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Prime Minister Narendra Modi hails the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill as a major step toward transparency, socio-economic justice, and inclusive growth, despite strong opposition in Parliament.

Parliament's nod to Waqf Bill 'watershed moment': PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hails the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill as a major step toward transparency, socio-economic justice, and inclusive growth, despite strong opposition in Parliament.
&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hailed the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Parliament as a "watershed moment" in the country's collective quest for socio-economic justice, transparency and inclusive growth.
He said this will particularly help those who have long remained on the margins, thus being denied both voice and opportunity.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill by both Houses of Parliament marks a watershed moment in our collective quest for socio-economic justice, transparency and inclusive growth. This will particularly help those who have long remained on&hellip;
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1907982401021816915?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
In posts on X, he said the Waqf system for decades was synonymous with lack of transparency and accountability, especially harming the interests of Muslim women, poor Muslims and Pasmanda Muslims.
He said, "The passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill by both Houses of Parliament marks a watershed moment in our collective quest for socio-economic justice, transparency and inclusive growth."
He added that the legislations passed by Parliament will boost transparency and also safeguard people&rsquo;s rights.
PM Modi said India will now enter an era where the framework will be more modern and sensitive to social justice.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
We will now enter an era where the framework will be more modern and sensitive to social justice. On a larger note, we remain committed to prioritising the dignity of every citizen. This is also how we build a stronger, more inclusive and more compassionate India.
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1907982414842048895?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
He said, "On a larger note, we remain committed to prioritising the dignity of every citizen. This is also how we build a stronger, more inclusive and more compassionate India."
&nbsp;
The prime minister thanked all the members of Parliament who participated in the parliamentary and committee discussions, voiced their perspectives and contributed to the strengthening of these legislations. He offered special thanks to the countless people who sent their valuable inputs to the Parliamentary committee.
He said, "Yet again, the importance of extensive debate and dialogue has been reaffirmed."
The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill last night, a day after the Lok Sabha had given the contentious draft law, opposed strongly by a united opposition, its approval.

India's Parliament approves the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 to unify immigration laws. The move faced opposition but targets global educational and economic standards.

India's 2025 Immigration Bill Approved

The Rajya Sabha passes the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, streamlining India's immigration laws for improved education and economic standards.

Parliament clears Immigration and Foreigners Bill 2025

India's Parliament passes the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 to streamline laws. The bill faced opposition but aims for world-class education and economy.

Parliament approved a bill to regulate immigration, entry and stay of foreigners in India, with the Rajya Sabha giving its nod on Wednesday.
The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 was passed in Lok Sabha on March 27, 2025. The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill by voice vote on Wednesday.
Replying to the discussion on the Bill, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai attacked the previous Congress government and the TMC dispensation in West Bengal for "aiding" illegal immigrants enter the country and "facilitating" their stay by including their names in voters' list and ration cards.
This was strongly objected to by the Congress and TMC members, who along with other opposition parties, staged a walkout from the Upper House.
Rai said, "As many as 26 members expressed their views on the Bill. It was necessary to bring this Bill to make our universities, education system and economy world class level." He explained that the law was scattered and the Bill will unified this legal framework.
About the suggestion on referring the Bill to the standing committee, he stated that this Bill was brought after deep study of three years.
Rai stated that the Immigration Bureau is already in existence which was questioned by members.
The bureau will be the only agency to deal with issues related to immigration and this is the system which is being followed worldwide.
He said that all those people are welcomed in the country who will come here for education and aiding research and development work.

Rahul Gandhi criticizes Speaker Om Birla for stifling opposition voices in Lok Sabha, questioning democratic practices amid rising tensions.

Rahul vs. Om Birla: Tension in Lok Sabha

Rahul Gandhi faces off with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, criticizing him for silencing opposition voices and questioning democratic proceedings.

Rahul Gandhi criticizes Speaker Om Birla for stifling opposition voices in Lok Sabha

Rahul Gandhi accuses Speaker Om Birla of silencing the opposition, highlighting democratic issues during parliamentary proceedings.

In a heated exchange over parliamentary procedures, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi accused Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla of not allowing him to speak, suggesting this as an improper way to conduct the House's proceedings.
Addressing the media, Gandhi expressed frustration, stating, "I requested permission to speak, but the Speaker just walked away. This isn&rsquo;t how the House should be run. He made unsubstantiated comments about me and adjourned the House unnecessarily."
The Congress leader from Rae Bareli emphasized the traditional practice that grants the Leader of the Opposition a platform to address the House. "Every time I stand up, I'm prevented from speaking. We are being silenced. I&rsquo;ve done nothing but remain seated quietly, yet I haven&rsquo;t been allowed to speak for over a week," Gandhi lamented. He further argued that this approach signals a lack of space for Opposition voices, adding, "When the Prime Minister discussed the Kumbh Mela, I wanted to raise unemployment issues but was silenced."
Ahead of adjourning the House, Speaker Om Birla underscored the importance of maintaining decorum.
"Members should adhere to high standards of conduct," Birla noted, referencing Rule 349, which outlines expected behavior in the House. His comments followed last week's uproar when Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on the Maha Kumbh, highlighting the event as a testament to India's global capabilities.
As Modi spoke, Opposition members protested, raising concerns over the Prayagraj stampede casualties. Despite the uproar, Speaker Birla invoked Rule 372, which permits the Prime Minister or any minister to make statements unchallenged.
Reflecting on the session, Gandhi expressed his earnest intentions to reinforce Modi's message on the cultural significance of Kumbh while highlighting the lack of attention to those who perished.
"While Kumbh represents our heritage, the Prime Minister should have acknowledged the tragedy as well," Gandhi said. He also noted that the event should have been an opportunity to discuss job prospects for young attendees.
Addressing the persistent challenges in speaking, he added, "In a democratic setup, the Leader of the Opposition should be heard. But this is the reality in what they call New India."

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla urges Rahul Gandhi to uphold parliamentary decorum by adhering to Rule 349, emphasizing the significance of legislative dignity.

Lok Sabha Speaker's Call to Rahul Gandhi

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla urges Rahul Gandhi to uphold parliamentary decorum

Speaker Om Birla stresses maintaining Lok Sabha dignity, urging Rahul Gandhi to adhere to Rule 349 for conduct.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday asked Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi to follow the rules of procedure that members are expected to observe to uphold the dignity of the House.
It was not immediately clear what was the reason for the Speaker to make the observation.
The Speaker said members are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that upholds the high standards and dignity of the House.
"Several instances have come to my notice where the conduct of members does not conform to the high standards," the Speaker said.
"In this House, father and daughter, mother and daughter, husband and wife have been members. In this context, I expect the Leader of the Opposition to conduct himself in accordance with Rule 349 that deals with rules to be observed by members in the House," the Speaker said.
"Especially, it is expected of the Leader of the Opposition to conduct himself as per the rules," the Speaker said.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced the addition of six new languages—Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Manipuri, Urdu, and Sanskrit—for translation services in Parliament, emphasizing linguistic inclusivity.

Lok Sabha expands translation services to six more languages, including Sanskrit

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced the addition of six new languages&mdash;Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Manipuri, Urdu, and Sanskrit&mdash;for translation services in Parliament, emphasizing linguistic inclusivity.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday announced that translation services in Parliament have been expanded to include six additional languages: Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Manipuri, Urdu, and Sanskrit.&nbsp;
While addressing the House, Birla noted that previously, translation services were available in 10 languages&mdash;Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, and Telugu&mdash;along with Hindi and English.
"Now, we have also included six more languages&mdash;Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Manipuri, Urdu, and Sanskrit. Along with this, for the additional 16 languages, as human resources become available, we are making efforts to provide simultaneous translations in those as well," he said.
Highlighting India's commitment to linguistic diversity, Birla emphasized that the country's parliamentary system is a democratic framework offering translation services in multiple languages.&nbsp;
"When I discussed at the global level that we are making this effort in 22 languages in India, everyone on the international platforms praised it. Our effort is that, for the 22 languages that are officially recognized, we aim to include them in the future as well," he stated.
However, the announcement faced opposition from DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran, who questioned the necessity of including Sanskrit in the simultaneous translation services. Maran argued that Sanskrit is spoken by only a small fraction of the population and questioned the expenditure of public funds on it.&nbsp;
"It is not communicable in any of the states in India. Nobody is speaking that. 2011 population survey said that only 73,000 people are supposed to be speaking. Why should the taxpayer's money be wasted because of your RSS ideologies?" Maran remarked.
Responding to the criticism, Speaker Om Birla strongly defended the decision, questioning Maran&rsquo;s objection to Sanskrit&rsquo;s inclusion. "This is India, whose 'Mool Bhasha' has been Sanskrit. That's why we mentioned 22 languages, not just Sanskrit. Why did you have an issue with Sanskrit?" Birla asked.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed Rajya Sabha that GST rates have reduced significantly, dropping from 15.8% under the previous tax regime to 11.3% now. She emphasized that no items have seen a tax increase under GST.

GST rates reduced over time, no increase on any item: Nirmala Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed Rajya Sabha that GST rates have reduced significantly, dropping from 15.8% under the previous tax regime to 11.3% now. She emphasized that no items have seen a tax increase under GST.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday informed the Rajya Sabha that indirect taxes under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) have significantly decreased since its implementation. She noted that the average tax rate under the previous indirect tax regime stood at 15.8%, whereas under GST, it has now dropped to 11.3%.
Responding to a query from Nadimul Haque, a Member of Parliament from the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) representing West Bengal, Sitharaman emphasized the progressive reduction in GST rates. She stated, "Earlier the tax levied on everyday item 15.8 per cent tax could have been levied without additionally burdening the buyer, consumer. If that was the rate at which the GST rates were brought in, today... the rate has come down to 11.3 per cent. That is the level of reduction of rates which have happened in the GST Council."
She further highlighted that GST has not led to increased taxes on any items but has instead resulted in tax reductions for many products.
During the session, MP Haque also inquired whether the government intended to simplify the GST structure by reducing the number of tax slabs, similar to the reforms implemented in income tax.&nbsp;
In response, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Choudhary underscored the role of the GST Council, established under Article 279A of the Constitution, as a prime example of cooperative federalism. He explained that all GST-related decisions are made collectively by the Council, which includes finance ministers from all states.
To streamline GST rates, Choudhary stated that a Group of Ministers (GoM) was constituted after the 45th GST Council meeting. Chaired by the Karnataka Finance Minister, the GoM was assigned the task of reviewing and recommending changes to simplify the GST rate structure.
Addressing the issue of GST rate determination, Sitharaman clarified that these decisions are not made unilaterally by the central government. "It is not a singular decision of the Government of India; it has to be a decision of the Council," she said. She further emphasized that state finance ministers are fully empowered to discuss and suggest modifications in GST rates based on their state&rsquo;s requirements, which are then deliberated upon in GST Council meetings.
Sitharaman encouraged states seeking changes in GST rates to approach the GST Council through their respective finance ministers. The Council, comprising representatives from both central and state governments, convenes regularly to review tax policies and implement necessary adjustments to maintain a balanced and equitable taxation system.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar confirms that the US is following its 2013 deportation procedures for Indian nationals and assures that deportees are treated fairly. 

Engaging with U.S. to ensure Indian deportees are treated fairly: EAM S Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar confirms that the US is following its 2013 deportation procedures for Indian nationals and assures that deportees are treated fairly.&nbsp;

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, discussing the recent deportation of Indian nationals by the United States.&nbsp;
He emphasized that it is the obligation of all countries to take back their nationals if they are found living illegally abroad and reaffirmed that the Indian government is actively engaging with U.S. authorities to ensure that deportees are not mistreated.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Speaking in Rajya Sabha. <a href="https://t.co/t7EnlHYvtn">https://t.co/t7EnlHYvtn</a>
&mdash; Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1887419363805811071?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Jaishankar explained that deportations by the U.S. are handled by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and follow a standard operating procedure (SOP) for deportation flights, which has been in place since 2012.&nbsp;
He noted that the SOP includes the use of restraints but clarified that women and children are not restrained. Additionally, the needs of deportees, such as food, medical emergencies, and toilet breaks, are addressed during transit.&nbsp;
"The needs of deportees, including during transit, related to food and other necessities, including possible medical emergencies, are attended to. During toilet breaks, deportees are temporarily unrestrained if needed in that regard," Jaishankar stated.
Jaishankar also made it clear that the procedures for the February 5, 2025, deportation flight were no different from previous deportations.&nbsp;
"There has been no change, I repeat, no change from past procedures for the flight undertaken by the US on 5 February 2025," Jaishankar reiterated.&nbsp;
The Indian government is closely monitoring the situation and is ensuring that the deportees are treated with dignity and respect.
"The US Air Force plane carrying Indian citizens who allegedly illegally migrated to the US arrived in Punjab's Amritsar on Wednesday. As many as 104 Indian nationals were onboard the plane," Jaishankar confirmed.&nbsp;
He highlighted that the deportation process is not new and has been ongoing for several years, with deportations from the U.S. dating back to 2009.
Jaishankar also acknowledged the negative effects of illegal migration, linking it to other illegal activities and noting that migrants can fall victim to inhuman conditions and crimes.&nbsp;
He said, "Illegal mobility and migration has many other associated activities also of an illegal nature. Moreover, crores of our citizens who have been invagled into illegal movement, themselves become prey to other crimes, they are trapped into both moving and working under inhuman conditions. Members are aware that unfortunately, there have even been fatalities in the course of such illegal migration."
Jaishankar stressed that the process of deportation is standard and has been ongoing for years. He presented the deportation statistics for U.S. deportations since 2009, showing fluctuating numbers, with the most recent year (2025) seeing 104 deportees. The total number of deportations from the U.S. over the years is as follows:
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>2009: 734</li>
<li>2010: 799</li>
<li>2011: 597</li>
<li>2012: 530</li>
<li>2013: 515</li>
<li>2014: 591</li>
<li>2015: 708</li>
<li>2016: 1303</li>
<li>2017: 1024</li>
<li>2018: 1180</li>
<li>2019: 2042</li>
<li>2020: 1889</li>
<li>2021: 805</li>
<li>2022: 862</li>
<li>2023: 617</li>
<li>2024: 1368</li>
<li>2025: 104</li>
</ul>
Jaishankar also reiterated that illegal migration and the human trafficking industry need to be strongly addressed. "We are engaging the US government to ensure that the returning deportees are not mistreated in any manner during the flight," he said.&nbsp;
The government is taking necessary preventive and exemplary actions based on information provided by deportees about the agents and others involved in illegal migration.
A U.S. Embassy spokesperson earlier remarked that the U.S. is tightening its immigration laws and rigorously enforcing its border controls. "These actions send a clear message that illegal migration is not worth the risk," the spokesperson said, further underlining the U.S. commitment to curbing illegal migration.

Opposition MPs, including Gurjeet Aujla and Shashi Tharoor, protested in Parliament over the deportation of over 100 Indian nationals from the US, criticizing the inhumane treatment they received.

Opposition MPs protest over inhumane deportation of Indian nationals from US

Opposition MPs, including Gurjeet Aujla and Shashi Tharoor, protested in Parliament over the deportation of over 100 Indian nationals from the US, criticizing the inhumane treatment they received.

Opposition MPs protested on Thursday in Parliament, demanding a discussion regarding the recent deportation of over 100 Indian nationals from the United States.&nbsp;
Several MPs, including Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla, were seen participating in the protest, wearing handcuffs to highlight their concerns.&nbsp;
Aujla voiced his criticism, stating, &ldquo;The way they were brought in was wrong. They were humiliated. Their hands and feet were chained. When our government already knew that they were going to be deported, then they should have sent a commercial flight to bring them back.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Delhi: On US deporting Indian migrants, Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla says, "The way they were brought in was wrong. They were humiliated. Their hands and feet were chained. When our government already knew that they were going to be deported, then they should have&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/7bOYkCVDWz">pic.twitter.com/7bOYkCVDWz</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1887369270528778252?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Aujla further explained, &ldquo;They went there illegally, but they did not commit any huge crime after going there... We have given a notice to the Speaker and there may be a discussion on this.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Along with Aujla, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav, and other leaders joined the protest outside Parliament, also wearing handcuffs. They claimed that the deported Indians had been subjected to inhumane treatment.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | MPs of the opposition parties including Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav hold a protest outside the parliament over the issue of deportation of alleged illegal Indian&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/aUCpbEOK1Q">pic.twitter.com/aUCpbEOK1Q</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1887395925146149037?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The protesters carried placards reading &ldquo;humans, not prisoners.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav says, "Those who were showing the dream of making India Vishwaguru, why are they silent now? Indian citizens are deported to India by being handcuffed like slaves and in inhumane conditions. What the external affairs ministry is&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/bKpmXI54XV">https://t.co/bKpmXI54XV</a> <a href="https://t.co/1Ugjar98GY">pic.twitter.com/1Ugjar98GY</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1887398842032959860?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
 Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said, "Those who were showing the dream of making India Vishwaguru, why are they silent now? Indian citizens are deported to India by being handcuffed like slaves and in inhumane conditions. What the external affairs ministry is doing? What did the govt do to protect children and women from this disrespect? We want the government to reply to this and allow the opposition to discuss the issue in parliament..."
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | On deportation of alleged illegal Indian immigrants from the US, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra says, "A lot of things were said that President Trump and PM Modi are very good friends. Why did PM Modi let this happen? Couldn't we have sent our own aircraft to bring&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/Y8K4HZTN4Q">pic.twitter.com/Y8K4HZTN4Q</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1887398748982288608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra questioned why Prime Minister Modi allowed the situation to unfold, saying, &ldquo;A lot of things were said that President Trump and PM Modi are very good friends. Why did PM Modi let this happen? Couldn't we have sent our own aircraft to bring them back? Is this how humans are behaved with? That they are sent back handcuffed and shackled?... EAM and PM should answer.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi says, "I am very disappointed with this conduct of the American Govt. America and India share good relations, but the manner in which they have sent back more than 100 Indian nationals handcuffed and their feet shackled in a military plane is&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/1k9fZME0Ii">pic.twitter.com/1k9fZME0Ii</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1887369040982909372?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi also expressed his disappointment with the treatment, saying, &ldquo;I am very disappointed with this conduct of the American government. America and India share good relations, but the manner in which they have sent back more than 100 Indian nationals handcuffed and their feet shackled in a military plane is absolutely inhumane. I am surprised that the PM is silent. Why is MEA silent?... I think MEA and PM should make a statement about this.&rdquo;
Congress has submitted an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha, urging a discussion on the deportation issue. The motion states, &ldquo;This House must urgently address the issue to prevent further dehumanisation of our people and to uphold the dignity of every Indian, both at home and abroad.&rdquo;&nbsp;
The Lok Sabha was adjourned until 2 pm due to the ruckus over the issue. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated that he would address the Rajya Sabha on the matter at 2 pm.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said, "It&rsquo;s not the first time we&rsquo;ve had people deported. It&rsquo;s just that the media has suddenly woken up to this story because Mr. Trump has done it a bit quicker than people expected. But last year, under the Biden Administration, over 1,100 Indians were deported back.&rdquo;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, "We are protesting precisely this issue, that the manner in which the US did what they did was really unacceptable. We believe they have a legal right to deport people who are illegally in their country. And if they are proven to be&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/3nb34ql1tH">pic.twitter.com/3nb34ql1tH</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1887400624310177823?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Tharoor added, &ldquo;If you are in the US illegally, the US has the right to deport you, and if your identity as an Indian is confirmed, then India has an obligation to accept you. So, in both cases, there really isn't much debate. However, it wasn&rsquo;t good to hear that they were brought back forcibly in a military plane, handcuffed, and so on. That was quite unnecessary. It should have been enough to put them on a commercial aircraft or civilian plane and send them back. If you want to do a mass deportation, do it on civilian charters. That would have been the more humane thing to do. They may have broken your laws by entering your country, but by and large, they have no bad intentions.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A short thread on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/indiansdeported?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#indiansdeported</a> from the US: The media kerfuffle over the deportation of 150+ illegal Indian migrants from the United States yesterday obscures a few facts: 1. This is not the first such planeload, nor is it directly related to the ascent of <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a>.&hellip;
&mdash; Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShashiTharoor/status/1886779095603929254?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Tharoor further tweeted, "There were 1100 Indians deported in the previous fiscal year (ending September 2024), under Biden, not Trump. 2. As of 2022, there were 725,000 undocumented Indian immigrants in the US - the third-largest group, outnumbered only by nationals of Mexico and El Salvador. 3. Since October 2020, US Customs and Border Protection officials have detained nearly 170,000 Indian migrants attempting to cross the border illegally from either Canada or Mexico. They are all subject to deportation."
A US Embassy spokesperson addressed the situation on Tuesday, stating that specific details could not be shared. The spokesperson emphasized, "The United States is vigorously enforcing its border and immigration laws." They added, "These actions send a clear message: illegal migration is not worth the risk."

In his speech during the Motion of Thanks in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi criticized the 'Make in India' initiative, claiming it failed to address the country's manufacturing decline and youth unemployment.

Rahul Gandhi calls 'Make in India' initiative a 'failure'

In his speech during the Motion of Thanks in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi criticized the 'Make in India' initiative, claiming it failed to address the country's manufacturing decline and youth unemployment.

Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi during a speech in the Lok Sabha on Monday, expressed his views on India's economic performance, specifically focusing on the Make in India initiative, which he claimed has failed.&nbsp;
Gandhi was addressing the Motion of Thanks (MoT) on the President&rsquo;s address when he criticized the lack of new ideas in the President's speech, noting that it had sounded repetitive and similar to previous years.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BudgetSession2025?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BudgetSession2025</a> | Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says "I must say, I struggled through the President's address to maintain my attention on what was being said because I had heard pretty much the same President's address the last time and the time before that. It&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/krBCXH6i5S">pic.twitter.com/krBCXH6i5S</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1886337604481941599?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
"I heard the President's address. I sat there with Kharge Ji, and I listened to it. I must say, I struggled through the President's address to maintain my attention on what was being said because I had heard pretty much the same Presidential address last time, the time before that, and the time before that," Gandhi remarked.
He continued, adding, "It was the same list of things the government has done. 'We've done this, we've done that'... 50 or 100 things the government has done."
He reflected on the need for a new direction and pondered, "What type of Presidential address should be delivered, and how would that address be different from what we heard?"
Gandhi emphasized the importance of focusing on the country's production and laid out what an alternative address might look like, especially from the perspective of the INDIA bloc.&nbsp;
He stated that youth unemployment continues to be a significant issue, which both the UPA and NDA governments have failed to address adequately.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi says, "...Even though we have grown, we've grown fast, growing slightly slower now but we are growing. A universal problem that we have faced is that we have not been able to tackle the problem of unemployment. Neither the UPA govt nor today's&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/RIzjEusYv1">pic.twitter.com/RIzjEusYv1</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1886338272672330046?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
"Neither the UPA government nor the NDA government has given a clear-cut answer to youth unemployment. I don't think anybody will disagree with that," he said.
Pointing out the decline in the manufacturing sector, Gandhi highlighted that the share of manufacturing in India's GDP had decreased from 15.3 percent in 2014 to 12.6 percent in 2025.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BudgetSession2025?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BudgetSession2025</a> | Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says "The Prime Minister proposed the 'Make in India' program, I think it was a good idea...The result is right in front of you, manufacturing fell from 15.3% of GDP in 2014 to 12.6% of GDP today, which is the lowest&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/tyhkT79rvu">pic.twitter.com/tyhkT79rvu</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1886340334411714723?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&ldquo;The PM proposed the Make in India program. I think it was a good idea; we saw the statue, we saw the logo, we saw the investment, and the result is right in front of you. Manufacturing fell from 15.3 percent of GDP in 2014 to 12.6 percent of GDP today. That is the lowest share of manufacturing in history," Gandhi explained.
Although acknowledging that the idea behind Make in India was sound, he stated, "I would not blame this on the Prime Minister; it is unfair to say that he did not try. I think the Prime Minister tried, and I think conceptually, Make in India was a good idea, but it is pretty clear that it failed."
He went on to discuss the broader problem of production in India, asserting that the country has failed in organizing production.
"Pretty much every government since 1990 has done a decent job in consumption. But as a country, we have failed in organizing production," he said.&nbsp;
Gandhi further criticized the reliance on imports from China, emphasizing that many products labeled as "Made in India" are merely assembled in the country, while the actual components come from China.
Holding up his phone in the Lok Sabha, he remarked, "All the components of this phone are made in China. The network that is produced is made in China."
Gandhi urged a stronger focus on domestic production, stating, "So the first message I would give in a Presidential address is to focus completely on production." He warned that without focusing on production, India would face a significant deficit, rising inequality, and various economic challenges.
He also highlighted the ongoing revolution in electric vehicles and energy production, noting, "We are moving from petrol to batteries. We are moving to wind, solar, and potentially nuclear energy."&nbsp;
Reflecting on past achievements, Gandhi recalled how the Congress government successfully harnessed the computer revolution, stating, "The government of India had a clear focus; we looked at that revolution. It was a Congress government, and we decided we were going to focus on the development of software, and we rode that wave of that revolution."
Gandhi concluded by referencing the Russia-Ukraine war, framing it as part of a broader technological shift.&nbsp;
"The actual war is between an internal combustion machine and the motor. The electric motor is inside the drone, and the machine is in the tank," he said, noting how drones are now replacing traditional tanks in warfare.

Opposition MPs cause disruptions in Parliament on the second day of the Budget Session, raising concerns over the Mahakumbh stampede incident. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla criticizes the opposition, urging MPs to focus on discussions.

Budget Session: Opposition MPs disrupt Parliament over Mahakumbh stampede

Opposition MPs cause disruptions in Parliament on the second day of the Budget Session, raising concerns over the Mahakumbh stampede incident. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla criticizes the opposition, urging MPs to focus on discussions.

A political storm unfolded on the second day of the Budget Session in both the Lower and Upper Houses of Parliament, as opposition MPs vocally protested against the government on various issues, including the Mahakumbh stampede incident.&nbsp;
Opposition members disrupted proceedings by continuously raising slogans, prompting Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to rebuke them.&nbsp;
"People of India elected you as MPs not for breaking tables, for sloganeering and disturbing House proceedings, but to hold discussions," Birla said. He also questioned the opposition, asking, "Have the people of India elected you as MPs for sloganeering and disturbing House proceedings?"
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Opposition MPs in Lok Sabha raise slogans against Uttar Pradesh's Yogi Adityanath government over Maha Kumbh stampede issue (Video source: Sansad TV/YouTube) <a href="https://t.co/8Fl2KXlY9a">pic.twitter.com/8Fl2KXlY9a</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1886300048574828627?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha also saw disruptions, with opposition MPs staging a walkout over the handling of the Mahakumbh stampede. The incident, which occurred during the second Shahi Snan on Mouni Amawasya, claimed at least 30 lives and left about 60 others injured. Opposition leaders criticized the government's response to the tragedy.
In the wake of the stampede, the government formed a three-member judicial commission to investigate the incident. The commission will look into the causes and circumstances surrounding the stampede and will make recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future. The report from the commission is expected within one month.
The Budget Session began on January 31 with President Droupadi Murmu's joint address to both Houses. The first part of the session will run until February 13, with the Houses reconvening on March 10 after a recess, before the session concludes on April 4.

As the Budget session of Parliament begins, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasizes that this is the first session without foreign interference since 2014.

First time since 2014 no foreign attempts to stoke trouble before Parliament session: PM Modi

As the Budget session of Parliament begins, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasizes that this is the first session without foreign interference since 2014.

As the Budget Session 2025-26 begins, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted that this is the first Parliament session since 2014 where he witnessed "no foreign interference."&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BudgetSession?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BudgetSession</a> | PM Narendra Modi says, "You must have noticed, since 2014, this is the first Parliament session, which saw no 'videshi chingari' (foreign interference) in our affairs, in which no foreign forces tried to ignite a fire. I had noticed this before every&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/WWPDw0LGmS">pic.twitter.com/WWPDw0LGmS</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1885192863765717361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Speaking to the media before heading into Parliament, PM Modi said, "You must have noticed, since 2014, this is the first Parliament session, which saw no 'videshi chingari' (foreign interference) in our affairs, in which no foreign forces tried to ignite a fire. I had noticed this before every budget session. And many in our country leave no stone unturned to fan these sparks. This is the first session without any foreign meddling."
Focusing on the government's priorities for its third term, PM Modi emphasized that the key areas of "Innovation, inclusion, and investment" have been crucial in the nation&rsquo;s economic progress.&nbsp;
He noted, "In the third term, in the Mission MODE, we will make the country head towards all-round development, whether it is geographical, social, or economic. We are heading towards Mission MODE. Innovation, inclusion and investment have been primary in our economic growth."
He further reiterated the importance of reform, performance, and transformation. "Reform, perform and transform. When we have to achieve the pace of development, the most emphasis is on reform, and central and state governments have to perform, and transformation can be witnessed through public participation," the Prime Minister added.
The Prime Minister also touched on the key legislative business expected during the session.&nbsp;
"In this session, as always, many historic bills will be discussed in the House, and after extensive brainstorming, they will become laws that will strengthen the nation. Specially to re-establish the pride of women power, to ensure that every woman gets a respectable life and equal rights without any discrimination of caste and creed; many important decisions will be taken in this session in this direction," he stated.
PM Modi also expressed optimism about the young generation benefiting the most from the vision of Viksit Bharat. "Ours is a young nation, and today 20-25-year-olds will be the greatest beneficiaries of Viksit Bharat by the time they will be 50 years old... They will be at the helm of policymaking... The efforts to fulfil our vision of Viksit Bharat will be a huge gift for our young generation."
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BudgetSession?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BudgetSession</a> | PM Modi says, "Ours is a young nation, and today 20-25-year-olds will be the greatest beneficiaries of Viksit Bharat by the time they will be 50 years old...They will be at the helm of policymaking... The efforts to fulfil our vision of Viksit Bharat&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/H7vtn4huNF">pic.twitter.com/H7vtn4huNF</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1885193282311119064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
He went on to describe this Budget session as a "golden opportunity" for MPs, especially young ones, to contribute to strengthening Viksit Bharat.&nbsp;
"In this budget session, all MPs will contribute to strengthening Viksit Bharat, especially the young MPs, since it is a golden opportunity for them. They will be witness to Viksit Bharat... I hope that we will stand up to the hopes and expectations of people..." he said.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | PM Modi says, "In this budget session, all MPs will contribute to strengthening Viksit Bharat, especially the young MPs, since it is a golden opportunity for them. They will be witness to the Viksit Bharat... I hope that we will stand up to the hopes and expectations of&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/2s9VHJnrLp">pic.twitter.com/2s9VHJnrLp</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1885194059444339102?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
Before the start of the session, the Prime Minister also paid his respects, saying, "Ahead of the Budget Session, I bow down to Maa Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity..."
The Budget session of Parliament will begin with President Droupadi Murmu addressing the joint sitting of both Houses. Following this, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Economic Survey ahead of the Union Budget, which will be presented on Saturday.&nbsp;
The Economic Survey, prepared by the Ministry of Finance's Economic Division under the guidance of the Chief Economic Adviser, will provide insights into the current state of the economy, along with outlooks for the fiscal year 2024-25.
Several significant bills are expected to be discussed, including the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which aims to strengthen banking oversight, and the Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024, focusing on improving the efficiency of Indian Railways. Other notable bills include the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024, the Boilers Bill, 2024, the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024, and the Finance Bill, 2025.
The first part of the Budget session will continue until February 13, after which Parliament will reconvene on March 10 following a recess, with the session concluding on April 4.

The Budget Session of Parliament 2025 kicks off with President Droupadi Murmu’s address, followed by the presentation of the Economic Survey by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Budget session begins today; Finance Minister to present Economic Survey

The Budget Session of Parliament 2025 kicks off with President Droupadi Murmu&rsquo;s address, followed by the presentation of the Economic Survey by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

The Budget Session of Parliament begins today, with President Droupadi Murmu addressing a joint sitting of both Houses at 11 AM. Following this, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Economic Survey ahead of the Union Budget announcement on Saturday. The survey will be tabled in the Lok Sabha at noon and in the Rajya Sabha at 2 PM.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla have arrived at Parliament as the session gets underway.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Delhi | PM Modi arrives in Parliament as the Budget session begins today <a href="https://t.co/Iz00rcnw5r">pic.twitter.com/Iz00rcnw5r</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1885189001453461874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Several Union Ministers, including Home Minister Amit Shah, are also present.
The Economic Survey, prepared by the Economic Division of the Department of Economic Affairs under the supervision of the Chief Economic Adviser, provides an analysis of the economy's performance for 2024-25 and offers projections for the next fiscal year. This session is expected to take up several key legislative proposals, including the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aimed at enhancing banking regulations, and the Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seeks to improve railway operations.
Other notable bills on the agenda include the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which aims to bolster disaster response mechanisms, and the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, alongside the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, both of which propose reforms in religious endowment management. The Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024, will introduce updates to oil exploration laws, while the Boilers Bill, 2024, focuses on strengthening industrial safety standards.
Additionally, the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024, seeks to restructure assembly constituencies for better tribal representation. Maritime laws will also see reforms with the Bills of Lading Bill, 2024, Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2024, Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024, and the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024. The Finance Bill, 2025, remains a crucial legislative item, as it will implement budgetary proposals and tax reforms announced by the Finance Minister on February 1.
Other key bills include the Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025, which aims to safeguard aviation-related financial interests, and the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, which will introduce changes to immigration laws.
The session will also feature discussions on the Demands for Grants for 2025-26, which outline government spending plans across various sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, and defense. Following the discussions, the Appropriation Bill will be introduced and passed to authorize these expenditures. Additionally, the Second and Final Batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2024-25 will be reviewed to accommodate unanticipated government expenses.
Further, the session will address the Demands for Excess Grants for 2021-22, covering additional funds required beyond initial budget allocations. These demands will undergo discussion, voting, and approval through an accompanying Appropriation Bill.
Following an all-party meeting on Thursday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that "tentatively 16 items of legislative business and three items of financial business have been identified for being taken up during this session." He also confirmed that the government is prepared to discuss any other pressing issues as per parliamentary procedures.
The first phase of the Budget Session will run until February 13, after which both Houses will reconvene on March 10 following a recess. The session is scheduled to conclude on April 4.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2025 on February 1 at 11 a.m., continuing the paperless tradition.

Budget 2025: When and were to watch Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's 8th consecutive budget

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2025 on February 1 at 11 a.m., continuing the paperless tradition.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Union Budget 2025 on Saturday, February 1, marking her 8th consecutive budget.
This will also be the second full-fledged financial budget of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in its third term.
Following the trend set in recent years, the Union Budget will be entirely paperless, reflecting the government&rsquo;s commitment to digitization.
<h3>What is the Union Budget?</h3>
The Union Budget is the government's financial blueprint for the upcoming fiscal year, detailing expected revenues, expenditures, and fiscal policies.
Covering the period from April 1 to March 31, the budget shapes the nation&rsquo;s economic priorities, allocates resources across sectors, and proposes changes to key legislation such as the Income-tax Act of 1961.
Often referred to as the "bahi-khaata" since 2019, the budget also reflects broader fiscal strategies and economic policies.
<h3>Date, Time, and Venue</h3>
The Union Budget 2025 will be presented in Parliament at 11 a.m. on February 1 by Finance Minister Sitharaman, continuing the tradition of annual budget presentations in the Lok Sabha.
<h3>Budget Preparation Timeline</h3>
Work on the Union Budget 2025 began in October 2024, with extensive consultations between the Finance Ministry and various government departments to finalize financial estimates and priorities.
In December 2024, Prime Minister Modi held discussions with economists and industry leaders to gather insights and refine the budget framework.
<h3>Where to watch the Union Budget Presentation</h3>
The live presentation of the budget can be viewed on:
Television: Doordarshan, Sansad TV, and other official government channels Online Streaming: Government and other media YouTube channels Live Blogs: Websites that provide real-time updates and analysis
<h3>Digital Access to Budget Documents</h3>
The full set of budget documents, including the Annual Financial Statement, Finance Bill, and Demand for Grants, will be available for download on the official Union Budget website (<a href="https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/" target="_blank">www.indiabudget.gov.in</a>) and through the Union Budget Mobile App. Users can access the documents in both Hindi and English for convenience.
<h3>Halwa Ceremony</h3>
The Halwa Ceremony, an annual tradition, marks the commencement of the "lock-in" phase for budget preparation. Held at the North Block, this ceremony involves the preparation of the Indian sweet dish halwa in a large kadhai.
The Finance Minister leads the ceremony by stirring the kadhai and serving the halwa to the officials involved in drafting the budget. This gesture is a token of appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the Finance Ministry team.
The Halwa Ceremony also signifies the start of printing budget documents, paving the way for their presentation in Parliament. It is a symbolic and celebratory moment in the budget-making process.
This year, the ceremony was held on January 24, where the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, inspected the Budget Press facilities, and conveyed her best wishes to the officials involved in the process.
<h3>Significance of the Ceremony</h3>
The halwa ceremony holds great significance as it marks the commencement of the finance ministry's lockdown period.
During this phase, officials involved in budget preparation remain within the ministry compound and are only allowed to leave after the Union Budget is officially presented in Parliament.
Since 1980, the printing of the budget has been a secured process conducted in the basement of the North Block.
The 2025 budget session of Parliament is scheduled to begin on January 31 and conclude on April 4. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget on February 1.
On January 31, President Droupadi Murmu will address a joint session of both houses of Parliament. Following an inter-session break from February 14, the two houses will reconvene on March 10 to continue their sittings.

Parliament concluded its Winter Session on December 20, 2024, with tensions running high over political disputes, particularly regarding alleged insults to B.R. Ambedkar. Despite the disruptions, the session saw the introduction of landmark bills.

Parliament Adjourned Amid Controversy, With Key Bills Introduced

The Lok Sabha's productivity was nearly 58 per cent, according to its secretariat, a far cry from days when it hovered around 100 per cent and even beyond.

Parliament was adjourned sine die on Friday, capping off a tumultuous session that saw a robust debate on the country's constitutional journey and the introduction of two landmark bills on simultaneous elections before plunging to a new low of political animosity over alleged insult of B R Ambedkar.
As Parliament met on the last day of Winter Session, the overhang of mutual bitterness involving the ruling National Democratic Alliance and opposition parties following Thursday's spat persisted, forcing Speaker Om Birla in Lok Sabha to adjourn the House within three minutes without even the customary summing up of the Session's highlights.
It was only a little better in Rajya Sabha as opposition parties, which have been protesting against Home Minister Amit Shah's alleged insulting comments for Ambedkar, agreed to let Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar read out his valedictory remarks before adjourning the House sine die.
The Lok Sabha's productivity was nearly 58 per cent, according to its secretariat, a far cry from days when it hovered around 100 per cent and even beyond.
In his concluding remarks, Dhankhar called upon parties to rise above political differences and restore the sanctity of parliamentary discourse, striking a note of balance amid opposition's charge that he has often been partisan.
He said the House effectively functioned for just 43 hours and 27 minutes with a productivity of merely 40.03 percent during the Winter Session that began on November 25.
At a press conference, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju laid the blame on the door of opposition, especially the Congress, saying their continuous protest despite an earlier agreement to allow Parliament to run was the principal reason behind the low productivity.
He said all parties must reflect on what is a matter of great concern, adding that as the minister in-charge of parliamentary affairs he will continue to reach out to opposition leaders.
During the Session, five bills were introduced in Lok Sabha, which passed four of them. The Rajya Sabha passed three bills. A special session was also held in the 'Samvidhan Sadan' to commemorate the Constitution Day on November 26.
If Thursday's pushing and shoving involving MPs of rival parties, which left two BJP members hospitalised and led to a police case against Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, was the low point of the Session, a spirited discussion on the "Glorious journey of 75 years of the Constitution of India" for two days in each House reflected the best of parliamentary debate.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's sharp denunciation of the Congress, especially the Nehru-Gandhi family, for its "mutilation" of constitutional values was heard by opposition benches in the Lok Sabha without any serious disruption, and so was Home Minister Amit Shah's reply to the debate in Rajya Sabha.
However, opposition parties seized on a couple of sentences of Shah's reply to accuse him of insulting B R Ambedkar, the architect of India's Constitution, and launch protests inside and outside Parliament.
The BJP-led NDA MPs led counter protests, accusing the Congress of slighting Ambedkar and ignoring his legacy during its long decades in power.
As Modi led Shah's defence and counterattack on the Congress, both sides turned up political heat, which blew up in an ugly spat on Parliament's premises on Thursday. Both sides lodged police complaints against each other, and an FIR was registered against Gandhi, blamed by the BJP for injuries to two of its MPs.
Speaker Birla warned all parties against holding protests at the entrance, the site of the spat on Thursday, of Parliament.
Opposition parties have filed notices for breach of privilege against Shah in the two Houses, while the BJP did the same against Rahul Gandhi.
Rijiju told reporters that it is now up to the respective Chair in the two Houses to take a call on the matter.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said his party's performance in Parliament was "100 per cent" as it raised all relevant issues, including the charges in the US against the Adani group, but the government ran away from debate.
Incidentally, it was the government's readiness to hold a discussion on the Constitution which had broken the early deadlock in Parliament as the Congress stuck to its demand for a debate on the Adani row.
While the opposition INDIA bloc was a divided House with parties like the Samajwadi Party and Trinamool Congress not agreeing with the primacy given to the Adani issue by the Congress, they rallied together over Shah's comments.
The highlight of the Session's legislative agenda was two landmark bills -- the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth) Amendment Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill -- to give effect to the mechanism of simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and assemblies.
It was introduced in Lok Sabha on December 17 and was referred to a 39-member Joint Committee of Parliament on Thursday.
Singalling the deepening divide among different stakeholders in Parliament, opposition parties submitted a notice to move a motion of no-confidence against Dhankhar, but it was dismissed by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, who slammed it as an act of impropriety, being severely flawed and drawn in haste to mar the Chairperson's reputation.
At least 60 opposition members had signed the notice on December 10 for removal of Dhankhar from his post, alleging he was "biased" and they did not have trust in him.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Friday following protests by opposition and treasury benches over the alleged insult to B R Ambedkar and Speaker Om Birla's directions against protests at Parliament gates. Protests continued even as a resoluti

Parliament Winter Session: Lok Sabha adjourns sine die

The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Friday following protests by opposition and treasury benches over the alleged insult to B R Ambedkar and Speaker Om Birla's directions against protests at Parliament gates. Protests continued even as a resolution for the 'one nation, one election' bill was introduced.

Slogans of 'Jai Bhim' reverberated in the House as the Speaker read out directions barring demonstrations and protests at the gates of Parliament.

The Winter session of the Lok Sabha, which saw a series of disruptions over issues ranging from Adani to billionaire George Soros' alleged links with the Congress leadership as well as Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks related to BR Ambedkar, saw a productivity of 57.87 per cent, official sources said.
The House met on November 25 and was adjourned sine die (indefinitely) on Friday amid protests by opposition and treasury benches over the alleged insult to B R Ambedkar and directions by Speaker Om Birla to members against holding demonstrations at any gate of Parliament.
One of the key bills introduced during the session was related to holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
The two bills were on Friday referred to a Joint Committee of Parliament for examination and wider consultations.
The House also saw a spirited debate on 75 years of adoption of the Constitution last week in which treasury benches and opposition launched a series of attacks on each other.

An altercation erupts between opposition and NDA MPs at Parliament, leaving two BJP MPs injured. Both sides file police complaints, accusing each other of misconduct, amid ongoing protests over the Ambedkar issue.

Clash Erupts Between BJP and Opposition MPs in Parliament, Two BJP MPs Injured

The BJP charged the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha with pushing an MP leading to injuries to two of its lawmakers, but Gandhi denied it and said it was he who was pushed by a ruling party member.

The acrimonious face-off between the opposition and ruling NDA over alleged insult to B R Ambedkar took an unprecedented ugly turn in Parliament premises on Thursday with claims of pushing and shoving involving MPs, leaving two BJP members hospitalised and a woman BJP MP accusing Rahul Gandhi of "misbehaving" with her.
The BJP charged the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha with pushing an MP leading to injuries to two of its lawmakers, but Gandhi denied it and said it was he who was pushed by a ruling party member while Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also accused protesting BJP members of shoving him and injuring his knees.
Both sides lodged complaints at Parliament Street police station, blaming each other for what must be a sordid incident without parallel involving MPs within the premises of Parliament. They also complained to the respective Chair in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha against each other.
BJP MPs Mukesh Rajput and Pratap Chandra Sarangi sustained injuries and were admitted to the RML hospital, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking to them over phone to enquire about their health.
The hospital's Medical Superintendent Dr Ajay Shukla said they had sustained head injuries.
"We have filed a complaint against Mr Rahul Gandhi for physical assault and incitement," BJP MP Anurag Thakur told mediapersons outside the police station.
A number of MPs of the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance were protesting at the steps of Parliament's 'Makar Dwar', an entrance and exit reserved for lawmakers, against the Congress' alleged insult of Ambedkar, while MPs from the Congress and its allies were demonstrating over Union Minister Home Amit Shah's remarks on Ambedkar and accused the BJP of slighting the architect of the Constitution.
BJP MPs claimed that Gandhi tried to push his way inside Parliament through the middle of the stairs where they were standing, ignoring a side passage, and caused injuries in the ensuing jostling. However, some opposition MPs claimed that the BJP members refused to give way to Gandhi who was heading to the Lok Sabha to attend the House proceedings.
Rejecting the BJP members' charge, Gandhi told reporters, "I was trying to enter Parliament and the BJP MPs were stopping me, pushing me and threatening me."
The incident happened some minutes before both Houses were to convene at 11 am.
The 69-year-old Sarangi, a BJP member from Balasore in Odisha and a former minister, suffered injuries on the left temple. BJP member Nishikant Dubey accused Gandhi of pushing the senior leader.
"Are you not ashamed Rahul, you are resorting to rowdy behaviour ('gundagardi'). You pushed an old man," a furious Dubey told Gandhi.
"He pushed me," Gandhi countered Dubey, walking off after having a cursory look at Sarangi, who was being attended to by fellow BJP members. Sarangi was later wheeled off to an ambulance.
"Rahul Gandhi pushed an MP, who fell on me and I got injured," he told reporters as BJP members squatted at the Makar Dwar raising slogans against the Congress.
Hitting out at Gandhi, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said appropriate action would be taken in the matter. "Parliament is not a place to show physical strength. It is not a wrestling ring," he said.
Dubey told reporters, "I am a four-time MP, I have seen something like this for the first time. I have never seen Congress leaders barging into the BJP's protest or BJP members doing the same when Congress protests. Why did the Congress disrupt the BJP's protest today? This shows that their only aim is hooliganism."
A number of ruling alliance MPs, including Union ministers, met their injured colleagues in the hospital as the incident blew up into a major row.
Both Houses witnessed massive uproar amid 'Jai Bhim' chants from both sides and were adjourned without witnessing any transaction.
Congress MPs met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and submitted a complaint against the alleged unruly conduct of BJP MPs against Rahul Gandhi and attempts to stop him from entering Parliament House.
Phangnon Konyak, a woman BJP MP from Nagaland, said in the Rajya Sabha that Gandhi came in "very close proximity of me" during a "peaceful" protest and shouted at her. He made her uncomfortable, she said, accusing him of conduct unbecoming of his position as the Leader of Opposition.
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar said that he has received a communication from Konyak on the incident and she also met him in his chamber. &ldquo;I am looking into it. She was literally in tears," he said in the House.
The Congress and other opposition parties have seized on a part of Home Minister Amit Shah's reference to Ambedkar in his Rajya Sabha speech on Tuesday to target the BJP and demand his resignation.
Shah, defended by Modi and other senior members of the BJP and its allies, has accused the Congress of distorting his speech. The BJP has instead cited the alleged insults to Ambedkar and neglect of his legacy during the long years of the Congress' rule to launch its counter-protest.
In a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Kharge claimed he was pushed by BJP MPs, lost his balance and was forced to sit on the ground, injuring his knees that have already undergone surgery. He has demanded an inquiry into the "attack".
As the INDIA bloc parliamentarians came face to face with the ruling coalition MPs in front of the Makar Dwar of Parliament, the two sides engaged in loud sloganeering in a bid to outdo each other.
Opposition MPs took out a protest march on the Parliament premises. MPs of the Congress, DMK, RJD, SP, the Left and NCP(SP), among others, participated in the protest. Several opposition MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and K Kanimozhi, were seen wearing blue, a colour associated with Ambedkar.

Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday wrote letters to Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu, leaders of NDA partners JDU and TDP, urging them to deeply reflect on Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remark on B R Ambedkar.

Kejriwal urges NDA allies to rethink BJP support over Ambedkar remark

Arvind Kejriwal said people feel that those who love Ambedkar can not support the BJP that "insulted" the architect of India's Constitution.

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday wrote letters to Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu, leaders of NDA partners JDU and TDP, urging them to deeply reflect on Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remark on B R Ambedkar.
Sharing the letters in X, Kejriwal said people feel that those who love Ambedkar can not support the BJP that "insulted" the architect of India's Constitution, and asked Kumar and Naidu to ponder over it.
Shah's remark on Babasaheb was not only "disrespectful" but also revealed the BJP's perspective towards him and the Constitution, the AAP leader said in the letters to the two chief ministers.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
बीजेपी ने संसद में बाबा साहेब का अपमान किया है। लोगों को लगता है कि बाबा साहेब को चाहने वाले बीजेपी का समर्थन नहीं कर सकते। आप भी इस पर विचार करें। My Letter to Shri N Chandra Babu Naidu ji. <a href="https://t.co/87pKYTfdDY">pic.twitter.com/87pKYTfdDY</a>
&mdash; Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArvindKejriwal/status/1869614155743088681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
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"The statement made by Shah in Parliament regarding Babasaheb has left the entire nation stunned. His remark that 'chanting Ambedkar-Ambedkar has become a fashion these days' is not only disrespectful but also reveals the BJP's perspective towards Babasaheb and our Constitution," Kejriwal wrote.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JDU and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Naidu's TDP are constituents of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre led by the BJP.
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बीजेपी ने संसद में बाबा साहेब का अपमान किया है। लोगों को लगता है कि बाबा साहेब को चाहने वाले बीजेपी का समर्थन नहीं कर सकते। आप भी इस पर विचार करें। श्री नीतीश कुमार जी को मेरा पत्र। <a href="https://t.co/YLd7lXrqmn">pic.twitter.com/YLd7lXrqmn</a>
&mdash; Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArvindKejriwal/status/1869614164441985174?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
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"How can the BJP dare to make such a comment against Babasaheb, the Constitution's architect and champion of marginalised rights? This has hurt the sentiments of millions of people across the country," Kejriwal said.
"Babasaheb is not just a leader but the soul of our nation. After this statement by BJP, people expect you to deeply reflect on this issue as well," the former Delhi chief minister implored Kumar and Naidu.

Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have been adjourned following noisy protests by the Opposition seeking an apology from Home Minister Amit Shah for his remarks on B R Ambedkar.

BJP accuses Rahul Gandhi of pushing its MP

Nishikant Dubey of the BJP alleged that Rahul Gandhi pushed an aged parliamentarian leading to his fall and subsequent injury.

Competing marches by opposition and NDA MPs led to shoving and jostling inside Parliament House premises on Thursday with BJP's Pratap Sarangi getting injured in the melee amid allegations that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pushed him.
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Delhi | BJP MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi says, "Rahul Gandhi pushed an MP who fell on me after which I fell down...I was standing near the stairs when Rahul Gandhi came and pushed an MP who then fell on me..." <a href="https://t.co/xhn2XOvYt4">pic.twitter.com/xhn2XOvYt4</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1869616070325383638?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Sarangi was taken to hospital with an injury on his forehead. Both the marches were taken out over the Ambedkar issue, with the opposition accusing Home Minister Amit Shah of insulting the chief architect of the Constitution.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha later told reporters that while he was trying to enter the Parliament House, BJP members pushed and "threatened" him.
"It is our right to enter Parliament," he said.
Asked if Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi had also been pushed, Rahul Gandhi said, "It has happened but we don't get bothered with this pushing around."
"This is the entry to Parliament, we have a right to go inside and the BJP members were stopping us from going inside," he alleged and pointed to the Makar Dwar.
Nishikant Dubey of the BJP alleged that Rahul Gandhi pushed an aged parliamentarian leading to his fall and subsequent injury.
Union Minister Shivraj Chouhan told TV reporters that Sarangi received a few stitches to stop the bleeding.
Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have been adjourned following noisy protests by the Opposition seeking an apology from Home Minister Amit Shah for his remarks on B R Ambedkar.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Congress shares a video of MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and party chief &amp; Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge when they were allegedly stopped by ruling party MPs while entering Parliament. (Video: AICC) <a href="https://t.co/n1kPU1zPUS">pic.twitter.com/n1kPU1zPUS</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1869628762863869953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Dressed in blue, a colour associated with B R Ambedkar, INDIA bloc MPs, including the Congress' Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, staged a protest in the Parliament premises demanding Amit Shah's resignation for his remarks related to the chief architect of the Constitution.
BJP-led NDA parliamentarians also carried out a march within Parliament premises, raising slogans and carrying placards demanding an apology from the opposition Congress for allegedly insulting Ambedkar.
As the INDIA bloc parliamentarians came face to face with the ruling coalition MPs in front of the Makar Dar of Parliament, the two sides engaged in loud sloganeering in a bid to outdo each other.
The INDIA bloc members first staged a protest at B R Ambedkar's statue in Parliament premises, carrying posters that read 'Main Bhi Ambedkar', 'Jai Bhim' and 'Amit Shah maafi maango'.
They then took out a protest march on the Parliament premises. MPs of the Congress, DMK, RJD, SP, the Left and NCP(SP), among others, participated in the protest. Several opposition MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and K Kanimozhi, were seen wearing blue.
Earlier, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha chaired a meeting of the Congress' Lok Sabha MPs in the main committee room.
The opposition on Wednesday seized on Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on B R Ambedkar to corner the government and demanded his resignation for what they called was an insult to the architect of the Constitution.
The attack from virtually all opposition parties, including the Congress, TMC, DMK, RJD, Left parties and Shiv Sena-UBT, led to the adjournment of both Houses of Parliament and prompted the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to come out in stout defence of Shah.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O'Brien has also submitted a notice to move a privilege motion against Shah in the Rajya Sabha where the home minister had said on Tuesday evening that Congress leaders would have got a place in heaven had they chanted the name of God rather than following the fashion of repeating Ambedkar's name.
The hullabaloo in Parliament also spilled onto the streets of the national capital and places as far as Maharashtra, Bihar and Tamil Nadu. In Delhi, AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal led hundreds of supporters to gather outside the BJP office and protest noisily amid slogans "Amit Shah maafi mango, Amit Shah sharm karo".
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, DMK chief M K Stalin, Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav were among those who have slammed Shah for his remarks.

Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday accused the Congress of twisting facts and distorting his comments in the Rajya Sabha related to B R Ambedkar.

Amit Shah: Congress Twisted My Statement on Ambedkar

Shah alleged that the Congress in the past has also misrepresented his and even PM Narendra Modi's comments to spread confusion and mislead people.

Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday accused the Congress of twisting facts and distorting his comments in the Rajya Sabha related to B R Ambedkar after BJP leaders "exposed" the opposition party's repeated "insults" to the architect of the Constitution.
Addressing a press conference here, Shah alleged that the Congress in the past has also misrepresented his and even PM Narendra Modi's comments to spread confusion and mislead people.
"I condemn the Congress for twisting facts. Why did it happen? It happened because BJP leaders spoke on how the NDA governments upheld the Constitution and established with facts that the Congress is anti-Ambedkar, anti-Constitution and anti-reservation," Shah told reporters here.
The senior BJP leader said the Congress also insulted V D Savarkar and blew to smithereens the values enshrined in the Constitution by imposing Emergency.
"When all these facts came out, the Congress used its old tricks and made an effort to mislead the society by presenting twisted facts," Shah said.
Shah said he comes from a party that can never insult Ambedkar.
Asked about Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge's demand for his resignation, the home minister said in a lighter vein that he can quit if this will make the Congress president happy but it will never solve his problems. He has to remain in his chair, a reference to his party being in the opposition, for 15 more years, Shah said.
Kharge, he added, has acted under Rahul Gandhi's pressure to be part of this "malicious" campaign against him by distorting his views on Ambedkar.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Manish Tewari are set to be among the Congress representatives in the parliamentary panel that will scrutinise the two bills proposing simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly polls.

One Nation, One Election: Priyanka Gandhi to join Parliamentary panel

Among the BJP's allies, Shrikant Shinde of the Shiv Sena and Sanjay Jha of the JD(U) may be members of the key panel which is expected to have 21 MPs from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Manish Tewari are set to be among the Congress representatives in the parliamentary panel that will scrutinise the two bills proposing simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly polls, while Kalyan Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress and P Wilson of the DMK are also expected to be its members, sources said.
The BJP, which will have maximum representatives in the joint committee of Parliament, remained tight-lipped about its choices amid a buzz that its seasoned MPs Ravi Shankar Prasad and Anurag Thakur are being considered for the job.
Among the BJP's allies, Shrikant Shinde of the Shiv Sena and Sanjay Jha of the JD(U) may be members of the key panel which is expected to have 21 MPs from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha, the sources said.
Most of the parties have conveyed their choices to the government which will move a motion in Lok Sabha to send the bills to the joint committee. The Speaker will take a final call on the names for the panel and its chairperson.
Sukhdeo Bhagat and Randeep Surjewala are the Congress' other choices for the joint committee of Parliament. Saket Gokhale of the TMC and T M Selvaganapathi of the DMK are also expected to be part of the panel.
The sources said P P Chaudhary is also being considered as the probable BJP choice for the panel in which the saffron party and its allies will be in a majority due to their numerical superiority in Parliament.
While Prasad, a well known lawyer, has held the portfolio of law minister in the previous Modi government, Chaudhary was a deputy minister in the crucial ministry.
From the Telugu Desam Party, the BJP's biggest ally, either Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu or G M Harish Balayogi is likely to be in the panel.
The two 'one nation, one election' (ONOE) bills, including one requiring an amendment in the Constitution, lay down the mechanism to hold simultaneous elections and were introduced in Lok Sabha on Tuesday 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.
Speaking to reporters on the Parliament premises, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi had termed the bills "anti-constitutional".
"It is against the federalism of our nation. We are opposing the bill," she had said.
The BJP and its allies such as the TDP, JD(U) and Shiv Sena have stoutly defended the bills, saying frequent elections are an obstruction to development programmes and simultaneous polls will boost them by cutting down on election expenditure.

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