Parliament: Oppn Parties Stage Walkout from Lok Sabha Amid Hijab Row
Catch all the live updates from the Budget Session of Parliament here.
Image of Lok Sabha used for representation purpose.
(Photo: PTI)
As the Budget Session of the Parliament continues, Congress, DMK, as well as other opposition parties staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha, amid the Hijab row, on the evening of Tuesday, 8 February.
"We asked govt to give a statement on the atrocities being committed on the muslim girls in Karnataka and other places in the name of hijab. But govt did not pay heed to our demand," Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury reportedly said, explaining their reason for the walkout.
Earlier in the day Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, while addressing the Rajya Sabha, had trained guns at the Congress and said: "India's democracy is not a favour done to the nation by the Congress, democracy and debate have always been a part of India."
The Budget Session of Parliament began on 31 January with the president's address
Due to the prevailing COVID-19 outbreak, the Rajya Sabha will sit from 10 am to 3 pm, and the Lok Sabha from 4 pm to 9 pm.
The first leg of the Budget Session will end on 11 February. The second leg of the session is scheduled from 14 March to 8 April. Standing committees will evaluate the budgetary allocations in the recess
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)
'Cong & AAP Instigated Migrants To Leave, COVID Spread Rapidly': PM Modi in LS
Prime Minister Modi alleged in the Lok Sabha on Monday that some had used the coronavirus pandemic for political gains, and directed an attack towards the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party.
“During the first wave of COVID-19, you (Congress) gave free train tickets to migrant workers to leave Mumbai. At the same time, the Delhi government told migrant workers to leave the city and provided them buses. As a result, COVID spread rapidly in Punjab, UP, and Uttarakhand,” he stated.
The PM accused the Congress party of practising divisive politics, and said, "Congress has become the leader of tukde-tukde gang."
The remarks were met with vehement backlash from various Opposition leaders.
Rajya Sabha Proceedings To Begin at 10 AM
The Rajya Sabha is expected to resume its sitting at 10 am on Tuesday.
Business Advisory Committee Meeting of RS Today
The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting of the Rajya Sabha will be held at 9:20 am in the Parliament on Tuesday, reported news agency ANI.
Decline in Number of Poor Air Quality Days in Delhi, Kolkata, Says Govt in LS
Union Minister of State for Environment Ashwini Choubey on Monday said that the funds allocated to tackle air pollution in the Delhi-National Capital Region have been increased in the last three years. He also said that the number of poor air quality days have declined in the national capital and Kolkata, West Bengal, during the same period.
Responding to a question on funds for air pollution in Lok Sabha, the minister said that the funds allocated to tackle air pollution in Delhi-NCR were increased from Rs 30 crores in 2019-2020 to Rs 53.49 crores in 2021-22.
Rajya Sabha Proceedings Begin for the Day
Rajya Sabha proceedings have begun for the day.
Watch: PM Modi Replies to Motion of Thanks to President’s Address in Rajya Sabha
Praising India's fight against COVID-19, PM Modi lauded the vaccination drive and also took a jibe at the politicisation of issues by the Opposition during the pandemic.
"It was the willpower and discipline of the 130 crore people of the country, and the efforts of India are being appreciated across the world," PM Modi said.
"This House praises the work put in by our healthcare and frontline workers during COVID. This will motivate them further. Providing 80 crore poor people with free food grains during COVID has been a major example that India set to the world," he added.
PM Modi Praises Start-Up Initiative by the Youth
Addressing the Rajya Sabha, PM Modi praised start-up initiatives by the youth of the country.
"Our youth has taken India to top-3 in terms of number of startups globally, that too, during COVID. From COP-26 to G20 to social sector to aiding 150 countries across the globe during COVID, India has taken a leadership role and the world has appreciated our role," he said.
PM Modi Lauds Centre's 'Tap Water' Initiatives
PM Modi in his address to the Rajya Sabha lauded the 'tap water' initiatives by the Centre.
"Five crore rural families have been provided clean tap water connections during COVID - a new record," he said.
PM Praises Initiatives for Farmers, Says 'Punjab Farmers Benefitted'
Addressing the Rajya Sabha, PM modi said that it was decided to exempt farmers from the first lockdown in villages.
"It was an important decision, as a result, our farmers had bumper productivity even during a pandemic," he said.
He also said that farmers from Punjab never got the kind of "financial benefits" before as they get now.
Ruckus Amid PM's Address
The Opposition leaders cerated a ruckus as PM Modi took jibes at several leaders for politicising important matters in the country.
Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge interrupted PM's address, leading to an exchange of words with the Prime Minister.
"Kharge ji, please don't do what Adhir Ranjan (Chowdhury) ji usually does. Jairam (Ramesh) ji has already placed people to create ruckus," he said.
PM Modi Slams Opposition for Criticising Vaccination
"One of the members said that 'vaccination is not a big deal'. I am appalled that some people don't see this as an achievement," PM Modi said in the Rajya Sabha.
PM Modi said that the ones who criticised vaccination vaccination should introspect and thanked the people of the country for "not paying heed to such attempts."
'Attempts to Boycott All-Party COVID-19 Meeting Unfortunate'
PM Modi slammed attempts to boycott the all-party meeting called for COVID-19
"The all-party meeting that was called for COVID-19, there were attempts to boycott it and instigate others to do so," he said.
PM Modi Lauds Union Budget 2022
In his address , PM Modi said that unlike UPA governments, the Centre has not introduced new taxes before the Budget.
"If we had done that to manage the numbers, the Budget would have looked better than it already is," he said.
'Democracy in the Country is Not a Favour By the Congress': PM Modi
Attacking the Congress, PM Modi said: "It was said in the House that the Congress laid the foundation of the nation and the BJP just hoisted a flag on it. This was not. alight statement. It comes from the deep rooted belief that India was born in 1947. This belief leads to a lot of problems. It is the consequence of this belief that those who worked for the country for 75 years that even policies were framed based on it. This democracy is not a favour of the Congress. The ones who strangulated the democracy in 1975 should not speak of it."
"The problem with the Congress is that they never thought beyond one dynasty. They have to agree that parties run by families are the biggest threat to democracy. When one family becomes everything for a party, good talents are a casualty. I would like to urge all parties to inculcate democracy in their own parties as well. Being India's oldest party, the Congress should take this more seriously," he added.
'If Cong Wouldn't Have Been There...': Ruckus in Rajya Sabha Over PM's Remarks
PM Modi said: "A remark was made in the House saying 'what would have happened if the Congress would not have been around.' It is a result of the thinking, 'India is Indira, Indira is India,'" he said.
PM Modi further said:
"This is what would have happened if Congress would not have been around:
Democracy would have been free of family politics
India would have walked the path of 'swadeshi' instead of 'videshi' glasses
The blot of Emergency would not have been there
Corruption would not have become an institution in itself
Caste and territory discriminations would not have been so rampant
Sikhs would not have face genocide
Punjab would not have burnt in the fire of terrorism for years
Kashmiri pandits would not have had to leave Kashmir
Daughters would not have been "burnt in tandoors"
Common man would not have had to wait for basic facilities like electricity, roads, and toilets"
PM Modi's comments led to ruckus in the House.
Congress MPs Stage Walkout
Congress MPs staged walkout in protest of PM Modi's attack on the party.
"We've walked out of the PM speech on Motion of Thanks because instead of speaking on the President's address, he accused the Congress," Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge told ANI.
'Congress Thinking Like Urban Naxals': PM Continues Attack on Congress
PM Modi slammed the Congress for accusing the Centre of rewriting history.
"We are accused of trying to change or rewrite history. This is because of the fact that the Congress now thinks like urban naxals and their psychology has become destructive. The urban naxals have taken over Congress' conscious. We are not changing history, we are just refreshing people's memories. We are just taking the history a few 100 years back as it should be. Some people's version of history is just one family, what do we do about that?" he said.
PM Modi Slams Nehru Over 'Goa Liberation' Ahead of Assembly Polls
Slamming former PM Jawaharlal Nehru's "arrogance" over liberating Goa, PM Modi said: "The way Sardar Patel took initiative for Hyderabad and Junagad, if lessons were taken from it, Goa would not have had to stay in slavery for 15 more years. Goa would have been liberated much earlier. The media reports from back then will tell you that the then Prime Minister was concerned about his international image. That is why, he, Nehru thought that if Goa's foreign government was attacked, his image of a peace-loving global leader would have been harmed. So he let Goa suffer. When our fellow Indians, satyagrahis were being fired upon, he said that he will not send our Army," he said.
"Nehru ji on 15 August 1955 had said in his address from the Red Fort this and I quote: 'Have no doubts that we will take any secret setps for Goa. There is no force around Goa. Some people within India want to make noise and compel us to send forces there. We will not send a force, we will resolve it peacefully and everybody must understand that.' This statement was against the people of Goa," he said.
PM Modi further said: "I further quote him(Nehru): 'The ones going there are welcome to do so. But it should be remembered that the ones calling themselves satygrahis should remember principles of satyagraha. Sending forces is not the way of satyagraha," adding that this "arrogance" of Nehru deprived Goa of liberation for many years.
PM Modi Slams Congress for 'Injustice with Lata Mangeshkar's Brother'
In his address, PM Modi slammed the Congress for alleged injustice against Lata Mangeshkar's brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar.
"Lata Mangeshkar's family is from Goa. But what her family was subjected to, should be told to the entire nation. Lata Mangeshkar's younger brother, Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar ji, a proud son of Goa, was fired from All India Radio (AIR). What was his fault? He had only presented a patriotic poem by Veer Savarkar on AIR once. Hridaynath ji had said in an interview that when he met Savarkar and told him that he wanted to present his poem, Savarkar ji had asked him, "Do you want to go to jail by reciting my poem?" But Hridaynath ji recited it and within eight days he was fired from AIR. This is what their (Congress') concept of freedom of expression was," PM Modi said.
'Kishore Kumar was Shunted During Emergency'" PM Modi
PM Modi, while slamming the "family that's running Congress" said: "Singer Kishore Kumar was shunted out for not bowing to Indira Gandhi during the emergency."
Opposition Creates Ruckus on 'Inflation'
After conclusion of PM Modi's address, the Congress created ruckus as Digvijay Singh said that there was no discussion on rising prices and inflation.
P Chidambaram Responds in RS to PM's 'No Congress' Remarks
"Had the Congress party not been there, this would still be under the Government of India, 1919, under the Council of the Princes, and instead of us, there would have been bejewelled rulers in shining armours and flowing turbans sitting and speaking in praise of Queen Elizabeth II who was sitting on the throne. Thanks to the Congress, we have a Rajya Sabha and I am able to speak to you," Chidambaram said.
Discussion on Union Budget Underway in Rajya Sabha
While discussing the Budget, P Chidambaram in the Rajya Sabha slammed the unemployment statistics saying: "In the Parliament, a question was asked, who are members of 'tukde tukde gang'? The minister said, 'we have no data available on the tukde tukde gang'. No data available on 'tukde tukde gang', on oxygen shortage deaths, on bodies flowing in rivers, on migrants walking back to homes, no data on doubling of farmers' incomes. It's a 'No Data Available' government, otherwise known as the-NDA government," P Chidambaram said.
Rajya Sabha Adopts Motion of Thanks on President's Address
The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday adopted the Motion of Thanks on President's address after all amendments were negated.
Rajya Sabha Adjourned
Rajya Sabha has been adjourned for the day.
Question Hour Underway in Lok Sabha
The question hour is presently underway in Lok Sabha.
'We Are Not Closing Any Regional AIR Station': MoS Dr LS Murugan
“We are not closing any regional AIR station. Upgradation work is going on in Regional AIR centres,” Dr LS Murugan, Minister of State in the Information and Broadcasting ministry informed in the Lok Sabha.
Congress, DMK, Other Opposition Parties Stage Walkout From LS Amid Hijab Row
Congress, DMK, IUML, CPM, CPI, VCK, MDMK, and JMM staged a walkout from Lok Sabha on hijab row, reported ANI.
"We asked govt to give a statement on the atrocities being committed on the muslim girls in Karnataka and other places in the name of hijab. But govt did not pay heed to our demand, so we staged a walkout from Lok Sabha," Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was subsequently quoted by ANI as saying.
4,844 People Have Got Indian Citizenship in Last 5 Years: MoS Nityanand Rai
MoS Home Nityanand Rai, in a written reply in Lok Sabha, said that 4,844 people have been granted Indian citizenship during last five years.
Govt Hasn't Taken a Decision on NRC Yet: MoS Home Nityanand Rai
Stating that "due to outbreak of COVID-19, the conduct of Census 2021 and related field activities have been postponed until further orders," MoS Nityanand Rai said:
Govt Has Increased Recruitment to IPS From150-200: MoS Nityanand Rai
MoS Home Nityanand Rai, in a written reply to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha, said:
"The Government of India has increased the recruitment to IPS from 150 to 200 from the 2020 Civil Services Examination."
Lok Sabha Adjourned
Lok Sabha has been adjourned till Wednesday.