News Analysis India

Category: Politics

  • “This action is inappropriate”: Sachin Pilot hits out at BJP over suspension of MPs

    After the suspension of 143 MPs from Parliament, Congress leader Sachin Pilot hit out at the BJP and asked if the opposition did not have the right to put forward its view.

    “The issue is that they are suspending the MPs. They are making different headlines…Does the Opposition not have the right to put forward its view? This action is inappropriate,” Sachin Pilot told reporters.

    A total of 143 MPs–97 from Lok Sabha and 46 from Rajya Sabha–have been suspended so far for creating a ruckus and disrupting proceedings in both Houses, demanding a statement from Union Minister Amit Shah about the Parliament security breach incident. Amid the controversy over the mimicry incident of Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications, Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday asked for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s response over insulting his political opponents in the last 20 years and said that BJP leaders are fuelling the mimicry row to divert attention from real issues.

    The remarks came after Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday revealed the details of his telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Modi, where the latter mentioned that he had been at the receiving end of such insults for twenty years and counting.

    In this regard, Jairam Ramesh shared a video on X (former Twitter) where PM Modi is targetting senior Congress leaders including Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.”The Prime Minister has said that he has been suffering insults for the last twenty years. But what will he say about the way he has insulted his political opponents and used abusive and indecent language against them in the last 20 years? This is their cliched way of diverting attention from the real issue,” Jairam Ramesh posted on X, roughly translated from Hindi. The controversy erupted after suspended Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee, during the protest with other suspended MPs at Parliament’s Makar Dwar, was seen mimicking Vice Presiden Jagdeep Dhankhar, while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was seen filming the Trinamool MP using his phone.

    Hitting out at the media for not discussing the suspension of members extensively, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that the media is entirely focused on showing the mimicry incident and not highlighting the pain and agony of the suspended MPs, adding that what can be done if the “media is running on one line”.

    Addressing reporters in New Delhi, Rahul Gandhi said, “MPs were sitting there, I shot their video. My video is on my phone. The media is showing it. Nobody has said anything.150 of our MPs have been thrown out (of the House) but there is no discussion on that in the media. There is no discussion on Adani, no discussion on Rafale, no discussion on unemployment.”

  • Varanasi: Priyanka Gandhi should contest from Varanasi against Modi: WB CM Mamata Banerjee – The Economic Times Video

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  • Controversy as Rahul Gandhi Records Video of MP Mimicking Rajya Sabha Chairman

    Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is caught in a controversy after he was seen recording a video on his phone of suspended TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee mimicking the actions of Rajya Sabha chairman, Jagdeep Dhankhar.

    “I am not commenting,” said Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. Earlier during the day, PM Modi had voiced his pain over the theatrics by a member in the ‘sacred’ Parliament complex, calling it ‘unfortunate’.

    Mimicry row:On Tuesday, a video emerged online where Banerjee mimicked Dhankhar’s mannerisms and physical limitations during a protest by the suspended Opposition members on the stairs of the Parliament on Tuesday.

    The viral clip drew sharp condemnation from the ruling BJP. The chairman of the Upper House, too, took a serious view of the mimicry and expressed his anguish over it.

    An advocate has filed a complaint against Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee for his mimicry of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on the premises of the Parliament complex.

    Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi condemned the mimicry of the presiding officer in the Rajya Sabha by Banerjee as well as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The issue was also raised by Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar in the House, after the video clip of mimicry was aired on TV news channels. Dhankhar vented his anguish in Rajya Sabha, saying he was personally hurt as his farmer and Jat backgrounds were targeted. “Imagine what must be going through my heart when your senior leader videographs a Member of Parliament mocking the institution of the chairman,” he said.

  • Opposition giving muted, indirect support to security breach: PM Modi

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hit out at the Opposition for giving “muted and indirect” support to the security breach incident in Parliament. However, he asked BJP MPs to maintain decency and decorum while responding to Opposition’s charges.

    Taking a dig at the Opposition, Modi suggested that with their current approach over the security breach in Parliament last week, it looks unlikely that the Opposition would be able to match its 2019 performance. “How can a party believing in democratic values overtly or covertly justify it,” the PM said, according to BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad. He was briefing the media after the BJP parliamentary party meeting.

    The conduct of these parties indicates they have made up their mind to remain in Opposition and are practising for it, Modi said, adding that the nation has also made up its mind to keep them there and to reduce their strength even further.”We should expose the Opposition, keeping in mind to keep our voice under control, and stay within the limits of democracy. In the coming days, no matter whether others are participating or not, we must participate in Parliament’s proceedings,” he said, noting that some important bills are coming up for discussion in the two Houses.

    Slamming opposition parties for disrupting Parliament proceedings, Modi said they were giving “political spin” to the incident in frustration over its losses in the recent assembly polls. Their goal is to throw out his government but the government’s goal is to ensure a bright future for India, he added.

    “Some People are uniting in their intent to remove BJP from power while we are patriots working for the betterment of India. They are utilising their strength to remove the government while we are utilising our strength for the betterment of India,” Parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi said, quoting the PM.

  • Complete purge being executed so that ‘draconian bills’ passed without meaningful debate: Congress

    The Congress on Tuesday alleged that a “complete purge” is being executed so that “draconian bills” are passed without any meaningful debate and the BJP MP “who facilitated entry of the two intruders” into the Lok Sabha on December 13 goes scot-free. The opposition party’s attack came soon after 49 Lok Sabha MPs were suspended from the House for disrupting proceedings on Tuesday, a day after 78 opposition members were suspended from Parliament.

    In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh underlined the suspension of Lok Sabha MPs Tuesday to allege that “a complete purge is being executed so that draconian bills are passed without any meaningful debate, and so that the BJP MP who facilitated entry of the two intruders into the Lok Sabha on December 13th goes scot-free”.

    The MPs suspended on Tuesday include National Conference’s Farooq Abdullah and Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and Manish Tewari. INDIA bloc MPs have been demanding a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah on the security breach in Parliament on December 13.

    In an unprecedented move, 78 opposition MPs were suspended from Parliament on Monday, triggering a strong reaction from the Congress and other parties that accused the BJP government of trying to bulldoze key legislations in an “Opposition-less” Parliament.

  • Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on SFI protest against him: ‘I was attacked thrice’ – The Economic Times Video

    Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala): Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan while speaking to the media on December 19 said that he was attacked thrice during the SFI protest against him. He said, “On that day, thrice, I was attacked. Then some people were arrested. What about the first 2 places where they had hit my car, has anybody been arrested? And the third place where they were arrested because I got out of the car. I saw that these people were brought in police jeeps and they were pushed back into police chiefs, and they were much more than 8 persons. Others were allowed to flee only 8 persons were taken into custody… They want me to do something to report this… They are asking for something drastic, which I’m not going to oblige them.”

  • rajya sabha: Rajya Sabha passes two Bills within 12 minutes amid Opp din

    Rajya Sabha passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023 and The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2023 on Monday within 12 minutes with NDA members making summary remarks about the legislation before it was cleared by a voice vote. The Opposition members continued their protests during the process and raised slogans to demand a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah on the Parliament security breach issue.

    In Shah’s absence, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai moved the two Bills for consideration and passage in the second half of the day. The Opposition members trooped into the Well of the House, displayed placards and raised slogans while the Bills were being discussed.

    Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar called out some members to speak on the Bill. Among those who spoke a few lines were: Kavita Patidar, K Laxman, S Phangnon Konyak, Rakesh Sinha (BJP), Vijaisai Reddy (YSRCP), Sasmit Patra (BJD), M Thambidurai (AIADMK) and Kanamedala R Kumar (TDP).The two Bills were passed in quick succession. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023 seeks to reserve 33% seats in the state Assembly for women. The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2023 seeks to give 33% reservation to women in the Puducherry Assembly. Lok Sabha has already passed the two Bills.

    As the Opposition continued to protest, Dhankhar said, “It is a very, very disturbing day. You all are members of the shouting brigade.”

  • Annamalai hails PM Modi for using AI tools for speeches: ‘Game changer in Indian politics’ – The Economic Times Video

    Chennai: Tamil Nadu BJP President hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 18 for using AI translation tools for speeches. He said this would be a game-changer in Indian politics. He said, “We all know Prime Minister is a person who is very close to technology. He has experimented artificial intelligence for a real-time translation of his voice in Hindi to Tamil. I am sure that this is going to be a game changer in the years to come. I am sure this will be a game changing moment in Indian politics, especially in southern parts of India when Prime Minister’s voice can be felt by any common person real-time.”

  • Raman Singh: Chhattisgarh: Former CM Raman Singh resigns as BJP VP

    After filing his nomination for the post of Speaker in the newly-elected legislative assembly of Chhattisgarh, former CM Raman Singh resigned from the post of National Vice President of the Bhartiya Janata Party on Sunday.

    “At present, I am discharging the post of National Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Party but I have been nominated by the party for the post of Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker. Therefore, I respectfully submit my resignation from the National Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Please accept my resignation,” Raman Singh wrote in his resignation letter addressed to BJP Chief JP Nadda.

    After submitting his nomination papers, Raman Singh said, “I will ensure the proper functioning of the Vidha Sabha and that all issues for the welfare of Chhattisgarh are raised.”Former Chhattisgarh CM and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel was also present at the time of the nomination.

    Meanwhile, senior BJP MLA Ramvichar Netam took the oath as the pro-tem Speaker of the newly-elected Chhattisgarh legislative assembly on Sunday.

    Pro-tem speaker is a temporary position of a speaker appointed for a limited period of time to facilitate the conduct of the business of the House in the absence of a regular speaker.Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan administered the oath of office to Netam at a function held at Raj Bhavan in the state capital.Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai was also present on the occasion.

    After taking the oath of office, Netam said, “Many best wishes and gratitude to all for providing me with this opportunity. This is a great honour and achievement in my life. I will delicately fulfil all the duties of a protem speaker.”

    Ramvichar Netam is an MLA from the Ramanujganj constituency.

    The polling in the state was held in two phases, with the first on November 7 featuring 223 candidates and the second seeing 958 candidates put their electoral fates to the test on November 17.

    Of the 90 assembly constituencies in Chhattisgarh, the BJP bagged 54 while the Congress won 35.

  • Winter Session: Winter Session: PM urges opposition to go ahead with positivity, learn from the defeat

    Ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged the opposition to go ahead with positivity, learn from the defeat and leave behind the tendency of negativity of the last nine years.

    “If I speak on the basis of the recent elections’ results, this is a golden opportunity for our colleagues sitting in the Opposition. Instead of taking out your anger of defeat in this session, if you go ahead with positivity and learn from the defeat and leave behind the tendency of negativity of the last 9 years, the country will change their point of view for them,” he said.

    The Prime Minister said that winter is delayed but political temperatures in the country are rising.The country has rejected “negativity”, said the Prime Minister after the BJP secured victory in three out of four states on Sunday. AllMadhya PradeshRajasthanTelanganaChhattisgarhMizoram”Yesterday, the results of the four-state elections came out. The results are very encouraging – encouraging for those who are committed to the welfare of the common people of the country and to the bright future of the country,” said PM Modi.”I have been urging for your (Opposition) cooperation in the House. Today, I also speak politically – it is beneficial for you too if you give a message of positivity to the country. It is not right for democracy if your image becomes that of hatred and negativity. Opposition is equally important for democracy, it should be equally capable,” said the PM.Before the commencement of the session, we hold discussions with our colleagues in the Opposition, he said. “We urge and pray for the cooperation of everyone. This time too, the process has been undertaken. I also urge all our MPs that this temple of democracy is essential for public aspiration and to strengthen the foundation of developed India,” he added.