Winter session of Parliament Day 18, One Nation One Poll Bill Highlights: Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday delivered a speech on 75 years of the Indian constitution and said that it blends global practices with Indian traditions. On the issue of amending the constitution, he said the BJP only amended the Constitution 22 times, while Congress did so 77 times. Targeting the Congress, he said its first amendment passed under the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru curtailed freedom of expression. Earlier in the day, the ‘One Nation, One Election Bill’ was introduced in the Lok Sabha, igniting fierce opposition from parties such as the Congress and Samajwadi Party (SP). As many as 269 MPs voted in favor and 198 against it.
What is the One Nation One Election Bill: The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 proposes to amend three articles of the Constitution and insert a new one, Article 82A. These proposed amendments were recommended by a high-level committee on One Nation, One Election chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, which submitted its report to President Droupadi Murmu in March this year. As per the draft, the President would have to notify an “appointed date” on the first sitting of the Lok Sabha after a general election, and any Legislative Assembly elected after that date would have its term curtailed to end with that of the Lok Sabha.
Constitution debate in Rajya Sabha: The Constitution debate resumed in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, with Leader of the House JP Nadda attacking the Opposition over their stance on the debate. Nadda said that Dr BR Ambedkar didn’t approve of the word ‘secular’ being used in the Preamble of the Constitution. He also said that a debate over the Constitution only makes it stronger, and attacked the Opposition for accusing the Modi government of controlling the media. Nadda hailed the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, and said that the move by the central government only strengthened the Constitution.
"We are here to support 'One Nation One Election' because it makes complete sense in terms of electioneering, governance, and finances. However, we seek more clarity on the practical implementation, which we are eager to discuss further," said Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma on 'One Nation One Election' bills introduced in the Lok Sabha.
Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have been adjourned for the day.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday attacked the Congress for bringing various amendments to the Constitution, saying the opposition party considered it as the "private fiefdom" of one family and amended it to remain in power.
Replying to a discussion on the "Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India", Shah also accused the Congress of being anti-reservation and said it never worked for the benefit of the backward classes.
The minister also chided the Congress for "finding faults" in EVMs after losing elections.
At the outset, he noted that the Constitution strengthened the roots of democracy and the transfer of power happens without shedding even a drop of blood. (PTI)
The Modi government freed country from mindset of slavery, home minister Amit Shah told the Rajya Sabha.
Home Minister Amit Shah said the Congress had deprived Muslim women of their rights for years only for vote bank politics. - PTI
Congress increased the tenure of the Lok Sabha and assemblies through the 42nd Constitutional Amendment out of fear of losing polls. Amit Shah told the Rajya Sabha.
In the Rajya Sabha, Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the EVM controversy, saying, "They keep blaming EVMs after losing elections." He pointed out that the Supreme Court has rejected petitions 24 times, and when the Election Commission offered a chance to hack EVMs, no one could prove it.
"What was the 39th constitutional amendment... Indira Gandhi's election was declared invalid by the Allahabad High Court. So he banned judicial scrutiny of the Prime Minister's post through the amendment," said Home Minister Amit Shah in the Rajya Sabha.
"On one hand, this debate will make people realise how the country has moved forward because of the Constitution, and on the other hand, it also makes us realise that it is because of the basic sentiments of the Constitution that the very foundations of democracy have been deepened in the last 75 years," says Amit Shah.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah delivers a key speech on the Constitution Day discussion in Rajya Sabha.
The time for Rajya Sabha proceedings has been extended till the completion of discussion on 75 years of the Indian Constitution.
Lok Sabha proceedings have been adjourned till tomorrow.
"It should happen. The public also gets irritated by frequent elections. It will also save expenses and time," said BJP MP Hema Malini on 'One Nation One Election' bills introduced in Lok Sabha.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said the lower-than-expected GDP growth of 5.4 per cent in the second quarter was a "temporary blip" and the economy will see healthy growth in the coming quarters.
- Replying to a debate in the Lok Sabha on the first batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants, she said India has seen "steady and sustained" growth and its GDP growth rate has averaged 8.3 per cent in the last three years. India continues to be the fastest-growing major economy in the world, Sitharaman added.
- The second quarter growth is only a "temporary blip", and the economy will see healthy growth in the coming quarters, Sitharaman said.
- The finance minister further said there is no broad-based slowdown in the manufacturing sector. Half of the sectors within the overall manufacturing basket continue to remain strong.
- The Indian economy grew 6.7 per cent in the first (April-June) quarter and 5.4 per cent in the July-September period. - About inflation, Sitharaman said it is better controlled in the NDA regime, whereas under the UPA, it touched double digits.
- Retail inflation in April-October 2024-25 stood at 4.8 per cent, the lowest since the Covid pandemic, she noted. Sitharaman said the unemployment rate has come down from 6 per cent in 2017-18 to 3.2 per cent now.
Introduction of ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bills Amid strong opposition from the INDIA bloc, the controversial "One Nation, One Election" Bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha. A division (voting) showed 269 members in favor of the introduction and 198 opposing it.
Government’s Position Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said that the government was ready to refer the Bills to a joint committee of Parliament for detailed consideration.
Opposition’s Claim of Victory Opposition MPs claimed a win, arguing that the government failed to achieve a two-thirds majority needed for introducing the Constitution Amendment Bills.
Experts’ Clarification Experts, including former Lok Sabha Secretary General P.D.T. Achary, clarified that a special majority (two-thirds) is not required to introduce a Constitution Amendment Bill. A simple majority is sufficient for introduction.
Rules Governing Constitution Amendment Bills According to Rule 157 and Rule 158 of the Lok Sabha's Rules of Procedure, a two-thirds majority applies only during critical stages, such as consideration or final passage of the Bill, not at the introduction stage. Voting by division at this point only requires a simple majority.
Legislators have started discussing the Goa State, Assembly Constituency Scheduled Tribes Representation Re-adjustment Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha.
The Lok Sabha has passed the Supplementary Demands for Grants - First Batch for 2024-2025. (PTI)
Opposition members from TMC and CPI(M) on Tuesday alleged that constitutional rights in Manipur had been suspended and slammed the BJP MPs for not raising the issue during the debate on the Constitution.
Participating in a discussion on the "Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India", Trinamool Congress' Sushmita Dev said MPs of the ruling party from the Northeast region should resign as all rights ensured to people under the Constitution have been curtailed in Manipur.
"Today, I say while we debate on the Constitution which Constitutional right have you not suspended in Manipur? Liberty, expression of speech, everything is being suspended in Manipur.
"I stand here as a member of Parliament representing the Northeast, demanding the resignation of every MP from Northeast and every minister who is thumping their desk behind the Leader of the House," Dev said.
She alleged the BJP is creating different classes of citizens with different rights in Assam.
"There is no equality in the way NRC (National Register of Citizens) has been conducted," Dev said and claimed this government "wants one election, one leader, one religion".
This is not what Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar wanted for this country, she said, adding, "This is a fascist government that is at play." (PTI)
Opposition members from TMC and CPI(M) on Tuesday alleged that constitutional rights in Manipur had been suspended and slammed the BJP MPs for not raising the issue during the debate on the Constitution.
Participating in a discussion on the "Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India", Trinamool Congress' Sushmita Dev said MPs of the ruling party from the Northeast region should resign as all rights ensured to people under the Constitution have been curtailed in Manipur.
"Today, I say while we debate on the Constitution which Constitutional right have you not suspended in Manipur? Liberty, expression of speech, everything is being suspended in Manipur.
"I stand here as a member of Parliament representing the Northeast, demanding the resignation of every MP from Northeast and every minister who is thumping their desk behind the Leader of the House," Dev said.
"The public is watching, it is being revealed that the money given for the poor is going into the hands of their (TMC) party workers, that is why they are facing problems. We are not going to stay where there is fraud. The money sent for the poor should reach the poor," says Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
"Out of 33 crore households, 32.65 crore households have LPG connections. Earlier, LPG cylinders were considered a privilege, less available than required. Before 2014, 45% of households had access to clean cooking fuel. Now, it is going to be almost 100%," says Finance Minister in Lok Sabha.
CPI(M) MP and former Kerala Minister K Radhakrishnan on Tuesday said that his party was against the 'one nation, one election' policy being mooted by the central government and the legislation in favour of it would be strongly opposed.
Radhakrishnan told reporters in New Delhi that besides the CPI(M), even the Congress would oppose the legislation trying to bring simultaneous elections in the country.
He further said that even the regional parties would oppose the policy of simultaneous polls as this concept was not beneficial for them.
Two bills that lay down the mechanism to hold simultaneous elections were introduced in the Lok Sabha after a fiery debate on Tuesday.
Opposition parties dubbed the draft laws -- a Constitution amendment bill and an ordinary bill -- as an attack on the federal structure, a charge rejected by the government. - PTI
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, "In the last three years, India’s GDP growth rate has averaged 8.3%, an exceptional achievement by global standards. This reinforces India’s position as the fastest-growing major economy in the world."
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday termed as "anti-constitutional” the bill that lays down the mechanism to hold simultaneous elections and asserted that it is against federalism.
Her remarks came after two bills that lay down the mechanism to hold simultaneous elections were introduced in the Lok Sabha after a fiery debate.
Opposition parties dubbed the draft laws -- a Constitution amendment bill and an ordinary bill -- as an attack on the federal structure, a charge rejected by the government.
DMK has consistently opposed the bill, as it goes against federalism and the states' rights," said DMK MP Kanimozhi on introducing the 'One Nation One Election' bills in Lok Sabha. PTI
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that of 12 quarters over the last three years, only two quarters experienced a GDP growth rate below 5.4%. These dips took place in the fourth quarter of 2021-22 and the first quarter of 2022-23.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi favoured detailed discussion at every level on the 'one nation, one election' bill and wanted it to be referred to a Joint Committee of Parliament, Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday.
Shah made the remarks in Lok Sabha when the House was hearing objections to the introduction of the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill that seeks to usher in simultaneous polls to the Lower House and state assemblies.
"When One Nation, One Election bills came up in Cabinet, PM Modi said these should be referred to the Joint Committee of Parliament. There should be a detailed discussion over it at every level," Shah said.
The Lok Sabha will reconvene at 3 pm, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman set to address the discussion following the Supplementary Demands for Grants.
“This has failed in the House (Lok Sabha) today. This just completely misfired because they were not able to have the numbers. Two-thirds majority was needed,” said Congress MP Manickam Tagore.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday termed as "anti-constitutional” the bill that lays down the mechanism to hold simultaneous elections and asserted that it is against federalism.
Her remarks came after two bills that lay down the mechanism to hold simultaneous elections were introduced in the Lok Sabha after a fiery debate.
Opposition parties dubbed the draft laws -- a Constitution amendment bill and an ordinary bill -- as an attack on the federal structure, a charge rejected by the government.
“Anti-constitutional bill, it is against the federalism of our nation. We are opposing the bill,” she told reporters in Parliament premises. (PTI)
TMC Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee attacked the BJP over the introduction of One Nation One Election Bill on Tuesday, terming it an "unashamed" attack on democracy.
Posting on X, the TMC leader said, "The BJP's brazen attempt to introduce a constitutional amendment bill today, while the constitution debate is still underway in Parliament, is nothing short of an unashamed attack on democracy. The One Nation One Election bill seeks to rob the people of their fundamental right to vote regularly."
The 'One Nation One Election' Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha after division voting took place in the Lower House. 269 MPs voted in favour and 198 against the motion of introducing the bill in the house.
Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal will move the motion to introduce the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the Lok Sabha once it resumes after 3 pm.
The division of votes to introduce One Nation, One Election bills in the Lok Sabha is currently underway via the electronic voting system. Notably, this is the first time that the electronic voting system is being used in the new Parliament.
Opposition MPs sought division of votes as Union Law Minister Meghwal moved motion to introduce ONOE bills in Lok Sabha.
Amid ruckus in Parliament over the One Nation One Election bill, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, "When ONOE bills came up in Cabinet, PM Modi said this should be referred to Joint Committee of Parliament." Meanwhile, IUML leader E T Mohammed Basheer, Shiv Sena member Anil Desai vehemently opposed the bill and demanded that it be withdrawn at the earliest.
Amid uproar in the Lok Sabha against the One Nation One Election bill, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said, "ONOE bill gives 'illegal' powers to Election Commission to advise the President."
TDP offered its unwavering support for the One Nation One Election bill, tabled in the Lok Sabha today, saying that it will streamline the process of polls across the country. Meanwhile, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi said that the bill will singlehandedly finish all the regional parties in the country, and is only being introduced to "satisfy the ego of the supreme leader."
Congress MP Manish Tewari said in Lok Sabha, "I rise to oppose the introduction of the Constitution 129th Amendment Bill 2024 and the Union Territories Laws Amendment Bill 2024. Beyond the seventh schedule of the Constitution is the basic structured doctrine and that basic structure doctrine spells out that there are certain features of the Indian Constitution which are beyond the amending power of this House also. One of the essential features is federalism and the structure of our democracy. Therefore the bills which have been moved by the Minister of Law and Justice absolutely assault the basic structure of the Constitution and are beyond the legislative competence of this House and therefore they need to be opposed and the introduction of those bills have to be stopped."
Opposition parties such as Shiv Sena (UBT), Aam Aadmi Party, Congress and Samajwadi Party urged the government to immediately withdraw the bill, while NDA MPs urged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to refer the bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee .
Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav in Lok Sabha opposed the One Nation One Election bill, saying that the BJP is trying to bring in 'dictatorship' in country. Meanwhile, Congress leader Manish Tewari said, "Introduction, consideration of ONOE bills is beyond legislative competence of this House, I urge govt to withdraw it."
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal moved the 'one nation one election' bills for introduction in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, while opposition parties like AAP, Congress, TMC and Samajwadi Party opposed the bill.
JP Nadda said in Rajya Sabha, "Dr BR Ambedkar himself said that reservation should not be granted on the basis of religion, yet the Opposition continues to twist the Constitution to advance its train of appeasement politics."
Nadda further demanded a debate on the issue of reservation, as Opposition MPs verbally protest against this motion.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, while speaking to ANI, said, "The One Nation, One Election Bill is only the first milestone; the real objective is to bring a new constitution. Amending the Constitution is one thing, but bringing a new Constitution is the real objective of the RSS and PM Modi."
The Congress MP further said that RSS has historically opposed the Indian Constitution, saying it does not draw inspiration from Manusmriti.
Responding to supplementaries during the Question Hour, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the government is continuously making efforts to increase the income of farmers and asserted that there will be no shortfall in fertiliser subsidy this year also.
The focus is on increasing production, reduce cost of production and ensure adequate price for the produce, among others.
The Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister also told the Lok Sabha that the income of farmers is not less than that of the labourers. (PTI)
JP Nadda said in the Rajya Sabha, "Dr Ambedkar himself said that there is no need for the word 'secular' in the Constitution, yet the Opposition accuses us of religious politics and vote bank politics." Nadda, invoking Ambedkar, said, "The people of India shall decide the kind of society they want to live in, we are no one to tell them to live in a certain kind of society."
Hitting back at Opposition leaders over allegations of Modi government controlling the media, JP Nadda said in Rajya Sabha, "Those who accuse the Modi government of controlling the media must look back at the Emergency. Those who speak of freedom of press today, must flip through the editorials of national newspapers during Emergency, when they put out newspapers with blank pages, when journalists were thrown in jail."
Opposition MPs, led by Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, stage a protest outside the Parliament against the central government over the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh.
VIDEO | Opposition MPs hold protest against the government over #bangladesh issue inside Parliament premises.#parliamentwintersession2024BJP chief JP Nadda said in the Rajya Sabha that before the abrogation of Article 370, over a hundred Indian laws were not applicable in Jammu and Kashmir. Laws like POCSO, property rights for women, special rights for backward classes, and many other important laws were not applicable in Jammu and Kashmir, said Nadda.
"Former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru backed women property rights across the country, but no such law in Jammu and Kashmir," said JP Nadda.
JP Nadda, during his address in the Rajya Sabha, said that debate over the Constitution in the Upper House of the Parliament, only makes it stronger.
He further highlighted how the abrogation of Article 370, revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, was a step towards strengthening the Constitution of India.
BJP President and Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha JP Nadda commenced the Constitution debate in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Nadda asserted that our country is the "mother of democracy", saying that the notion that India is a "nation in the making" is not correct.
Invoking the lines of Dr BR Ambedkar, JP Nadda said, "However good the Constitution of India may be, it might turn out bad if those implementing it are a bad lot."
The Trinamool Congress will oppose the introduction of the constitutional amendment bill in the lower house for holding Lok Sabha and assembly elections simultaneously, party leader Saugata Roy said on Tuesday.
Terming the bill as "anti-federal", the Lok Sabha MP told reporters in Parliament premises that "we shall oppose it." The constitutional amendment bill for holding Lok Sabha and assembly elections simultaneously has been listed for introduction in the Lower House of Parliament on Tuesday and could be referred to a joint committee of the two Houses. (PTI)
Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha resumed for the day, with the 'One Nation One Election' bills on the agenda for the Lower House and Constitution debate set to resume in the Upper House.
Congress MP Manish Tewari on Tuesday submitted a formal notice in the Lok Sabha, opposing the introduction of 'One Nation One Election' bills. Tewari, in his notice addressed to the Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha, asserted the party's stance on the bills and called it a threat to India's federal structure and democratic principles.
"The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, which proposes simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, directly challenges this federal framework by imposing uniformity across states. Such a move risks eroding state autonomy, diminishing local democratic engagement, and centralising power, thereby undermining the pluralism and diversity that are cornerstones of India's democratic ethos," the Congress leader said in the notice.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore moves adjournment on Tuesday issued a notice for adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha, urging for a discussion on the hunger strike by farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been fasting for 21 days.
"Mr. Dallewal, the president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur), is in critical condition, with medical experts advising immediate hospitalisation due to his deteriorating health. Despite this he has refused medical intervention, insisting on continuing his hunger strike for the cause of farmers," the Lok Sabha MP said in his notice.
Tagore further said in his notice that the farmer leader's health is rapidly deteriorating, and the central government has failed to engage meaningfully with the farmers to come to a resolution.
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Tuesday will introduce the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the Lok Sabha, which will pave the way for holding the Lok Sabha elections and assembly elections in the country simultaneously across the country.
Apart from this, the Lok Sabha schedule states that the union minister will also introduce Bills to amend the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. These bills will align the elections in Union Territories to be simultaneous.
Congress MP Vijay Vasanth on Tuesday gave an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha to discuss the "deepening unemployment crisis" in India, citing CMIE and PLFS data. As per the notice, the data shows that India's unemployment rate stands at 7.8 percent as of September 2024.
In his notice, Vasanth said, "I rise to move an adjournment motion to discuss the deepening unemployment crisis in India, which continues to affect millions of citizens and threatens the economic security of our nation. Recent data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) and the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) has only confirmed the alarming trends we have been witnessing over the years."
The Congress party, ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha session on Tuesday, issued a whip to all its MPs in the Lower House to be present in the Parliament today. The party has also called for a meeting at 10:30 am today at the CPP office to prepare for the house proceedings to follow.
Sources said a three-line whip has been issued to Congress Lok Sabha MPs, mandating their presence in the House for Tuesday's "crucial proceedings".
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