President address, Congress letter to Om Birla on Emergency remarks: All that happened in Parliament today

The President said her government is working to create an environment to enable youth of the country dream big and achieve them. Hailing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the President said the Modi government has ensured a dignified life for many families who suffered due to the Partition by granting them Indian nationality under the law.

Emergency, paper leaks, Modi govt achievements feature in President Murmu’s address

Stating that the government is fully committed to a fair investigation in the recent incidents of paper leaks and ensure that the guilty are punished, President Droupadi Murmu asserted that there is a need to rise above party politics and undertake concrete measures nationwide. As she mentioned steps taken by the government on the education front, some opposition members were heard shouting “NEET”, the medical entrance exam whose question paper was allegedly leaked according to an investigation by the Bihar Police.

While stressing the government’s unwavering faith in the Constitution and efforts to make it a part of “public consciousness”, President Murmu also invoked the Emergency of 1975, calling it “the biggest and darkest chapter of direct attack on the Constitution.”

The President further projected the achievements of the Modi government over the last 10 years and made special mention of women, youth, farmers and the poor – the four groups PM Modi has been emphasising on in his campaign speeches. She also expressed hope that India would become a developed country in Amrit Kaal, saying that it has already earned respect at the global stage as ‘Vishwabandhu’ (kin of the world).

Meanwhile, Opposition leaders dismissed the President’s address as a “script given by the government” that was “full of lies” and also castigated the government over the repeated mention of the 1975 Emergency. They said there is an “undeclared emergency” in the country and the Constitution is being attacked under the Modi government.

AAP MPs boycott President’s address over arrest of Kejriwal

Meanwhile, AAP MPs boycotted President Murmu’s address to protest against the arrest of party supremo Arvind Kejriwal. The Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal was on Wednesday arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the alleged excise policy scam.

AAP MPs protested against Kejriwal’s arrest outside the Parliament alleging that it “was a gross misuse of investigation agencies”, and boycotted the President’s address, claiming it was written by the Central government, while also maintaining that they had full respect for the President. Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, AAP MP from Sangrur, said the AAP is discussing the matter with its INDIA bloc allies and that the voice of dissent will be raised louder with their support.

Congress writes to LS Speaker Om Birla on ‘Emergency’ reference in Speech

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”. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi met Birla on Thursday and voiced his displeasure over the same, saying it was “clearly political” and could have been avoided.

A letter released by the Congress and written by Venugopal to the Speaker read, “…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.”

On Wednesday, soon after Birla took charge as the Speaker, he read out a resolution condemning the imposition of Emergency on the night of June 25-26, 1975, calling out the Congress and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for its atrocities.

Suspense remains over Deputy Speaker in 18th Lok Sabha

While the 17th Lok Sabha (2019-2024) did not have a Deputy Speaker, sources have told The Indian Express that the 18th Lok Sabha will have a Deputy Speaker. As this newspaper had reported earlier, there is speculation that the post could go to an ally in the ruling alliance. Telugu Desam Party, BJP’s biggest ally, however, has said it has no interest in the role. The INDIA bloc on its part has contended that the post should go to the Opposition as per convention.

Opposition leaders meet to discuss NEET row, new criminal laws

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 alleged NEET-UG irregularities and the new criminal laws that come into force on July 1.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor takes oath as MP

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor was sworn in as a member of the 18th Lok Sabha on Thursday. Holding a copy of the Constitution, the MP from Thiruvananthapuram said “Jai Hind, Jai Samvidhan” as he concluded his oath. Five Lok Sabha MPs, including two independents who are in jail, are yet to take oath. Six newly-elected MPs from Bihar, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh took oath as members of Rajya Sabha today and Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar welcomed the new members.

PM Modi introduces his Council of Ministers in Rajya Sabha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday introduced his Council of Ministers in the Rajya Sabha. He had introduced his Council of Ministers in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday after the election of the Speaker. Leader of the House J P Nadda, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi were among those present during the first day of the 264th session of the Rajya Sabha.