Hitting out at the Congress for stalling proceedings in Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said there were several measures other than the crucial GST Bill that were pending in Parliament. >More...
A day after senior Congress leaders led by party president Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held deliberations on their strategy on the ‘National Herald’ case and the party’s stand on the Goods & Service Tax (GST), former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said that there was no link between the two issues.
In an exclusive interview to The Hindu, former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said: “This is a link made by the government… This is a link selectively placed in the media... There is no link.” >Read...
For the fourth consecutive day on Thursday, the Congress disrupted Parliament over alleged "politics of vengeance" by the BJP-led govt. So far, the Congress has not found much support, except from the Trinamool Congress. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi reiterated his party’s stand, saying the case was “100 percent political vendetta coming out of the Prime Minister’s Office”.
Parliament proceedings: highlights
- » Congress, TMC MPs walk out of Lok Sabha protesting BJP member's "derogatory" remarks against Rahul Gandhi, Jyotiraditya Scindia.
- » It is a matter of sorrow that Parliament is not running: Modi
- » Government is planning to construct 7,000 kms of new national highways by including coastal and border areas under the Bharatmala Pariyojna, Lok Sabha was informed today.
- Today's list of business: >Lok Sabha ; >Rajya Sabha
Live updates:
3.45 pm: Rajya Sabha >adjourned for the day following unrelenting protests by Congress members
2.00 pm: Rajya Sabha adjourned till 3 PM.
1:37 pm: I never said anything which is objectionable or unparliamentary, says BJP MP Virendra Singh.
12:58 pm: Govt . to construct 7,000 kms NHs under ‘Bharatmala Pariyojna’
Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said: “The Ministry has taken up detailed review of national highways network with a view to improve connectivity in border areas, including coastal boundary and connectivity covering development of about 7,000 kms of new national highway under the 'Bharatmala Pariyojna' in consultation with state governments.”
12:47 pm: We are in favour of GST Bill, says Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.
12:44 pm: Congress, TMC MPs walk out of Lok Sabha protesting BJP member's "derogatory" remarks against Rahul Gandhi, Jyotiraditya Scindia.
12:38 pm: Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 p.m.
12:17 pm: Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge to LS speaker: "You must suspend BJP MP Virendra Singh for his offensive remarks or demand unconditional apology."
12:15 pm: Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the govt. is willing to have a debate on the 'National Herald' case or any other issue then and there; but the House is being adjourned as Congress MPs kept shouting slogans.
12:11 pm: Rajya Sabha adjourned for 30 minutes amid continued uproar by Congress members.
12:10 pm: Unrelenting Congress MP raise slogans.
12:07 pm: Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad says that the government iswilling to have a debate on National Herald or any other issue.
12:05 pm: Congress MPs storm into the well of the House over the National Herald issue..
11:34 am: Rajya Sabha adjourned till noon.
11:20 am: Rajya Sabha adjourned till 1130 hrs as Congress MPs stage protest over alleged "politics of vengeance" by BJP-led govt. Lok Sabha adjourned till 1140 hrs.
11:17 am: Congress members raise 'We want justice' slogans in Lok Sabha while protesting against BJP MP Virendra Singh.
11:15 am: Venkaiah Naidu asks Mallikarjun Kharge in Lok Sabha: how do you justify coming to the Well of the House and throwing paper at Deputy Speaker?
11:08 am: Democracy cannot function at the whims and fancies of anyone, says PM Modi.
11:04 am: It is a matter of sorrow that Parliament is not running: Modi
10:58 am: "People only talk about GST & Parliament but there are also several other measures for the poor that [are] pending in Parliament," says Mr. Modi.
10:43 am: They're [the Congress] trying to drag a court battle into Parliament and trying to wriggle out of it, in which they would not succeed, says BJP leader Jitendra Singh.
10:34 am: Congress to move adjournment motion in Lok Sabha against BJP MP Virendra Singh for his allegedly offensive remarks against Rahul Gandhi and J. Scindia.
10:32 am: The nitty-gritty of 'The National Herald’ case
From our legal correspondent Krishnadas Rajagopal : the 27-page judgment of the Delhi High Court in 'The National Herald' case reveals no political vendetta. >Read...
10:30 am: Strategy meeting of Congress Lok Sabha MPs in Parliament begins.
10:00 am: Congress Lok Sabha MPs to hold strategy meeting in Parliament at 10:30 a.m.
Following is today’s schedule for both Houses of Parliament:
Lok Sabha:
Bills for consideration and passing:
— The Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts Bill, 2015.
— The Industries (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015.
Further discussion on drought situation in various parts of the country.
Rajya Sabha:
Bills for consideration and passing:
— The Whistle Blowers Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2015.
— The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2015.
— The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, 2015.
Short duration discussion on the situation arising out of growing intolerance endangering the unity and diversity of the country.
National Herald Case
- What - Subramanian Swamy, the then Janata Party president, >knocked the court's door raising questions over acquisition of a company that published the now-defunct National Herald newspaper to which Congress gave a loan of over Rs 90 crore.
- Who - Dr. Swamy alleged that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi had floated a Section 25 company called ‘Young Indian’, which acquired Associated Journals, founded by late Jawaharlal Nehru, that published the National Herald and Quami Awaz .
- How - Dr. Swamy >claimed it was illegal for Congress, a political party, to give loans for commercial purposes. Young Indian wrote off the loans due to Congress for a mere Rs 50 lakh and by a board resolution, the Associate Journals is sold by transfer of shares to Young Indian, which is not a newspaper or journal producing company.
- Why - The deal, Dr. Swamy alleged, was to grab prized property like Herald House in Delhi and other properties of the Associated Journals in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
- Then - Rahul Gandhi >threatened legal action against Dr. Swamy. Congress challenged Dr. Swamy to prove his allegations in a court of law. As Dr. Following Dr. Swamy's plea, a Delhi court >ordered the Gandhis to appear before it on August 7, which was >challenged in High Court.
- Next Sonia Gandhi, son Rahul Gandhi and others are directed to appear in person on December 19 by a Delhi court on Tuesday.
