Page 3 - Lok Sabha

Parliament completes Budgetary exercise for FY 2023024 amid ruckus

Parliamentary approval for the Budget for 2023-24 was on Monday completed after Lok Sabha passed the Finance Bill with a fresh amendment and Rajya Sabha gave its nod to all the three related legislations without any debate amid continuing din over the Adani issue. First Rajya Sabha approved the Rs 45 lakh-crore spending proposed in the Budget, followed by the nod to the Finance Bill that contains tax proposals. It also approved the Appropriation Bill and Demands for Grants, besides Budget for Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The nod to Finance Bill included a fresh amendment moved by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman that sought to correct the rate of STT (securities transaction tax) to be levied on trading of options and futures in the derivative market. After the Lok Sabha cleared the Finance Bill, which has 64 official amendments, the finance ministry on Friday issued a statement saying that there was a typographical error in the amendments with respect to the change in ST

LS adjourned in seconds amid ruckus over Rahul Gandhi's disqualification

Along with Congress members, MPs belonging to the DMK, NCP, the Left and BRS also wore black

Parliament approves Budget for 2023-24 amid ruckus by Opposition

The Finance Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha with 64 official amendments on March 24 and was sent to the Rajya Sabha

Rahul Gandhi's disqualification rocks Bihar assembly, evokes protest

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lok Sabha on Monday evoked furious protests at the Bihar assembly from members of the ruling 'Mahagathbandhan', of which his party is also a part. 'Mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) members had made their intentions clear when they reached the assembly with black bands wrapped around their arms and heads and their hands clutching posters with images of Gandhi and captions screaming "democracy and Constitution in danger". Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U), which had raised many eyebrows last week by staying away from a demonstration against Gandhi's conviction, was also participating this time. When the proceedings began at 11 am, members of the Congress, which has less than 20 MLAs in the 243-strong assembly, trooped to the well, angrily shouting slogans. They were, however, soon joined by a dozen-odd legislators of the ultra-Left CPI(ML) Liberation who support the Nitish Kumar government from outside. The BJP, which has en

LS adjourned till 4 pm, RS till 2 pm amid protests by Oppn members

The moment Birla assumed his seat, Congress MPs, who came to the House wearing black clothes, started throwing papers at his chair. Similar scenes were witnessed in Rajya Sabha

Congress MPs give suspension of Business Notice to discuss govt's failure

The MPs who gave the Notice in Rajya Sabha include Pramod Tiwari, Ranjeet Ranjan, while Manickam Tagore gave an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha

Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha as per rules: Jitendra Singh

Union minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday said the decision taken by the Lok Sabha Secretariat to disqualify Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was as per rules, and questioning the decision was like targeting the Constitution. Gandhi, 52, was disqualified from the Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after a court in Gujarat's Surat convicted him in a 2019 defamation case. The disqualification will prevent Gandhi, a four-time MP, from contesting elections for eight years unless a higher court stays the conviction. "Today, it is age of reasons. Whatever decision was taken by the Lok Sabha secretariat was taken as per rules," Singh told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Kathua district. He said to question the decision was to put a question mark on the Constitution, Indian democracy and the country's parliamentary system. Replying to another question on assembly elections in J and K, Singh said, "The BJP is always ready for elections, but the decision (to hold the elections) is to be taken

LIVE: India logs 1,890 new Covid-19 cases in a day, active tally jumps

Catch all the latest updates from across the globe here

Budget for minority affairs ministry nearly halves in RE for FY23

The Budget Estimates represent the government's wishes and ambitions regarding the money it wants to spend

An open House? Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from LS triggers debate

One fallout of Rahul Gandhi's disqualification will be reflected in the Opposition's role in Parliament and related institutions

Shrinking space

Freedom of speech must be protected

Tax treatment

Major changes without debate should be avoided

It's wrong, says Ghulam Nabi Azad on Rahul Gandhi's disqualification

Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday termed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lok Sabha a "wrong thing" and does not bode well for democracy. Gandhi was on Thursday sentenced to two years in jail by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his "why all thieves have Modi surname" remark. He was later disqualified from the Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction in the case. "I am against this, whether he is Rahul Gandhi or Lalu Prasad Yadav or any other MP or MLA. It is against natural justice that on one side a judge delivered a judgement and on the other the MP or MLA is disqualified," Azad told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Kathua district. It is a wrong thing, he said. "Earlier, the rule was that he or she won't be disqualified till the last court does not award him punishment. There are 20 steps before reaching the last court. This does not go well with the democracy," the former Congres

Andaman & Nicobar Cong protest Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha disqualification

The Congress unit of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Sunday began a day-long Sankalp Satyagraha' here with party leaders gathering in front of Mahatma Gandhi statue near here to protest against Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lok Sabha following his conviction in a defamation case. Senior party leaders like local MP Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Pradesh Congress Committee president Ranglal Halder and Campaign Committee chairman of Andaman and Nicobar Territorial Congress, TSG Bhasker assembled in front of the statue near Aberdeen Bazaar here since morning and raised their voices against the ruling party at the Centre for "conspiring against Rahul Gandhi. Addressing the gathering, Rai Sharma said Whatever happened in the last few days with Rahul Gandhi ji is extremely painful. Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after a court in Gujarat's Surat convicted him in a 2019 defamation case. The disqualification will bar Gandhi (52), a four-time MP, from ...

Cong in Telangana holds 'deeksha' protest against Rahul's disqualification

: The Congress in Telangana on Sunday began a day-long dharna at Gandhi Bhavan here against the disqualification of senior party leader Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha. Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President, A Revanth Reddy, party MPs from the state, AICC incharge of party affairs in Telangana Manikrao Thakre and several leaders took part in the protest and expressed their solidarity with Rahul Gandhi. The Congress leaders, addressed the 'deeksha' and condemned Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as an MP following his conviction by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his "Modi surname" remark. The Lok Sabha Secretariat had in a notification said that his disqualification was effective from March 23 -- the day of his conviction.

Congress workers in Himachal protest disqualification of Rahul from LS

Lodging their protest against the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha, Congress leaders on Sunday held a 'Sankalp Satyagraha' here. The Congress leaders and workers gathered at the Ridge and protested against the move. The party would launch a statewide protest against the alleged attempt of the BJP government to "kill democracy" and "muzzle" the voice of the people from Monday, said Congress leaders. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had on Friday maintained that a conspiracy had been hatched to defame Rahul Gandhi, who has been raising the issues of public concern. Gandhi undertook a march from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, and is the only leader who is raising the true voice of the people and keeping democracy alive, he had stated. Opposition is very important for a healthy democracy but the BJP has "throttled" democracy by not allowing the Congress leaders to speak inside Parliament as well as outside, Sukhu added.

JKPCC holds Sankalp Satyagraha against Rahul's disqualification from LS

The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Sunday held a day-long Sankalp Satyagraha' against Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha, with party leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir accusing the BJP government at the Centre of being undemocratic. Scores of party activists led by former JKPCC president Ghulam Ahmad Mir held the Sankalp Satyagraha' at the party's headquarter at M A Road here. Speaking to reporters, Mir said not only Congress party, but all non-BJP secular parties have come together, and are wailing over the death of democracy in the country. The BJP government has not left any sign of the Constitution in the country, all the steps it takes are illegal and undemocratic, he charged. Mir said after February 7 when Gandhi lifted the veil over Prime Minister Narendra Modi-(Gautam) Adani relation, the BJP government allegedly rushed to process of conviction and the subsequent disqualification. Gandhi raised questions over the relationship between the two, and how

Cong Rajasthan chief calls Rahul's disqualification 'murder of democracy'

The Congress' Rajasthan unit on Sunday began its day-long "Sankalp Satyagraha" here in support of Rahul Gandhi following his disqualification from the Lok Sabha. The party's state unit chief Govind Singh Dotasra, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas and several other leaders are taking part in the protest at the Collectorate Circle. Similar protests are also being organised in other districts. The Congress has launched a day-long satyagraha at all states and district headquarters to protest against Gandhi's conviction in a 2019 defamation case and his subsequent disqualification from the Lok Sabha. Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after a court in Gujarat's Surat convicted him in the defamation case. The disqualification will prevent Gandhi (52), a four-time MP, from contesting elections for eight years unless a higher court stays the conviction. Calling Gandhi's disqualification "murder of democracy", Dotasra said, "We are holding

Delhi Police refuses Cong to observe 'satyagraha' in solidarity with Rahul

The Delhi Police has denied permission to the Congress for holding 'satyagraha' at Rajghat to protest against Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lok Sabha, officials said on Sunday. In a letter, the Delhi Police said the request was rejected due to law and order and traffic reasons and prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC have been imposed in and around Rajghat. A senior police officer told PTI that while permission for holding the satyagraha has been denied, adequate security arrangements have been put in place. The Congress has announced plans to hold a day-long satyagraha in front of Gandhi statues at all states and district headquarters on Sunday to protest against Gandhi's disqualification. Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after a court in Gujarat's Surat convicted him in a 2019 defamation case. The disqualification will bar Gandhi (52), a four-time MP, from contesting polls for eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction.

Rahul's disqualification: Cong to observe day-long Satyagraha across nation

The Congress will hold a day-long 'Satyagraha' in front of Gandhi statues at all states and district headquarters on Sunday to protest against Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha. The satyagraha will begin at 10 AM and end at 5 PM. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will stage the satyagraha at Raj Ghat in the national capital. Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after a court in Gujarat's Surat convicted him in a 2019 defamation case. The disqualification will bar Gandhi (52), a four-time MP, from contesting polls for eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction. The Congress leader claimed that the action against him was taken because Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "scared" of his next speech in Parliament on the Adani issue and alleged that the "whole game" was to distract people from the issue and the panic the government was feeling over the matter. The Congress has said