14:47 (IST)
Lok Sabha latest updates
Nama Nageswara Rao of TRS says Centre unfairly depriving south Indian states of funds
The TRS leader said that the fund allocation for Andhra Pradesh, and all other south Indian states has been cut down drastically. He said that Andhra has been demanding funds due to it, and the Centre has shirked its responsibility.
14:35 (IST)
Rajya Sabha latest updates
Bhupender Yadav lauds govt on national security during Motion of Thanks speech
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav lauded the government on the issue of national security, stating that the situation has drastically improved since the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power. The minister also praised the move to appoint a chief of defence staff for better coordination between three wings of the armed forces.
14:22 (IST)
Lok Sabha latest updates
BJP’s Dilip Ghosh calls anti-CAA protests a ‘drama’
Dilip Ghosh of the BJP says that the Citizenship Amendment Act is a historic step and Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be thanked for it. He added that anti-CAA protests are a “drama”.
14:20 (IST)
Rajya Sabha latest updates
Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav moves Motion of Thanks to President’s address
Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav cite statement given by TMC MP Derek O’Brien about his grandfather and his brother living in India and Pakistan respectively in a column written by him. “We have got the citizenship law so that O’Briens remain O’Briens and are not forced to convert to other religions,” Yadav said.
He also hit out at the Shaheen Bagh protests, saying that the agitators are poising young minds, including those of children who are being made to say “hate-filled words”.
14:02 (IST)
Lok Sabha latest updates
No detention camps constructed in Assam, Centre tells Lok Sabha
In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, the Centre said that as per the information received from Assam Government, the state has not constructed any detention camp in Assam exclusively to detain those who do not have documents proving their citizenship under National Register of Citizens (NRIC).
13:56 (IST)
Lok Sabha latest updates
Taking all necessary steps to comply with SC’s Ayodhya judgement, Centre tells LS
On the construction of Ram temple, the Centre informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply that it is taking all necessary steps, including consultation with the state government of Uttar Pradesh, in compliance of the directions contained in the Supreme Court judgment.
13:54 (IST)
Lok Sabha latest updates
15 persons arrested by Delhi Police in relation with Jamia violence, Centre tells Lok Sabha
Centre told the Lok Sabha in a written reply that three cases have been registered by Delhi Police against the mob, who were found involved in unlawful activities and defacing the public property while protesting against CAA at and around Jamia Millia Islamia.
Centre said in the reply that 15 persons have been arrested by Delhi Police. 62 police personnel and 127 persons, including 36 students, were injured. “As reported by Delhi Police, they entered the university campus chasing the violent congregation of students/mob, to nab/disperse the offenders, control the situation and to protect the government property as well to save the lives of innocent student,” the Centre said.
13:41 (IST)
Never said anything about Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, says BJP’s Anantkumar Hegde
BJP MP Anant Kumar Hegde, standing by the statement he made on 1 February, said he never made any reference to any political party or Mahatma Gandhi or anybody else. “I was just trying to categorise the freedom struggle,” he told ANI.
“The speech is in the public domain and if anyone wants to see, it is available online and on my website. I never said a word against Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Nehru,” he added. He further said that all related media reports are false and “unnecessary controversy” is being created.
13:30 (IST)
Lok Sabha latest updates
Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 pm
Opposition members, who had staged a walkout, returned to their seats. A short while after, Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm.
13:20 (IST)
Rajya Sabha latest updates
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned after an uproar over BJP leader Anant Hegde’s remark on Mahatma Gandhi.
13:16 (IST)
Lok Sabha latest updates
RSP’s NK Premachandran says Centre should issue formal statement about coronavirus outbreak
NK Premachandran of the RSP urges the Centre to provide sufficient facilities to students who were evacuated from China and are now under quarantine near Delhi and Haryana. He also says that the Centre should issue a formal statement regarding the outbreak.
12:59 (IST)
Lok Sabha latest updates
Congress members walk out of Lok Sabha
After raising their voices against BJP leader Anantkumar Hegde’s remarks about Mahatma Gandhi, Congress members said they were not being allowed to discuss the issue. Soon after, they walked out of the Lok Sabha.
12:56 (IST)
Lok Sabha latest updates
People not being able to celebrate Saraswati Puja in Bengal, says Locket Chatterjee
BJP MP Locket Chatterjee said that people are not being allowed to celebrate Saraswati Puja, an important festival in West Bengal. “It is similar to Pakistan where Hindus are not allowed to conduct their pujas. Mamata Banerjee and the TMC are doing politics of appeasement,” she said.
12:54 (IST)
Rajya Sabha latest updates
DMK member raises concern about need to appoint HC judges
DMK’s P Wilson said there’s an alarming emergency regarding appointment of judge to the High Courts, adding that most HCs are working at 50 percent of their sanctioned strength.
He also blamed the government for sitting over recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium. “230 names have been recommended by the SC Collegium but the government is causing inordinate delay in clearing those names.” he said. He sought a “mandatory time frame” for acting on the Collegium’s recommendations.
12:38 (IST)
Rajya Sabha latest updates
BJP MPs ask about implementation of Ayushmann Bharat scheme in Delhi, private hospitals
During Question Hour, BJP MP Ashok Bajpai asked why the Ayushmann Bharat scheme is not being implemented in Delhi. In reponse, Health Minister Harsh Varshan said that India has a federal structure and the Centre cannot impose a scheme on the states. Vardhan added that Delhi, West Bengal, Odisha and Telangana are yet to adopt the scheme.
BJP’s Neeraj Shekhar also asked if there is any way to bring private hospitals under the ambit of Ayushman Bharat scheme.
12:18 (IST)
Lok Sabha latest updates
‘They are insulting the follower of Ram’: Protests erupt over Anantkumar Hegde’s Gandhi remark
Raising his voice against BJP leader Anantkumar Hegde’s remark about Mahatma Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, “They (BJP) are insulting the follower of Ram. They are the children of Raavan.”
Union Minister of Parlaimentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi says that BJP members are real ‘bhakts’ and ‘ followers of Mahatma Gandhi, calling the Congress members ‘followers of Sonai Gandhi’. Following his statement, protests intensify.
12:05 (IST)
Lok Sabha latest updates
No love jihad cases in Kerala, MHA tells Lok Sabha
In response to the questions about whether the Government is aware of the observation of Kerala High Court that there is no case of love jihad in Kerala, the Ministry of Home Affairs told the Lok Sabha in a written reply that there are no such cases in the southern state.
The reply added that two cases from Kerala involving inter-faith marriages have been investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
12:00 (IST)
Rajya Sabha latest updates
‘CAA pe halla bol’: Unrelenting Opposition members continue protests in Upper House
Even as Rajya Sabha members raise issues ranging from sale of onions produced in Andhra Pradesh and the cultivation of rabi crops and assistance planned for farmers, Congress members remain in the Well and continue raising slogans like ‘CAA pe halla bol’, ‘BJP pe halla bol‘ (Down with CAA, BJP).
11:45 (IST)
Lok Sabha latest updates
No decision yet to prepare NRC, MoS Home tells Lok Sabha
The government has not taken any decision regarding the preparation of the National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) at the national level, Minister of State Home Nityanand Rai said in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.
Centre also said in the reply that the government is in discussion with the states having concerns in regard to the preparation of National Population Register (NPR).
Questions were raised about whether the Government has any plan to introduce National Register of Citizens (NRC) all over the country, the timeline fixed for implementation of NRC, whether all the state governments are being taken into confidence before introduction of NRC and whether the Government has received any communications from the state governments regarding their refusal to implement the NRC.
11:39 (IST)
Rajya Sabha latest updates
Prakash Javadekar blames state government for delay in 2012 Delhi ganrape convicts’ execution
Speaking in Rajya Sabha in response to AAP’s Sanjay Singh’s notice on expediting the execution of 2012 Delhi gangrape convicts, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said, “The appeal of the convicts was rejected by Supreme Court in 2017 but jail authorities took more than a year to complete the process for informing the convicts. The delay is due to the state government.”
11:34 (IST)
Rajya Sabha latest updates
AAP’s Sanjay Singh seeks speedy execution of 212 Delhi gangrape convicts
AAP MP Sanjay Singh requested for the intervention of the President and Supreme Court for speedy execution of death sentence awarded to the convicts in the 2012 Delhi gangrape case. “Fast track courts were created but the matter is seeing only dates after dates,” he added.
Chairperson M Venkaiah Naidu said that the continuous delay in the execution of the death sentence is “making people restive”.
11:31 (IST)
Rajya Sabha latest updates
India only country to have controlled locust menace
In response to a query about the damage being caused to crops by locusts, Parshottam Pupala, MoS Agriculture, said that world bodies have recognised that India alone has been able to control the menace. “We are conducting dialogues on international about this issue,” he said.
11:14 (IST)
Lok Sabha latest updates
Lok Sabha adjourned till 12 pm amid protests over CAA, Anantkumar Hegde’s statement
After Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla read out the obituary references, Congress members raised protests against CAA, NRC and NRC, demanding a debate on the issue.
Protests were also raised against BJP minister Anant Kumar Hegde’s comment about Mahatma Gandhi’s freedom struggle being framed in collusion with the British. Minutes within the convening of the session, it was adjourned till 12 pm.
11:12 (IST)
Rajya Sabha latest updates
Uproar in House of Elders over CAA, NRC
The proceedings of the Rajya Sabha began on a stormy note as Opposition members raised the slogans and demanded a discussion on CAA, NPR and NRC. Soon after, members started chanting ‘Goli chalana band karo (Stop firing bullets)’ and descended into the Well.
The slogans are an apparent reference to the firing incidents reported within a week’s time at Shaheen Bagh and in Jamia Nagar and the violence witnessed during the protests against CAA, NRC and NPR.
Additonally, TMC MP Derek O’Brien raised his voice against the Chair not taking up the suspension of business notice given by him under Rule 267 over the “prevailing situation in the country due to proposed NPR-NRC following the Citizenship Amendment Act”.
11:05 (IST)
Rajya Sabha latest updates
Congress MPs give adjournment notices over Anantkumar Hegde’s ‘Gandhi’ remark
Congress MPs Gaurav Gogoi, K Suresh, Abdul Khaleque and Hibi Eden have given adjournment motion notices in Lok Sabha over BJP leader Anantkumar Hegde’s statement on Mahatma Gandhi.
Hegde had questioned the freedom movement led by Gandhi, saying it was an “adjustment” with the British, remarks which triggered a huge political row.
11:03 (IST)
Lok Sabha latest updates
Congress MPs give adjournment notices over ‘environment of fear’ due to CAA
Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Choudhary and Congress MP Manickam Tagore have given an adjournment motion notice in the Lower House over the “environment of fear and intimidation in the country due to Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)”.
During the debate on the Motion of Thanks, Chowdhury strongly criticised the situation prevailing in the country since the passage of CAA and due to NRC and NPR. He had said that the government cannot silence people’s “boli” (voice) with “goli” (bullets). When he was allowed to speak during Zero Hour, the Congress leader hit out at the BJP and alleged that even as anti-CAA protestors held the national flag and sang the national anthem, they were fired upon and killed, making a reference to the deaths reported across the country during agitations against the law.
“You are fake Hindus,” he said, adding that if its members were “asli (genuine) Hindus”, they would have behaved differently. “It’s a conspiracy by ruling party to scare and threaten protesters. The ruling party’s goons are doing such things and the government is silent,” he added.
10:37 (IST)
RECAP | CAA won’t be taken back, Congress indulging in vote bank politics, says BJP MP
Speaking while moving the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address in the Lok Sabha, controversial BJP MP Parvesh Verma accused the Congress of indulging in vote bank politics and creating problems like Article 370 during its rule.
“We will not take back CAA. It is a question of the country’s integrity.” He said that “they (Congress) create problems like Article 370 and 35(A)” by their “vote bank politics”, and “we solve them” to strengthen India.
Verma said Lord Rama gives the message of humanity but the Congress linked him with religion, and went on to add that “if opposition members chant ‘Jai Shri Ram‘, their sins will be washed off”. The BJP MP said his government was not of any particular religion.
10:35 (IST)
BJP Parliamentary party meet underway
A Parliamentary party meet of the BJP was held at the Parliament complex ahead of the Budget Session’s third day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the meet.
Delhi: BJP Parliamentary party meeting underway at the Parliament. https://t.co/1dlh1RQCtW pic.twitter.com/d2Qju0DODf
— ANI (@ANI) February 4, 2020
10:30 (IST)
Rajya Sabha latest updates
AAP MP gives notice over death sentence to 2012 Delhi gangrape convicts
AAP MP Sanjay Singh has given a zero hour notice in the Rajya Sabha over the “demand to expedite the death sentence of 2012 Delhi gangrape convicts”.
BJP MP Saroj Pandey has given a zero hour notice in the Rajya Sabha over the “need for One Nation, One Election”.
10:27 (IST)
Rajya Sabha latest updates
TMC, DMK give notices in Rajya Sabha seeking discussion on NPR, NRC
TMC’s Derek O’Brien and DMK’s T Siva have given suspension of business notices in the Rajya Sabha under Rule 267 over the “prevailing situation in the country due to proposed NPR-NRC following the Citizenship Amendment Act”.
Meanwhile, BJP MP RK Sinha gave a zero hour notice over the “anti-India propaganda under the guise of protests against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)”.
10:22 (IST)
About the Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020
Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri will introduce the Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which seeks to amend the British era Aircraft Act, 1934. The Act governs civil aviation in India.
10:18 (IST)
Lok Sabha latest updates
Lok Sabha to discuss Motion of Thanks, day after Opposition members’ protests against CAA, NRC
The Lok Sabha will continue the debate on Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address moved by controversial BJP MP Parvesh Verma, seconded by Kripal Yadav. The Lower House will also take up the Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
On Monday, the Lok Sabha had seen protests by Opposition members even as the Speaker turned down the adjournment notices given keeping in view the anti-CAA, NRC agitations and resultant violence all over the country, apart from the controversial statements by Verma and Union Minister Anurag Thakur.
As soon as the Lok Sabha convened, members of the Congress, CPI, CPM, BSP and TMC demanded that a debate be held on the issues pertaining to the contentious law and the violence witnessed in its wake.
Parliament LATEST Updates: In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, the Centre said that as per the information received from Assam Government, the state has not constructed any detention camp in Assam exclusively to detain those who do not have documents proving their citizenship under National Register of Citizens.
On the construction of Ram temple, the Centre informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply that it is taking all necessary steps, including consultation with the state government of Uttar Pradesh, in compliance of the directions contained in the Supreme Court judgment.
Centre told the Lok Sabha in a written reply that three cases have been registered by Delhi Police against the mob, who were found involved in unlawful activities and defacing the public property while protesting against CAA at and around Jamia Millia Islamia.
BJP MP Anant Kumar Hegde, standing by the statement he made on 1 February, said he never made any reference to any political party or Mahatma Gandhi or anybody else. “I was just trying to categorise the freedom struggle,” he told ANI.
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned after an uproar over BJP leader Anant Hegde’s remark on Mahatma Gandhi.
BJP MP Locket Chatterjee said that people are not being allowed to celebrate Saraswati Puja, an important festival in West Bengal. “It is similar to Pakistan where Hindus are not allowed to conduct their pujas,” she said, criticising TMC and Mamata Banerjee.
DMK’s P Wilson said there’s an alarming emergency regarding appointment of judge to the High Courts, adding that most HCs are working at 50 percent of their sanctioned strength. He also blamed the government for sitting over recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium
During Question Hour, BJP MP Ashok Bajpai asked why the Ayushmann Bharat scheme is not being implemented in Delhi. BJP’s Neeraj Shekhar also asked if there is any way to bring private hospitals under the ambit of Ayushman Bharat scheme.
Raising his voice against BJP leader Anantkumar Hegde’s remark about Mahatma Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, “They (BJP) are insulting the follower of ram. They are the children of Raavan.”
In response to the questions about whether the Government is aware of the observation of Kerala High Court that there is no case of love jihad in Kerala, the Ministry of Home Affairs told the Lok Sabha in a written reply that there are no such cases in the southern state.
The government has not taken any decision regarding the preparation of the National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) at the national level, Minister of State Home Nityanand Rai said in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh requested for the intervention of the President and Supreme Court for speedy execution of death sentence awarded to the convicts in the 2012 Delhi gangrape case. In response, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said, “The appeal of the convicts was rejected by Supreme Court in 2017 but jail authorities took more than a year to complete the process for informing the convicts. The delay is due to the state government.”
In response to a query about the damage being caused to crops by locusts, Parshottam Pupala, MoS Agriculture, said that world bodies have recognised that India alone has been able to control the menace.
The proceedings of the Rajya Sabha began on a stormy note as Opposition members raised the slogans and demanded a discussion on CAA, NPR and NRC. Soon after, members started chanting ‘Goli chalana band karo (Stop firing bullets)’ and descended into the Well.
After Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla read out the obituary references, Congress members raised protests against CAA, NRC and NRC, demanding a debate on the issue. Protests were also raised against BJP minister Anant Kumar Hegde’s comment about Mahatma Gandhi’s freedom struggle being framed in collusion with the British. The House was adjourned till 12 pm.
Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Choudhary and Congress MP Manickam Tagore have given an adjournment motion notice in the Lower House over the “environment of fear and intimidation in the country due to Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)”. Congress MPs Gaurav Gogoi, K Suresh, Abdul Khaleque and Hibi Eden have given adjournment motion notices in Lok Sabha over BJP leader Anantkumar Hegde’s statement on Mahatma Gandhi.
TMC’s Derek O’Brien and DMK’s T Siva have given suspension of business notices in the Rajya Sabha under Rule 267 over the “prevailing situation in the country due to proposed NPR-NRC following the Citizenship Amendment Act”. Meanwhile, BJP MP RK Sinha gave a zero hour notice over the “anti-India propaganda under the guise of protests against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)”.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh has given a zero hour notice in the Rajya Sabha over the “demand to expedite the death sentence of 2012 Delhi gangrape convicts”. BJP MP Saroj Pandey has given a zero hour notice in the Rajya Sabha over the “need for One Nation, One Election”.
A Parliamentary party meet of the BJP was held at the Parliament complex ahead of the Budget Session’s third day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the meet.
On the third day of the Budget session, both the Houses will move and consider a Motion of Thanks in response to President Ram Nath Kovind’s address to a joint sitting of the Parliament on 31 January, in which he hailed the government’s passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act.
The Lok Sabha will continue debate on Motion of Thanks moved by controversial BJP MP Parvesh Verma, seconded by Kripal Yadav. On Monday, the Lok Sabha had seen protests by Opposition members even as the Speaker turned down the adjournment notices given keeping in view the anti-CAA, NRC agitations and resultant violence all over the country, apart from the controversial statements by Verma and Union Minister Anurag Thakur.
As soon as the Lok Sabha convened, members of the Congress, CPI, CPM, BSP and TMC demanded that a debate be held on the issues pertaining to the contentious law and the violence witnessed in its wake. When Thakur, who has been criticised for his ‘shoot the traitors’ remark and given a campaigning ban by the Election Commission, began talking, the outcry by members grew stronger, with slogans ‘Goli maarna band karo, desh ko todna band karo (Stop shooting, stop breaking the nation)’ being raised. The House was adjourned, only to be followed by a walkout by Opposition members when it reconvened and Verma began speaking to move the Motion of Thanks.
Verma on Monday strongly criticised the Congress in the Lok Sabha for opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act and accused the Opposition party of creating problems like Article 370 as part of its “vote bank politics”. “They (the Congress) should know that it is not Rajiv Feroze Khan government, it is Narendra Modi’s government,” he said. “We will not take back CAA. It is a question of the country’s integrity,” asserted Verma.
Widespread protests have been witnessed across India ever since the Parliament passed the Citizenship Amendment Bill in December last year, with many deaths reported in various states. Following controversial statements by Thakur and Verma, three incidents of firing were reported in the Jamia Nagar and Shaheen Bagh areas within a week. Both these areas are epicentres of the protests against CAA and NRC.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri is slated to move the The Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020. Additionally, among the questions submitted for oral answers are those concerning the NRC and plans for its implementation, applications for citizenship received after the CAA came into force, detention centres in Assam, the grant of citizenship to Muslim refugees, love jihad cases in Kerala and the PM-KISAN scheme.
BJP minister Bhupendra Yadav will move a Motion of Thanks to the President’s address in the Rajya Sabha. The Rajya Sabha too had seen repeated adjournments on Monday as members demanded a discussion on CAA and NRC and even trooped into the Well.