that he has received 22 notices to discuss situation arising out of irregularities, cheating in NEET-2024 conducted by NTA.

As proceedings move forward, Opposition members raise slogans demanding discussion on NEET issue. They raise slogans demanding resignation of Education Minister.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla clarified that the every issue can be taken up during the discussion on President's address. He said that this was mentioned in the bulletin as well. This comes after Congress MPs moved an adjournment motion on the NEET paper leak issue

"It is an issue of youth, we want that a message should go to the whole country from the Parliament. I appeal to the Prime Minister that there should be a debate in the Parliament on the issue of NEET so that a good message goes out," Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said ahead of Day 5 of the Parliament today.

He said the aim for a respectful discussion between the governement and the Opposition.

"NET and NEET are just the latest examples – the last ten years have seen rampant paper leaks and malfeasance around competitive exams across the country. At last count, 2.26 crore youth across the country have been impacted by these paper leaks. It’s reflective of the Modi Government’s incompetence, but also of its corruption. An Ahmedabad-based exam conducting company, implicated in several paper leaks including the infamous UP Police Constable Recruitment Exam that affected 48 lakh candidates, has been receiving repeated patronage from the Modi Government and BJP State Governments across the country. The UP and Bihar Governments have blacklisted the firm, but even as of October 2023, the Modi Government continued giving them contracts, to the tune of 80 crores," Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X.

A motion for an adjournment of the business of the House is moved for discussing a “definite matter of urgent public importance”, with the Speaker’s consent. The notice for this is to be given before 10 am on a given day to the Lok Sabha Secretary-General. This is not a provision available in the Rajya Sabha.

Just like the motion with a vote, it should fulfil a list of criteria and can then be admitted.

The Speaker, after being satisfied that there has been adequate debate, can put up a question afterwards.

Parliament is likely to witness a fiery day on Friday as the leaders of the Opposition INDIA alliance have decided to raise the issue of alleged paper leaks and irregularities in exams like the NEET-UG strongly in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

The Opposition MPs would move adjournment motions in both Houses in this regard on Friday, demanding a debate on the NEET issue before starting a discussion on the motion of thanks on the President’s address to Parliament, sources said.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday disapproved of the objections raised on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's chants of 'Jai Samvidhaan' on the second day of the Parliament and said that the anti-constitution sentiment that emerged during the elections has now taken a new form.

The Congress leader argued saying people in power were not stopped from raising "unparliamentary and unconstitutional" slogans in the Parliament, but objections were raised when an opposition MP chanted 'Jai Samvidhaan'.

Taking to the microblogging site, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra posted on X, "Can't 'Jai Samvidhaan' be chanted in the Indian Parliament? People in power were not stopped from raising unparliamentary and unconstitutional slogans in the Parliament, but objections were raised when an opposition MP chanted 'Jai Samvidhaan'." "The anti-constitution sentiment that emerged during the elections has now taken a new form, which seeks to weaken our Constitution," said the Congress leader, as per ANI.

A meeting of the leaders of the opposition coalition, the INDIA bloc, was held at Indian National Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence in Delhi after the joint session of Parliament on Thursday.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress general secretaries KC Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, AAP MP Sanjay Singh, TMC MP Derek O'Brien, NCP (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar, NCP MP Supriya Sule, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Sanjay Raut, Priyanka Chaturvedi, DMK MPs K Kanimozhi, and Tiruchi Siva among others attended the meeting.

'Attended the meeting of floor leaders of all parties of the INDIA bloc under the leadership of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge today in Delhi. We, in the House, are unitedly committed to fighting for the issues and rights of the people,' Rahul Gandhi said in a post on Facebook.

According to ANI sources, many major issues including the ongoing row over the National Entrance-cum-Eligibility Test (NEET) were discussed in the meeting.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Thursday, praised President Droupadi Murmu's address to the joint session of both houses of Parliament, calling it "filled with commitments to achieving the aspirations of a new India to become a developed and self-reliant nation."

Taking to microblogging site X, CM Yogi posted on X, "Hon'ble President Droupadi Murmu's address to the joint session of both houses of Parliament today is full of resolutions to achieve the aspirations of the 'new India' to become developed and self-reliant India'." 

AAP MPs boycotted President Droupadi Murmu's address to the joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on Thursday to protest against the arrest of party convenor Arvind Kejriwal.

Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal was on Wednesday arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the alleged excise policy scam being probed by it.

The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is open to the idea of having a deputy speaker in the Lok Sabha, sources said on Thursday, stressing that a call on the matter will be taken later.

They said the NDA has not rejected the opposition's claim on the post but criticised its insistence that its nominee should be given the position, saying such a precondition could not be considered during the speaker's election.

There was no deputy speaker during the previous Lok Sabha.

It may be noted the government's efforts to reach a consensus on Om Birla's choice as the speaker fell through as the opposition INDIA bloc insisted that it should be promised the position of his deputy as per "convention".

The BJP attacked the Congress on Thursday for objecting to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's condemnation of the Emergency, claiming that this shows the opposition party's intentions are not right and its invocation of the Constitution is merely a smokescreen.

BJP leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Congress begins squirming at the mention of the Emergency, which was imposed by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1975.

Referring to the Emergency as "the sin of the murder of democracy", he asked, "Why should not this black chapter in the Indian democracy be discussed." He noted that the Congress never apologised for imposing the Emergency.

Prasad's remarks to the media came after Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi met Birla and voiced his displeasure over his critical statement on Wednesday in the House on the Emergency. Gandhi claimed it was "clearly political" and could have been avoided.

Later, Congress leader K C Venugopal also wrote to Birla, expressing the party's displeasure over his statement on the Emergency as his first task after assuming office.

Law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Thursday said detailed discussions were held, including deliberations by a parliamentary standing committee, before enactment of the three new criminal laws, amid demands by certain opposition leaders to defer their implementation beyond July 1.

The newly enacted laws -- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Act -- to completely overhaul the criminal justice system in the country will come into effect from July 1. They replace the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Indian Evidence Act. PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced his council of ministers in Rajya Sabha, amid clapping and thumping of desks.

The prime minister had introduced his council of ministers in Lok Sabha on Wednesday after the election of the Speaker. "I have great pleasure to introduce Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, who has been sworn in as the Prime Minister for the third consecutive term after a gap of six decades," Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar announced amid thumping of desks and applause. He then asked the the prime minister for the introduction of the ministers.

Thursday was the first day of the 264th session of Rajya Sabha. The House met after President Droupadi Murmu addressed a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi met Speaker Om Birla and voiced his displeasure over the reference to Emergency made by the chair, saying it was "clearly political" and could have been avoided.

It was a courtesy call during which Gandhi also raised the issue of Emergency being invoked by the Speaker in the House, Congress general secretary K C Venugopal told reporters after the meeting in the Parliament House. "It was a courtesy call. The Speaker declared Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of Opposition and after that, he along with other INDIA bloc partner leaders met the Speaker," he said.

Congress General Secretary in-charge of Organisation and MP KC Venugopal on Thursday wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, saying that his reference to the Emergency in his acceptance speech on Wednesday was “deeply shocking”.

A letter, released by the Congress and written by Venugopal to the Speaker, said,  “...reference from the Chair after your acceptance speech, in regard to declaration of Emergency half a century ago, is deeply shocking. Making of such a political reference from the Chair is unprecedented in the annals of history of Parliament. This coming from the Chair as one of the ‘first duties’ from a newly elected Speaker assumes even graver proportions."

Amid speculation over the post, sources have told The Indian Express that the 18th Lok Sabha will have a Deputy Speaker.

The newspaper had earlier reported that there was speculation that the post could go to an ally in the NDA. The Opposition has been contending that it should get the Deputy Speaker's post as per convention.

"Rashtrapati Ji's address to both Houses of Parliament was comprehensive and presented a roadmap of progress and good governance. It covered the strides India has been making and also the potential that lies ahead. Her address also mentioned some of the major challenges we have to collectively overcome to ensure a qualitative change in the lives of our citizens," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said over X (formerly Twitter).

Speaking to news agency PTI, Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat said that President Droupadi Murmu's address "seemed one-sided", saying that the party was "unhappy" with the mention of the Emergency.

"I was very excited for the President's address today but it was very disappointing. We were unhappy to see mention of Emergency. In the address, every sector of the country should have been mentioned but it seemed very one-sided," Bhagat said.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi held a meeting with Dharmendra Yadav (SP), Kanimozhi (DMK), Kalyan Banerjee (TMC) and Supriya Sule (NCP-SP) to discuss the row over NEET-UG and the new criminal laws that come into force on July 1. -- Liz Mathew reports

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned till tomorrow, 11 am after the Committee of Privileges placed its reports on the table.

As the Rajya Sabha session commenced on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced his Council of Ministers in the House.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Dhankhar Thursday introduced BJP MP Jagat Prakash Nadda as the Leader of House.

As Rajya Sabha commenced on Thursday, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said that the House has approved revoking the suspension of MP Sanjay Singh.

"In this era of communication revolution, disruptive forces are conspiring to weaken democracy and create fissures in the society. These forces are present within the country and are also operating from outside the country. These forces resort to rumour mongering, misleading the people and misinformation," President Murmu said.

"This situation cannot be allowed to continue unchecked. Today, technology is advancing every day. In such a situation, its misuse against humanity can be extremely harmful," she added.

"We all remember those times when ballot papers were snatched and looted. To ensure the sanctity of the electoral process, it was decided to use EVMs," President Murmu said.

"The EVM has passed every test, from the Supreme Court to the people’s court, in the last few decades," she added.

"The people of India have always demonstrated complete trust in democracy and expressed full faith in the electoral institutions. We need to preserve and protect this trust to sustain our robust democracy. We must realise that hurting the faith of people in democratic institutions and the electoral process is like cutting the very branch on which we all are sitting," President Murmu said.

"We should collectively denounce every attempt to undermine the credibility of our democracy," she added.

Speaking about the Emergency, imposed in 1975, President Murmu said that the entire country was "plunged into chaos during Emergency, but nation was victorious against such unconstitutional powers".