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SC Upholds Free Speech, Quashes Case Against Congress MP

March 28, 2025, 12:22 pm

The Supreme Court on Friday reaffirmed the importance of freedom of speech, saying that literature, including poetry, drama, cinema, satire, and painting, enriches human existence. The court made this in the process of quashing an FIR lodged by the Gujarat Police against Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi on charges of a so-called “provocative” song.

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan emphasized the responsibility of the judiciary to protect the basic rights of citizens, particularly freedom of speech and expression. “Even if a majority of people do not like the opinion expressed by someone, the right of person to express the opinions should be upheld and protected,” the bench declared.

Although this ruling came in Pratapgarhi’s case, it coincided with a growing debate over comedian Kunal Kamra’s satirical act targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Kamra’s stand-up performance, uploaded on YouTube and Instagram, sparked outrage among Shinde’s supporters. On Sunday, his detractors vandalized the Mumbai venue where the show was shot, threatening they would not allow him “walk freely.” The police have detained Shiv Sena deputy leader Rahool Kanal and others who took part in the attack, while an FIR has been filed against Kamra.

During his act, Kamra ridiculed Maharashtra’s political realignments, highlighting the chaos created by Shiv Sena and NCP factions breaking up. He joked, “Jo inhone Maharashtra ke election me kia hai. bolna padega. pehle Shiv Sena BJP se bahar aa gayi fir Shiv Sena Shiv Sena se bahar aa gayi. NCP NCP se bahar aa gayi. ek voter ko 9 button dediye. sab confuse ho gaye…” He also made a veiled mention of Eknath Shinde, stating, “Chalu ek jan ne kia tha. wo Mumbai me bohot badhiya ek district hai Thane waha se aate hain…,” before breaking into a song that parodies a song from Dil To Pagal Hai.

In the Imran Pratapgarhi case, meanwhile, the Congress leader had objected to the Gujarat High Court’s January 17 ruling, which declined to quash the FIR, saying that the investigation was in its initial stages. Pratapgarhi was arrested on January 3 for allegedly sharing a provocative song at a mass marriage ceremony in Jamnagar. He was booked under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 196 (encouraging animosity between various groups on religious grounds, race, etc.) and Section 197 (statements prejudicial to national integration).

The case was based on a 46-second video posted on the X platform, in which Pratapgarhi waved to a group of people as flower petals rained on him while a song played in the backdrop. The FIR charged that the lyrics of the song were inflammatory and derogatory to national unity. But with the intervention of the Supreme Court, the case against him has been quashed.

Parliament Security Breach? Cash Found in Congress MP’s Rajya Sabha Seat Raises Serious Questions

December 6, 2024, 4:21 pm

A dramatic turn of events unfolded in the Rajya Sabha on Friday when a wad of cash was discovered on a seat assigned to Congress MP and Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi. The incident has raised eyebrows, sparked a political debate, and prompted a formal investigation by Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Singhvi, expressing astonishment over the incident, clarified his brief presence in the house on the day in question. “I am quite astonished to even hear about it. I never heard of it. I reached the inside of the House yesterday at 12.57 pm. The House rose at 1 pm. From 1 to 1:30 pm, I sat with Ayodhya Prasad in the canteen and had lunch. At 1:30 pm, I left Parliament. So my total stay in the House yesterday was 3 minutes and my stay in the canteen was 30 minutes. I find it bizarre that even on such issues politics is raised,” Singhvi stated.

Welcoming the investigation ordered by Chairman Dhankhar, Singhvi emphasised the need for accountability and security reforms in Parliament. “Of course, there must be an inquiry as to how people can come and put anything anywhere in any seat. It means that each of us must have a seat where the seat itself can be locked and the key can be carried home by the MP because everybody can then do things on the seat and make allegations about this. If it was not tragic and serious it would be comical. I think everybody should cooperate in getting to the bottom of this and if there is a failing in the security agencies that must also be completely exposed,” he added.

Chairman Dhankhar provided details of the discovery earlier in the day. “I hereby inform the members that during the routine anti-sabotage check of the chamber after the adjournment of the House yesterday, a wad of currency notes was recovered by the security officials from seat number 222, which is presently allotted to Abhishek Manu Singhvi, elected from the state of Telangana. The matter was brought to my notice, and I made sure an investigation takes place and the same is underway,” Dhankhar said.

Inside the house, Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the decision to name Singhvi publicly while the investigation was ongoing. “I am not going beyond that, I know that you will not allow us. You said that this matter is under investigation, then his/her name should not have been taken. I request that until the investigation is done and the authenticity of the incident is established, a member should not be named. Can he do like this? Aaisa chillar kaam krti hai aur desh ko barbaad kr rahe hai yeh log (BJP),” Kharge remarked.

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Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju added his perspective, stating, “No one carries note bundles in the house.”

The incident has added to the disruptions in Parliament, with the winter session, which began on November 25, already witnessing early adjournments. The session is set to continue until December 20, with members eagerly awaiting the findings of the ongoing investigation.

The discovery has underscored concerns about parliamentary security and decorum, leaving many questions unanswered about how the cash ended up on Singhvi’s seat.

Congress MP ‘Are We Rabbits?’ On Mohan Bhagwat’s ‘Three Children’ Advice

December 2, 2024, 5:09 pm

Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury has reacted sharply to the recent comments made by RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat about India’s slowing population growth and his suggestion that couples should have at least three children. Speaking to NDTV at Parliament, Chowdhury said she had concerns over unemployment, a rise in the cost of living, and the broader implications of Bhagwat’s statement.

Chowdhury Highlights Unemployment Crisis

Renuka Chowdhury criticised Bhagwat’s call for a higher birth rate, pointing out the problems faced by families in India. She said that unemployment is becoming a big problem in the country and no one wants to marry off their daughters to jobless men. She said that with rising unemployment, many men are unable to take care of their families. “They don’t have jobs, how will they take care of their partners?” she added.

She further mentioned that there exist monetary difficulties in the majority of the families and old parents working for young ones. “Are we rabbits that we will keep reproducing?”, she asked while referring to this situation.

Addressing Rising Costs of Living

The Congress leader further pointed towards the increasing cost of living, when even food and travel are no longer affordable. She mentioned that the increasing medical costs made it hard for families to afford them. Chowdhury‘s words reflect growing worries over India‘s economic and employment issues that are fuelling the country’s social challenges.

Bhagwat’s Population Concerns

Mohan Bhagwat had earlier stated that a declining population of India is a serious issue. He based this statement on demographic studies thatshow that a fertility rate below 2.1 leads to the gradual extinction of society. Bhagwat said a fertility rate should be maintained above 2.1 so that the society does not face extinction. He further talked about family and mentioned that every family is the most critical building block of society.

A Declining Fertility Rate

India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR), which tracks population change, has declined from 2.2 to 2. A TFR below 2.1 signals a shrinking population and an aging society, which raises concerns about long-term social and economic stability.

Chowdhury’s Retort on Family Planning

In her rebuttal, Chowdhury questioned the feasibility of Bhagwat’s proposition, saying, “What is their experience? We know the reality of today’s world.” Her sharp remarks serve as a critique not only of Bhagwat’s stance on population growth but also of the broader socio-economic conditions that many Indians face today.

The issue of population control and family planning speaks well about the gap between ideologies of different politicians and the concerns of average citizens. The unemployed and ever-rising prices coupled with rising living expenses call into question the measures through which such a nation might reconcile this and its population pressures.

Remarks from Renuka Chowdhury point to the complexities in the issues related to India’s population growth. While Mohan Bhagwat identifies demographic decline as an issue that calls for children, this Chowdhury response articulates the reality of unemployment, economic pressure, and the relevance of very real solutions that the country needs for its larger socio-economic issues.

Insects Spotted in Sambhar on Vande Bharat Train, Congress MP Shares Shocking Video

November 18, 2024, 4:04 pm

A passenger traveling on the Vande Bharat train from Tirunelveli to Chennai had an unpleasant experience when he discovered insects crawling in the sambhar served during his journey. The passenger shared a video on social media showing black bugs floating in the curry, which quickly went viral and sparked outrage over the food quality on India’s premier express train.

The video was also shared by Congress MP Manickam Tagore, who questioned the hygiene standards on the Vande Bharat trains. He wrote, “Dear Ashwini Vaishnaw ji, live insects were found in the food served on the Tirunelveli-Chennai Vande Bharat Express. Passengers have raised concerns over hygiene and IRCTC’s accountability. What steps are being taken to address this and ensure food safety on premium trains?”

Watch:

Dear @AshwiniVaishnaw ji ,live insects ? were found in the food served on the Tirunelveli-Chennai #VandeBharatExpress

Passengers have raised concerns over hygiene and IRCTC’s accountability.
What steps are being taken to address this and ensure food safety on premium trains? pic.twitter.com/auR2bqtmip

— Manickam Tagore .B??மாணிக்கம் தாகூர்.ப (@manickamtagore) November 16, 2024

This incident is not the first food safety issue faced by Vande Bharat trains. Earlier, another passenger had reported finding a cockroach in their meal, leading to widespread disgust among social media users. One user commented, “Why are catering services third class on many express trains and platforms? Food prepared and served is completely unhygienic. People have no choice but to adjust.” Another user added, “Anyone who travels by railways knows not to eat the food sold by Railways. This is disgusting.”

In response to the outrage, the Southern Railway issued a clarification, stating that an immediate investigation was conducted. Upon inspecting the food sample, they determined that the insect had been stuck to the lid of the aluminum container and not inside the sambhar itself. The railway authorities imposed a Rs. 50,000 fine on the catering service provider, Ms. Brindavan Food Products, for negligence. “Food samples were collected and sent for testing to ascertain the cause of the contamination. For this negligence, a penalty of Rs. 50,000 has been imposed on the contractor, and further action is being pursued,” the statement read.

Congress MP Accuses BJP Of Anti-Muslim Politics In Heated Lok Sabha Debate

August 2, 2024, 3:02 am

During a heated Lok Sabha debate, Congress MP Mohammad Jawed accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of gaining power by inciting anti-Muslim, anti-Dalit, and anti-poor sentiments. He claimed that without Muslims in India, the BJP would not have achieved electoral success. The debate focused on demands for grants for the Education Ministry, with Jawed urging the government to restart schemes for minority students and criticizing what he called discriminatory policies.

Key Accusations and Appeals

Muslim Contributions: Jawed emphasized the intelligence and contributions of Muslims to Indian society, urging the government not to discriminate against them.
Educational Policies: He called for the resumption of scholarships and support for minority students, highlighting the decline in Muslim candidates passing the UPSC exams.
Education System Criticism: Jawed accused the government of dismantling the country’s education infrastructure and pointed to issues like student suicides in Kota and the death of students in a Delhi coaching center.

BJP’s Response and Defense

In response, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya praised the Union Budget and the National Education Policy (NEP), arguing that they empower youth through education and skill development. He countered Jawed’s accusations by stating:

Budgetary Achievements: Surya highlighted the government’s achievements in education over the past decade, attributing improvements to the NEP.
Congress Criticism: He accused the Congress of failing to implement the Mandal Commission report and being anti-SC, ST, and OBC.
Mother Tongue Education: Surya praised the emphasis on providing education in regional languages, which he argued would enhance learning.

Issues Raised in the Debate

Teacher Shortage: Jawed pointed out the shortage of teachers and claimed that budget allocations for education have decreased from 3.36% of GDP under the UPA government to 2.9% currently.
Exam Integrity: He criticized the integrity of the National Testing Agency (NTA) due to frequent paper leaks, questioning the government’s competence.
Infrastructure Concerns: Jawed drew attention to infrastructure issues, citing a leaking roof in Parliament as symbolic of broader governance problems.

Conclusion

The debate in the Lok Sabha showcased sharp divisions between the Congress and BJP over issues of minority rights and education policies. While Jawed accused the BJP of discriminatory practices, Surya defended the government’s record and criticized the Congress for past failures.

Congress MP demands classical language status for Marathi

July 22, 2024, 7:53 pm

New Delhi, July 22: Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad on Monday in Parliament demanded ‘classical language status’ for Marathi.

Gaikwad, who is a Congress MP from Mumbai’s North Central demanded for classical language status to Marathi language in the Lok Sabha session.

https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/fu.mp4

She raised her voice for ‘my Marathi language’ which means ‘Amritatehi paija winke’, ‘Labhale Amhas Bhagya Bolto Marathi, Jahlo Khach Dhaniya Eketo Marathi”

She said, “During the Congress government in the state, the then Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan submitted an expert report to the Center on July 11, 2014, which gave strong evidence of the rich history of Marathi, to declare ‘My Marathi’ as a classical language. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government taking revenge on Maharashtra on this report did not take any decision in the last ten years.”

“In the Lok Sabha elections, the people of Maharashtra took notice of BJP’s hatred towards the Marathi language and Maharashtra, and taught them a good lesson” she added.

Rahul Gandhi Seeks Public Feedback on Congress Manifesto

April 7, 2024, 1:27 pm

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, upon returning from Telangana to New Delhi following his participation in the ‘Jana Jatara Sabha’ in Rangareddy district, invited feedback and opinions from individuals regarding the party’s manifesto via email or messages.

“I have landed from Telangana. I had gone there to attend a function on manifesto release. Many say that the (Congress) manifesto is a revolutionary document. It was made after taking suggestions from you (people). I would like to thank you. Please give your comments, your views through email or messages,” Rahul Gandhi said in a video post on Instagram.

“I made this video last night at 12:30 am, but my team thought it was too late to post. So I’m posting it now because the message is still relevant. The #CongressManifesto is the voice of every Indian, share your thoughts on social media,” he added in his post.

Previously on Saturday, Rahul Gandhi emphasized that the Congress manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections represents the voice of the Indian people. He stated that it was crafted after attentively hearing the perspectives of millions.

Rahul Gandhi outlined five guarantees (Nyay) pledged by the party in its manifesto.

“When we gave you guarantees, we called them the guarantees of the Congress Party but in reality, they were the guarantees of the people. When we talked about Rs 500 cylinder, 200 units of free electricity, Greh Lakshmi, and free bus travel, we heard the voice of the people and prepared these guarantees,” Rahul Gandhi said.

“Today, everyone in Telangana knows that Congress is fulfilling the promises. There is the highest unemployment in the country in 40 years, but the Telangana Government has given government jobs to 30,000 people and at the same time 50,000 more people will get jobs. This manifesto is the voice of the people of India,” he added.

Rahul Gandhi Meets Elephant Attack Victims’ Families in Wayanad

February 18, 2024, 12:05 pm

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi arrived at the home of VP Paul, a Forest Department watcher, who was killed on Sunday in Wayanad by a wild elephant.
The Congress MP spoke with the victim’s family and offered his condolences to them during their time of loss.
The event sparked a large-scale demonstration on Saturday in the Wayanad district’s Pakkam, close to Pulpally.

Rahul Gandhi abruptly ended his “Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra” in Varanasi yesterday and departed for his Wayanad seat in response to public outcry over locals’ deaths at the hands of wild elephant attacks.

Gandhi has also addressed a letter to Pinarayi Vijayan, the chief minister of Kerala, asking for prompt action on the event.

The victim was attacked, according to Kerala Forest Minister AK Saseendran, after the elephant entered a neighborhood close to Mananthavady.

Following the event, the Kerala government promised a job to one of the deceased’s family members and issued a compensation of Rs 10 lakh.

In the meantime, Wayanad wildlife attack issues were the subject of a high-level conference that was ordered by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday.

The Kerala Chief Minister has announced that on February 20, a meeting will take place in Wayanad. Ministers from the Revenue, Forest, and Local Self-Government Departments will be present at the conference. The gathering will be attended by representatives of the people, including those from the Wayanad district’s local bodies, and officials, including high-ranking officials.

Simultaneously, there was a report of another occurrence in which a dead cow was discovered, allegedly as a result of a wild animal attack this morning close to Kenichira. The desire for swift action was heightened when furious people brought the cow’s body and placed it on the bonnet of a forest department jeep.

Authorities in Wayanad are struggling to deal with the growing number of wildlife-related incidents, thus things are still tense there. It is expected that strategies and mitigation measures to address the growing issues posed by these attacks in the region would be discussed at the upcoming high-level meeting.

Nyay Yatra to Take Two-Day Break After Completion of Odisha Leg: Congress’ Jairam Ramesh

February 8, 2024, 12:36 pm

The Odisha phase of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, led by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, is set to wrap up on Thursday, according to party leader Jairam Ramesh.
Taking to social media, X, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh, said that the yatra will have a two-day respite beginning this afternoon.

“This morning, after going through Jharsuguda District, there will be a flag handover at Rengalpali and the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will complete its Odisha run and move into Chhattisgarh. After 12 continuous days on the road, from this afternoon onwards, through the 9th and 10th, the Yatra will be on a break. The Yatra will resume on the morning of the 11th of February in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh,” Jairam Ramesh wrote on X.
“The Yatra will re-enter Jharkhand on the morning of the 14th, and thereafter re-enter Bihar on the morning of the 15th. On the afternoon of February 16th, the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will enter Uttar Pradesh,” he added.

On Wednesday, the 25th day of the Nyay Yatra, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi paid a visit to Vedvyas Dham in the Sundergarh region of Western Odisha. The cave of this temple is thought to be the location where philosopher and poet Ved Vyas ji wrote the Mahabharata.
The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, arrived in Odisha on Tuesday after passing through Jharkhand.
The Yatra received a warm welcome in Biramitrapur, a small industrial town in Sundergarh district.
On this occasion, Jharkhand Congress President Rajesh Thakur presented the national flag to Odisha Congress President Sarat Patnaik.

The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra began in Thoubal, Manipur, on January 14. The yatra will travel over 6,700 km in 67 days, passing across 110 regions. It would traverse 6,713 kilometres, passing through 100 Lok Sabha constituencies, 337 assembly segments, and 110 districts.
The 67-day yatra will culminate in Mumbai on March 20.
The Yatra 2.0, a hybrid version of the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ that saw Rahul Gandhi walk over 3,000 kilometers from Kanya Kumari to Srinagar, is a follow-up to the former.

Congress MP Urges Swift Release of Rs 37,907 Crore Disaster Relief Funds Package for Tamil Nadu

February 8, 2024, 10:49 am

Congress MP, Manickam Tagore,, moved an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha on Thursday to debate the two catastrophes, including Cyclone Michaung, that struck Tamil Nadu in December.
The Congress Lok Sabha MP has urged the House to direct the Central government to disburse the Rs 37,907 crore funding requested by the Tamil Nadu government for flood assistance.

“It is important that this House should come forward to start discussion on the impact of cyclone Michaung in Tamil Nadu and to direct the government to early release Rs 37, 907 crore funds sought by the state government towards flood relief,” the MP from Virudhunagar wrote in his letter to the Lok Sabha Secretary General.

“The compensation sought by the state government includes Rs 15,645.59 crore for temporary restoration and Rs 22,261.62 crore for permanent restoration works, in the Cyclone Michaung hit Chennai and neighbouring districts of Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu and Kancheepuram in the first week of December and rain hit southern districts of the State, two weeks later,” he said.

“While the State Government undertook immediate rescue and relief efforts using its own financial resources and the funds available with the State Disaster Response Fund, the magnitude of these disasters was colossal and, therefore. full restoration and rehabilitation cannot be done without adequate support from the National Disaster Response Fund. Cyclonic storm ‘Michaung’ brought extremely very heavy rainfall on December 3 and 4 and Chennai. Thiruvallur. Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu districts were severely affected because of the cyclone and consequent heavy flooding. Close on its wake, the southern districts of the State–Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Kanniyakumari districts received unprecedented, extremely heavy rainfall on December 17 and 18. As a result, the infrastructure both public and private and livelihoods of the people have been devastated,” the Congress MP added.

Both Houses of Parliament, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, will resume at 11 a.m. on Thursday to discuss the legislative matter on the agenda for the day.
In Lok Sabha, MPs Ravneet Singh and Bhavana Gawali (Patil) will place on the table the minutes of the Thirteenth Committee on Members’ Absence from House Session on February 6.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Lower House passed the Finance Bill, 2024, which marked the end of the House’s Interim Budget exercise. The Union Finance Minister presented the Interim Budget on February 1, the second day of the current Budget Session.

The session, which began with President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the joint sitting of both Houses on January 31, has been prolonged by one day until February 10. It was scheduled to be completed on February 9.

Manish Tewari , Congress MP calls for Adjournment of Parliament to discuss imprisonment of Retired Indian Navy personnel in Qatar

December 6, 2023, 11:38 am

Manish Tewari, Congress MP , has announced his intention to request permission to move a motion to adjourn the house’s business so that the house can discuss a specific, urgent issue: the detention of retired Indian navy personnel in Qatar. “That this House pause Question Hour, Zero Hour, and other daily business in order to hold a discussion about the imprisoned retired Indian navy personnel in Qatar.” The letter from the Congress MP stated, “On October 26, 2023, the Qatari court sentenced Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Commander Amit Nagpal, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, and Sailor Ragesh.

In a letter to the Secretary-General of Lok Sabha, Tewari stated that the eight retired navy personnel were sentenced to death by the Qatari court on October 26, 2023. He further stated that he has been constantly raising this matter since August 2022 both inside and outside the House but the response of the Government has been – NO RESPONSE for -14 months.
Tewari also alleged that the eight navy personnel have been brutally tortured, self-incriminating confessions extracted, and sentenced to death in a Kangaroo Trail in a couple of perfunctory hearings. He further stated that the Government has not even called in the Qatari Ambassador to protest the matter strongly.

Congress MP Manish Tewari gives adjournment motion notice in LS to discuss border situation with China

July 27, 2023, 10:40 am

In order to discuss the border situation with China, Congress MP Manish Tewari announced an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

In his letter to the Secretary-General, Lok Sabha, Manish Tewari said, “I hereby give notice of my intention to ask for leave to move a motion for the adjournment of the business of the house for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent importance, namely: That this House do suspend Zero Hour and relevant rules relating to Question Hour and other businesses of the day to have a discussion on the border situation with China.” Manish Tewari further urged the Central Government to inform the Lok Sabha about the situation at the border with China and the attempts it had made to resolve the ongoing matter between the two countries.

“The border situation with China has been extremely tense since clashes broke out with Chinese forces in Eastern Arunachal Pradesh. Despite multiple rounds of talks between India and China, the border dispute continues to persist. Moreover, there have been reports coming out from Chushul, Eastern Ladakh, that the People Liberation Army (PLA) has pitched four tents in a “buffer zone”, and has demanded a 15-20 km Buffer Zone inside Indian territory,” the letter stated.

“Thus, in light of the aforementioned, I, therefore urge the Government to inform the House of the situation at the border with China, the attempts made by the Government to mediate and settle the border dispute, and the policies introduced by the Government to preserve and protect India’s integrity against possible Chinese aggressions,” it added.
Earlier, the Opposition moved a no-confidence motion to express its lack of confidence in the government, but this time they are using it to compel Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make a statement in the House on the Manipur issue that has stalled the Parliament for five consecutive days.

No-confidence motion against the government was presented to the Lok Sabha by Congress Party MP Gaurav Gogoi. Speaker Om Birla accepted the motion and said he would speak with the leaders of all the parties to determine when the motion would be discussed.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi files a no-confidence motion notice against government in Lok Sabha

July 26, 2023, 11:20 am

Congressman Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday filed a notice for a no-confidence motion against the government in the Lok Sabha amid the impasse in Parliament over the Manipur situation. The opposition I.N.D.I.A alliance parties met on Tuesday and decided to bring a no-confidence motion. Gogoi, an MP from the northeast, represents Assam’s Kaliabor constituency. No-confidence motions are a way for opposition MPs to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi for clarification on a variety of issues, including the violence in Manipur, even though they are aware that the majority of votes in the Lok Sabha are in the government’s favor.

Manickam Tagore, Congress Whip in Lok Sabha said INDIA alliance is together and it had proposed the idea of no-confidence motion. “Yesterday it was decided. Today, Congress party’s leader is moving it. We wanted to break the arrogance of Mr Modi. He is behaving as an arrogant person – not to come to the Parliament and make a statement on Manipur…We feel that it is our duty to use this last weapon,” he said.
AAP MP Raghav Chadha said that some parliamentary procedures are used to have a long-duration discussion and to compel the government to give a reply.

“Many a time in India’s Parliamentary history, critical instruments of debate, dialogue and discussion within Parliament are exercised. Regardless of the outcome of those instruments and motions, they are exercised with the sole objective of a long-duration discussion on an important issue subsequent to which the PM of India is compelled to come to Parliament and respond to the issues raised by the people and the Members of the Lok Sabha,” he said.
“I think these parliamentary instruments actually strengthen India’s democracy and must be exercised time again and again to pressurise the government to come before the Lok Sabha and answer the questions,” he added.
Opposition parties have been protesting in both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha over their demand for a detailed discussion on the Manipur violence and statement from the Prime Minister on the issue. They have been giving adjournment motion notices.

Since the start of the monsoon session of Parliament on July 20, the two Houses have been adjourned numerous times. The government has moved forward with some legislative tasks despite opposition chanting. According to sources in the Congress, Gaurav Gogoi represents a district in the northeast, and his announcement of a motion of no confidence symbolizes the attack the opposition is mounting on Manipur, the state that has experienced ethnic violence.

Congress MP Balu Dhanorkar passes away

May 30, 2023, 4:51 pm

Congress MP Balu Dhanorkar, who represented the Chandrapur Lok Sabha constituency in Maharashtra, sadly passed away on Tuesday at a private hospital in Delhi.

Reports suggest that Dhanorkar had been experiencing kidney-related issues, leading to his admission at Medanta Hospital, where he breathed his last on Tuesday morning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his condolences upon hearing the news of Dhanorkar’s demise.

Taking to social media handle, PM Modi said, “Saddened by the passing away of Lok Sabha MP from Chandrapur, Balubhau Narayanrao Dhanorkar Ji. He will be remembered for his contribution to public service and for empowering the poor. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti.” Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also expressed his condolences.
The final rites of Dhanorkar are expected to be performed at his native village, Varora.