The third day of monsoon session of Parliament held a short duration discussion on agrarian crisis and the recent killing and violence in the name of cow protection. The Lok Sabha was adjourned till 12 noon after Congress MPs wanted to debate issues suspending Question Hour. They continued with sloganeering when Speaker rejected their plea. The Lower House also witnessed former Defence Minister and SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav dropping the China bomb.
The real action was in the Rajya Sabha. It had to be adjourned frequently over a comment made by SP leader Naresh Agrawal during the discussion of reported incidents of lynchings and atrocities against minorities and Dalits.
During the debate the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha made fervent appeal to Mayawati to take back her resignation.
Live updates
8.00 pm: A bill to grant statutory status to the Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) in PPP mode was passed by the Lok Sabha, with the government saying the fees for the poor students will not increase and that reservation law will apply there.
6.15 pm: After the spirited speech of Mr. Dasgupta invoking Chauri Chaura, the debate concludes. After spacial mentions, the House is adjourned.
6.00 pm: Nominated member Swapan Dasgupta says the House agrees that there's no space for extra-judicial killings and that there's a measure of agreement that “some of the incidents” were hate crimes. and the disagreement is on the case of attribution that who was responsible.
Mr. Dasgupta says: “LoP was very kind and very precise in saying these were the act of individuals. ... But he went on to add a political complexion to it... a political complexion which was exacerbated by the intervention of Sitaram Yechury who quoted generously from German history and who sought to link everything to some sort of a Hitlarian regime.
“Now a certain question arises... Has the character of India changed fundamentally since May 2014? The LoP said it's a matter of great shame that nobody in that train came forward to help the boy (Junaid) in Ballabhgarh station... and at the same time he quoted a NYT piece suggesting that in the U.S. people act differently. Now, are we to conclude from there that India has become a lesser sort of human being (sic)? That suddenly all humanity in India has been taken out? That they used to say Indians doesn't deserve independence, because we are lesser beings... Has that what happened to India?
“Has there been anything new in violence or political violence that has taken place since 2015? I think a lot of us remember the name of a certain police station in Uttar Pradesh called Chauri Chaura.”
(Pramod Tiwari of Congress prompts him it's in Gorakhpur district, from where Yogi Adityanath was elected to the Lok Sabha for five terms).
Mr. Dasgupta thanks Mr. Tiwari and continues: “Chauri Chaura was famous for one thing. That it was group...a crowd of Indian nationalists carrying Congress flags... shouting Mahatma Gandhi ki jai ... who burnt 22 policemen.”
Somebody says 24 and Mr. Dasgupta admits his mistake and continues: “Gandhi ji called off the (non-cooperation) movement after that. Lot of people said it was a betrayal. But the point is are going to tar the entire nationalist movement for what happened in Chauri Chaura? It's a question we should ask ourselves. A lot of aberrations took place sir.”
Mr. Dasgupta continues: In 1857 a lot of violence happened. Violence has been an unfortunate part of Indian history. Does that make us lesser human beings? To say that suddenly humanity has been taken away from India is to my mind shameful. And if tomorrow we start feeding into the NYT and the prejudice... I don't think we do ourselves any credit. I think what people should realise that while extra-judicial killings are out of order, unacceptable and should be met with the strongest opposition, strongest action, it has also to be recognised that beef is a very very sensitive subject in India. You have to acknowledge that. You must acknowledge that there must have been compelling reasons why in the directive principles there is a clause about it. You must recognise why so many legislations have been passed since independence against cow slaughter... And they weren't passed by alas not the BJP, but they were passed by Congress governments.
“So there's a certain degree of intense sensitivity... the question is how do we manage that sensitivity, and yet prevent this sort of vigilantism... That's the real challenge that faces us... and it's not an issue that should divide the House, it really is a common project... I find it very peculiar that a lot of people are trying to use this vigilante killing into saying that there should absolute food freedom... like saying there should be absolute drink freedom and that Bihar should take back prohibition laws. There is no such thing as absolute... there are things with sensitivities which have to be recognised. I believe the govt. and the Oppn. must sit together to find out how best to manage this thing. We have to around this tu tu mein mein while taking into account that law should be respected. Sir, We have to recognise that this is an issue which has tarred the name of India. It has been deliberately done, and done with a certain sense of purpose... and there are people who claims to be more cosmopolitan, more enlightened have tried to suggest that you know somehow these are lesser beings who protect the cow and all and some sort of primitive...
“Certainly there are political differences and that must be there... but there is no reason to suggest just because you are anti-lynching, you have to be anti-GST and connect it to the economy etcetera... this is a separate problem, address it because if we don't address it we are going to tar the name of India.
5.55 pm: Majeed Memon of NCP in speech quotes a friend of his “a foreign dignitary and a legal luminary” who, he said, asked him what sort of criminal justice system you people have where it takes 20 years to kill a man (through capital punishment) who kills another, while a man who kills the cow is killed in an instant.
5.30 pm: Mr. Misra continues to talk disregarding the interventions from the Chair, apparently peeved at yesterday’s incident which led to Mayawati’s resignation. And the Chair is trying explain its position “to set the record straight”. “I bypassed the LoP to allow Mayawati,” Mr. Kurien says. Responding to the Chair Mr. Misra squarely blames the Treasury benches for not allowing her to speak and the Chair says it’s a matter of a communication gap and “if the House is asked it will ask her to reconsider her resignation. I have no doubt about that.” Mr. Azad says, on record “we ask her to reconsider the resignation”.
The Chair says: “Misra ji through you we are conveying that it's the desire of the House that she reconsiders her decision,” adding that the Minister also agrees look at Mr. Naqvi. To this Mr. Naqvi gives a non-committal response saying it's up to the party.
5.20 pm: Mr. Tirkey of the BJD says India’s standing is very low in term of religious intolerance. BSP’s S. C. Misra’s comment “aap ne maara” referring to Una killings sparks opposition from Treasury, to this Mr. Misra retorts, “By you, I mean your organisations who are doing the killing.
“These people, wherever they are in government, they are creating class war, caste war and inter-religious war. By making them fighting them each other what do they want to establish?” he says and explains why party leader quit the Rajya Sabha that the ruling side didn't allow her to talk.
4.48 pm: When Dilip Tirkey was called to speak, AIADMK’s MP Vijila Sathyananth vocally points out to her turn which she swapped with Mr. Yechury. Supported by Mr. Azad she wins back her turn. She begins her speech paying obeisance to “Guardian Angel Puratchi Thalavi Amma (late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa) and quotes from Pattinathar.
She concludes by seeking a “human disaster task force” to take on cow vigilantism and lynchings.
4.45 pm: Derek O’Brien of the Trinamool Congress wants to tell the Prime Minister that empty words and generic phrases won't work in containing the cow vigilantism. He adds that cow vigilantism is a pretty term and it should be cow terrorism. The dominant narrative is that the underprivileged are losing out, and contends that the BJP is very innovative on fake news.
Trinamool leader Derek O’Brien speaks in the Rajya Sabha on July 19, 2017.
The cow is a three-letter word. But i want to dwell on another three-letter word: JOB, he says and goes on to reel out numbers to support his claim. "Your midnight reality TV on GST won't work,” he says.
Anand Sharma points out there's no Cabinet Minister present, Mr. O’Brien says, “I don't have a problem. But there's only one Minister.”
And then walks in J.P. Nadda and the norm is fulfilled.
“You said we have mandate so arrogantly. What do you have a mandate for,” he asks and tears into the government with numbers against what he calls “digital terrorism” and “financial terrorism” of the government, while brushing aside the comment by fellow Bengali Babul Supriyo, MoS Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.
“We, Mamata di, the Trinamool and the Opposition will join hands to GST - To Grow Stronger,” he concludes.
4.22 pm: Mr. Yechury takes exception to the Prime Minister’s contention that such vigilante groups should be dealt with by States. He says the vigilante groups should be banned by a Central order. Going into the reasons behind such incidents, he says the country was guided by the three visions - of the Congress, of the Left and that of the communal parties of the Islamic and Hindu sides. Quotes Sardar Patel against the Sangh after the Mahatma’s assassination. It's a cult of violence he says. Prime Minister’s have failed to stop these vigilantes, he says. Why only Bharat Mata ki Jai is construed patriotic and why not Bhagat Singh’s inquilab zindabad, he asks. “Isn't there an insidious reading into it?”
CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury speaks in the Rajya Sabha on July 19, 2017. Photo: RSTV
He quotes Adolf Hitler Mein Kampf on the “gigantic organism of nationalism” to buttress his point on Hindutva nationalism. Quotes from NYT and Financial Express , to say what the “favourite foreign media” is seeing, the ruling side is failing to see.
Mr. Kurien joins to quote the Rg Veda.
Mr. Yechury asks: “Will you tell me what to eat and what not to?” adding why don't you take the sayings of what the foreign media and G20 seriously, if you refuse take us seriously.
“Why do you insult Shakespeare by naming the anti-Romeo squads,” he asks as an aside while demanding a ban on cow vigilantes and anti-Romeo squads.
4.16 pm: AIADMK MP Vijila Satyanand is yielding her place to Sitaram Yechury, the Chair says. Mr. O’Brien asks whether AIADMK is not participating in the debate. Chair says it will take part in next round.
4.10 pm: Issue is put to rest and Mr. Agrawal resumes speech. Readers be reminded that the issue is about mob lynchings. Treasury members continue to interrupt his speech saying the lynching incidents have finished off cattle markets, resulting in more distress to farmers, who raise cattle. “Leave alone lynchings, you have raised anti-romeo squads in U.P.. Stand up and express regret. You are making a Saudi Arabia out of U.P.” Not even a single day passes without a rape in U.P., he says, dares even one MP from the BJP to dispute it. “Mr. Prime Minister, call a meeting of CMs and ask why such things are happening more in BJP-ruled States,” he says.
SP member Naresh Agrawal speaks in the Rajya Sabha on July 19, 2017. Photo: RSTV
4.07 pm: Interesting sidelight brought by the Chair's announcement that the comments expunged by the Chair should not be reported by the media - print or electronic. Trinamool MP Derek O’Brien brings up the whole world of social media and Anand Sharma joins in seeking opinion from Mr. Prasad about the regulation of social media. Mr. Prasad talks about collective responsibility.
4 pm: Rajya Sabha is back in action. Naresh Agrawal is speaking, says we never politicised Lord Ram and this (the action of the Treasury) is intolerance. Treasury members are still on their feet. Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad says the issue should be ended with Mr. Agrawal's apology. Mr. Agrawal defends himself and Treasury MPs cling on to the apology demand, and apologises. Treasury members are back to their seats.
3.40 pm: Debate on the IIIT (P-P) Bill 2017 continues. Dushyant Chautala of the INLD asks whether the government will facilitate poor students to go and study at industry-sponsored and prestigious institutes and wants to know when such institutes will become reality from the announcements. Sikkim MP Prem Das Rai points out zero IIITs in the North East to demand more such institutes in the region. Independent member Joice George speaks about increasing employability of the IT graduates, a point also pointed out by Congress member Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary.
3.30 pm: CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury says the House should be allowed to function as Mr. Agrawal has withdrawn his “offensive” comment and the Chair has expunged it. Naresh Gujral of the SAD suggests this could be sent to the Privileges Committee. Chair calls Anand Sharma to suggest a solution. Mr. Sharma, while telling the Treasury not to be caretakers of the religion, recalls about an incident about an JNU incident and a Minister reading out from a pamphlet. He says the Minister did not apologise. While suggesting this, the issue should be resolved through talks.
A desperate Chair while seeking suggestions and failing to get a way out, adjourns the House again till 4 p.m.
3.20 pm: RS reconvenes. Chair announces that Mr. Agrawal has withdrawn the comment and so the comment is not on record, invites him to express regret. Ruling side is further incensed by another comment by Mr. Agrawal wants him to apologise and goes on to continue to raise slogans. Ramgopal Yadav says he has withdrawn the remark and no question of apologising arises. He won't apologise even if the session goes on like this, he says. The Chair watches as Treasury members continue to be on their feet.
3.20 pm: Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha is continuing the debate on IIIT Bill. Congress member Premachandran is speaking, opposing the very idea of private partnership in such institutes even after the suucessful IIT experiment. Extensively quoting from law, Mr. Premachandran points out what he sees as lacunae in the Bill, especially on nominations to the IIIT Board.
3.10 pm: As Treasury benches shout slogans of maafi maango, maafi maango (apologise, apologise) and being openly told by Mr. Naqvi to adjourn the House till the issue is resolved, the Chair adjourns the House for 10 minutes.
Treasury members protest against a comment made by SP MP Naresh Agrawal in the Rajya Sabha on July 19, 2017.
3 pm: SP leader Naresh Agrawal quoting a verse he said he read at a “dharamshala” — purportedly juxtaposing alcohol and Hindu gods — invites flak from Treasury for hurting sentiments of Hindus. One member says this is also lynching. The Chairman’s assurance to go through the record and act accordingly does not pacify the Treasury benches. Chair tells Mr. Agrawal to withdraw anything he said against any community and Mr. Agrawal leaves it to the Chair. Jaitley says Mr. Agrawal is liable to prosecution if he has made it outside the House. And he wants Mr. Agrawal to apologise and withdraw the comment saying the Chair does not understand the gravity of the comment.
2.50 pm: MoS Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi rises to respond. He refutes Mr. Nabi’s contention that no action had been taken. He lists out action taken in cases including the one where Junaid was killed.
There were objections from the Opposition that Mr. Naqvi was indulging in a full reply, but they were sounded down by the Chair saying he was speaking for his party and not replying. Deputing a Muslim leader from their ranks to respond to a prominent Muslim leader from the Opposition seems to be the clear plan from the government.
Mr. Naqvi quotes the Prime Minister’s call for a crackdown on gau rakshaks at the all-party meeting on the eve of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. He also reiterates that the government is not mixing any diversionary agenda in its development agenda. Mr. Naqvi says he did not want indulge in a competition of lists of lynchings.
Mr. Naqvi’s long intervention, ends with a shair.
2.45 pm: Despite Mr. Azad squarely blaming the ruling dispensation, there are only feeble voices of opposition from the Treasury benches. He says the responsibility of maintaining law and order lies with the government. Appeals to the Leader of the House Arun Jaitley to understand the seriousness of the issue. He reiterates that it's not the issue of religion vs religion, he concludes his speech with an appeal to not to break the unity of this nation for vote.
2.35 pm: Listing out Parivar atrocities in Jammu and Kashmir and condemning the lynching of police officer Ayub Pandith, Mr. Azad contends that such lynchings too contribute to the situation in the State. “There's no place left from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, where lynchings didn't happen,” he says. “I’m not saying lynchings never happened in the past. But those were at individual level. These times one or other ruling party person is involved. This Parivar vs everybody. This is happening with an understanding. If not why such people are not being put on jail?"
2.30 pm: Mr. Azad, quoting a New York Times story about two people were killed in train while trying to stop anti-Muslim rant, Mr. Azad laments that the sentiment of raising a voice against and opposing an atrocity is lacking in our society, and goes on to quote the Junaid lynching in Haryana and the Akhlaq killing in Dadri.
2.20 pm: Mr. Azad now moves on lynchings. He says Jharkhand has become a akhada (centre) of lynchings . Such things only happened in the medieval times and during the colonial rules, he points out. Lamenting the fact that calls of hate is being given through medium like WhatsApp, Mr. Azad goes on to list out the incidents of lynchings including the ones on Singhbhum district where three were killed on child-lifting rumours. These lynchings are only in Jharkhand, he goes on to say, surprisingly (or unsurprisngly?) without any interruption from the ruling side.
2.15 pm: After the issue of Home Ministry non-representation, Mr. Azad speaks now. He lists out the incidents Dalit killings. Dalits are being killed for skinning dead cows he says.
Prominent attacks by cow vigilantes since 2015
After an objection from a Tamil Nadu member, Mr. Azad clarifies that he's not pointing out any party. “Wherever I have evidence, I will take the name of the party or Parivar involved like the one in Saharanpur,” he says.
2 pm: Rajya Sabha reconvenes. Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad starts speaking on the issue of "reported incidents of lynchings and atrocities against minorities and Dalits”. Mr. Azad and Congress’ Anand Sharma take exception to absence of any representative from the Home Ministry to respond. As Home Minister Rajnath Singh is unwell, what stops the government side from deputing the MoS Home, asks the Opposition members including Naresh Agrawal of the SP.
The Lok Sobha too has reconvened and is debating the Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Public-Private Partnership) Bill, 2017.
1:00 pm Booth Houses adjourned till 2 pm.
12:53 pm: Bhartruhari Mahtab, in Lok Sabha, talks about having separate time zone for the northeast region. These states can adopt daylight saving time, which will save electricity, he suggests. Minister Ananth Kumar agrees with him and says government will seriously consider his proposal.
12:50 pm: Employees in outsourcing industry are mostly outside social security benefits and even PF is not being given. Have you taken steps to include them? Mr. Dattatreya says special drive was conducted to include employees who are not included in EPF schemes. We brought out an amnesty scheme. Over 20 lakh employers were brought in through amnesty scheme. Over 80 lakh contract workers were brought in to ambit of social services. As many as one crore three lakh new workers were brought in to EPFO, says Mr. Lakshman.
12:47 pm: Anand Bhaskar Ropulu says IT employees are facing unceremonious termination. What is the Labour Minister going to do, given that there is no superannuation benefit to them. Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya says EPFO will provide benefits to IT employees as well.
12:40 pm: Prahlad Joshi takes up issue of report filed by DIG Roopa on irregularities in Karnataka prisons. He mentions how VIP prisoners are being given "excellent facilities". He goes on to say whistleblowers are being transferred out. Congress MPs object to it.
12:37 pm: Minister Nadda says the issue is very serious. A committee has clearly mentioned that nurses should get not less than Rs. 20,000 as wages in a 200-bedded hospitals. The Health Ministry has issued guidelines to States to implement the committee report. The states should comply according to the committee report.
12:32 pm: Anto Antony says private hospitals are paying Rs. 200 per day for nurses. Even a coolie worker earns more in Kerala, he says. The plights of nurses working in private establishments and as contract workers are pathetic across the nation. Mr. Antony wants the government to introduce a comprehensive bill in this regard. k.C Venugopal also joins the issue.
12:30 pm: Rajya Sabha reassembles. Question Hour continues. Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma answers questions on honorarium to performing artists.
Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari presides over the House on July 19, 2017. Photo: RSTV
12:26 pm Anurag Thakur talks about rape of a teen in Himachal Pradesh. Even after 15 days, the culprits have not been arrested, he says. The Himachal Pradesh government is sleeping over the issue, he says.
12:24 pm Even after repeated requests from Ms. Mahajan to cut short his speech, Mr. Yadav continues to speak. She stops him and passes on to the next person.
12:18 pm In Lok Sabha, Mulayam Singh Yadav speaks about Chinese incursion. China is prepared to attack India, he claims. He says India should continue to support autonomy of Tibet and should stand by Dalai Lama.
12:16 pm MPs storm the well shouting slogans against cow vigilantism. Rajya Sabha adjourned til 12:30 pm
12:11 pm Questions related to cow vigilantism is taken up in Rajya Sabha. An MP wants to know if NCRB maintains records of lynching related to cow vigilantism. Mr. Ahir says the NCRB maintains record of caste and religion-based violence. Law and order is a State subject, he says.
12:10 pm Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar says the government is pro-farmers. He requests opposition MPs to take part in the discussion, which is scheduled later in the day. Unhappy with response, Congress walks out.
12:07 pm Speaker assures MPs that there will be a short duration debate on the agrarian crisis. But Congress MPs demand it be discussed now suspending Zero Hour.
12:05 pm In Lok Sabha, Congress MPs want discussion on Rule 193. Mallikarjun Kharge reads out adjournment notice, which was rejected. Speaker proceeds with Zero Hour.
12:02 am Naresh Agarwal asks action taken against cow vigilantes. MoS Home Affairs Hansraj Ahir says State government are taking action against such incidents.
12:00 noon Lok Sabha proceedings begin. Various papers are being laid on the table.
12:00 noon Zero Hour ends. Question Hour begins. In the Chair is Vice-President Hamid Ansari.
11:54 am Tiruchi Siva raises the issue of locals protesting in Kathiramangalam against ONGC's drilling activities to extract methane. The groundwater is contaminated. This exploration will affect farming in the delta region. The ONGC and government should meet the people, Mr. Siva says.
11:51 am Subbarami Reddy talks about floods situation in northern and northeastern India. Along with floods, come vector-borne diseases, he says.
11:50 am Pratap Singh Bajwa raises the issue of Indian youth allegedly lured into Islamic State. He asks about the whereabouts of Indians in Mosul. Why not send an all-party delegation, he suggests.
11:44 am Vijay Sai Reddy , Andhra Pradesh MP, raises the issue of rising availability of narcotic drugs in illegal markets. Recently, a spate of arrests were made in Telugu speaking states, involving Nigerian nationals and even film faternity.
11:40 am Tapan Kumar Sen says: "Privatisation and selling of national assets chanting nationalistic slogans has become the policy of this government." Fourteen ordinance factories being closed. BEML being forced to privatise. What national interest is being served here by destroying our manufacturing capacities, he asks.
11:36 am KK Rageesh speaks against privatisation of Hindustan Newsprints. The company is in crisis after government removed the import duty on foreign newsprints. The modernisation proposal is waiting for government's acceptence. The company can be made profitable, he says.
11:32 am Mr. Raja raises the issue of reports on shutting down the Central Institute of Classical Language functioning in Chennai. This is being done with ulterior motives of giving upper hand to a couple of languages. All languages should be made nation language, he says.
Mr. Javadekar says government has not taken any such decision. "We want to promote all Indian languages. We are not going to impose any language on anybody."
11:30 am Thaawar Chand Gehlot, Minister of Social Justice, says the law against manual scavenging will be strictly implemented.
11:28 am J.P. Nadda, Union Health Minister, clarifies on NEET issue. The Health Ministry has sent its response. The papers are with the President Office. We are following up the issue, he says.
11:25 am Ali Ansari (JD-U)raises the issue of manual scavenging. Most people engaged in manual scavenging labour are Dalits. Many have lost their lives due to asphyxiation while cleaning sceptic tanks. "We are talking about going to moon. But there is no machine to clean sewage?" Mr. Ansari asks.
11:25 am AIADMK MPs approach the Well. "We want exemption,' they shout.
Tamil Nadu MPs at Rajya Sabha.
11:20 am Congress MP Anand Sharma too joins the Tamil Nadu MPs. He raises a Point of Order saying the Cabinet is yet to respond to Tamil Nadu Assembly's resolution. D. Raja (CPI) also joins in.
Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar respons. "The matter is sub-judice. We are taking into consideration, everyone's concern."
11:13 am Zero Hour proceedings begin in Rajya Sabha. Tamil Nadu MP A K Selvaraj speaks about exempting the State from implementing NEET. Kanimozhi also joins the issue. The Tamil Nadu wants permanent exemption from NEET, she says.
MP Navaneethakrishnan claims tougher question papers were distributed to South Indian students. Many students are on the verge of committing suicide, he says.
11:10 am A number of MPs want suspension of business under [Rule] 267 notices on agrarian crisis.
11:09 am In Rajya Sabha, Mr. Kurien allows MPs to speak on matters of importance. Anand Sharma, Sharad Yadav and Digvijaya Singh speak about farmers protesting in Jantar Mantar. "We will have a discussion later in the day," says Mr. Kurien.
11:06 am Questions being taken on launch of nano satellites. MoS Dr. Jithendra Singh informs the House that Mars Orbitor Mission has completed 1000 space years this June.
11:05 am Various papers are being laid on the Table in Rajya Sabha. Prominent ones are parliamentary committee on reviving sick PSUs, Action Taken Statements of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilizers, and Parliamentary Standing Committee report on Rural Development.
11:00 am Lok Sabha proceedings begin. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan is in the Chair. Question Hour begins. Congress MPs raise slogans. Minister Ananth Kumar requests the Opposition to allow the House to function.
11:00 amRajya Sabha proceedings begin. Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien is in the Chair.
Parliamentarians representing the north eastern States demand that the floods be declared as 'national calamity.'
10:35 am Today, MPs from northeast are protesting near the Gandhi statue demanding that the floods affecting their States be declared as 'national calamity.'
10:30 am A meeting of BJP Parliamentary Party is underway with top leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, L.K. Advani, Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj and others are participating.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other party ministers and MPs attending the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting at Parliament library in New Delhi on Wednesday.
M. Venkaiah Naidu is understandably missing. He resigned from the party after agreeing to contest in Vice-President election. But Mr. Naidu continues to be an MP in Rajya Sabha.
