Parliament Day 8 Highlights: PM Modi Goes All Out Against Congress, TMC; Boasts About India's Trade Deals With US, EU

The Rajya Sabha adopted the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address during the ongoing Parliament Budget Session.

PM Modi criticised Congress for never promoting a startup culture, suggesting they failed to support entrepreneurship.

PM Modi criticised Congress's first family for misleading the public with slogans like "Garibi Hatao" during their decades in power. He claimed that, despite the opportunities, they failed to address the real issues facing the country.

PM Modi accused Congress of believing that the position of Prime Minister should only belong to a "shahi parivar" (royal family). He criticized the party for disregarding the democratic nature of leadership and the public's mandate.

PM Modi criticised those who speak of "mohabbat ki dukan" for now chanting slogans like "Modi teri kabr khudegi."
 

PM Modi accused Congress of harboring hatred towards Sikhs and insulting the Sikh community following Rahul Gandhi's "traitor" remark on Ravneet Bittu. He criticised the party for its disrespect towards the community.

PM Modi criticised the Opposition for blocking the discussion on the President's address in the Lok Sabha yesterday, calling it a major insult to the President. He emphasised that such actions undermine the respect due to the office of the President.

PM Modi accused Congress leaders, including Nehru and Indira Gandhi, of viewing citizens as problems rather than serving them. He claimed that such leaders only worked to benefit their own families, rather than the nation.

PM Modi criticised opposition parties, claiming their government was "drowning in liquor" and that their legacy included scandalous deals like Bofors. He also mentioned how their rule led to widespread resentment in households.

PM Modi criticised Congress for merely imagining projects without focusing on their implementation. He claimed that while the party talks about plans, it has failed to bring them to fruition on the ground.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge accused the government of blocking Rahul Gandhi from speaking in the Rajya Sabha and raised issues like the US deal, farmers' rights, and inflation. He claimed the Opposition was ready to discuss these topics but was denied the opportunity to speak.

PM Modi accused the Opposition of misleading the public about Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), drawing a comparison to the tactics used by "urban naxals." He claimed that these groups spread misinformation to create confusion and undermine national progress.

PM Modi stated that his government has successfully freed banks from the issues that had plagued the financial system. He claimed that the government’s reforms have restored the health and stability of the banking sector.

PM Modi accused Congress, TMC, and Left parties of prioritising their own interests while in power, instead of working for the welfare of the people. He claimed these opposition parties enriched themselves at the expense of public needs.

PM Modi criticised the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Congress for allegedly protecting infiltrators who he claimed are taking away jobs and land from tribals. He accused the opposition parties of supporting illegal activities that harm the interests of local communities.

PM Modi criticised Congress for its lack of planning and vision during its tenure, stating that the current government is spending significant time correcting the mistakes made in the past.

PM Modi accused the opposition of failing to facilitate international trade deals during their tenure, stating that one day they would have to answer why no country came forward to strike agreements with India. 

PM Modi announced that India is securing future-ready trade agreements, including a major deal with the 27-nation EU, which he described as the "mother of all deals."

PM Modi highlighted that India is experiencing high growth and low inflation, underscoring the strength and resilience of the nation's economy. 

PM Modi stated that India should focus on progress and not dwell on the past to achieve the goal of a "Viksit Bharat". He emphasised the importance of moving forward to realize the nation's aspirations.

PM Modi highlighted the President’s address to a joint sitting of Parliament, where she expressed confidence in India’s bright future. Modi emphasized the positive outlook presented for the nation's growth and progress.

As Prime Minister Modi began his reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address, Opposition MPs raised slogans in the Rajya Sabha. 

During a heated session in the Rajya Sabha, PM Modi, responding to the opposition's protests, addressed the Chairman, saying, "Looking at the age of Kharge ji, I urge you to let him sit and raise slogans comfortably." 

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla says Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not come to the lower house yesterday after they received information on a possible mishap.

"The country saw what happened in the House yesterday. Everyone saw how the MPs approached the PM's chair in the House. I got information that any mishap could have happened. To ensure that such a situation does not arise, I conveyed to PM Modi not to come to the House," he says.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra launches sharp attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The PM is hiding behind the Speaker. Yesterday, he did not have the guts to come to the House because three women were standing before the bench. What nonsense is this? There is no discussion because the goverment doesn't want discussion to happen," she says.

The Upper House holds discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address. BJP MP Satnam Singh Sandhu replies to the motion of thanks.

The proceedings of the Lok Sabha remain suspended as the lower house is adjourned till 3 PM soon after resuming at 2 PM

Both houses of Parliament resume session at 2PM.

This is the first time in 22 years that the Motion of Thanks was passed by the Lok Sabha without the Prime Minister's reply.

Lok Sabha adopts Motion of Thanks on President's address. The house is adjourned till 2 PM amid sloganeering by Opposition.

Parliament Live: Congress MPs protested against the ruling BJP outside the Parliament with banners of 'PM is compromised.' 

Parliament Live: The Lok Sabha has been adjourned till noon as the chaos continued for the third consecutive day. The House worked for a brief time before disruptions started and the Speaker announced adjournment.  

Parliament Budget Session Live: After Congress leaders raised the issue of LoP Rahul Gandhi's speech in Lok Sabha, Union Minister JP Nadda cited rules to argue that the issues of the Lok Sabha can not be discussed in the Rajya Sabha.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said that Parliament comprises both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, and alleged that the LoP in the Lok Sabha was not allowed to speak on issues concerning the country’s interests, questioning how the House could be run in such a manner. Responding to this, Union Minister JP Nadda said that the Leader of Opposition should be aware that the proceedings of the Lok Sabha cannot be discussed in the Rajya Sabha.

Parliament Live: The floor leaders of the INDIA bloc parties met at the Parliament House before the fourth day sitting of the Houses. The meeting was attended by Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, NCP MP Supriya Sule and Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav, among others.  

Parliament Live: After the ruling party raised objections to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's statements in Lok Sabha, Opposition parties have decided to raise the issue in Rajya Sabha today.

Parliament Day 4 Live Update: A day after the disruption in the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to speak in the Rajya Sabha today. His address in the Lok Sabha was cancelled on Wednesday after the Opposition MPs repeatedly disrupted the proceedings with continuous sloganeering.

AAP MP Malwinder Singh Kang criticised Rahul Gandhi for his contradictory remarks on Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, accusing him of both calling Bittu a traitor and attempting to shake hands with him. Kang described Gandhi's comments as stemming from personal enmity.

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being "scared" and avoiding Parliament, saying he does not want to face the truth on national security, as a major standoff erupted in the House over Gandhi's references to former Army Chief General MM Naravane's unpublished memoir on the 2020 China border crisis.

PM Modi was expected to reply to the motion of thanks on the President's address in the Lok Sabha at 5 PM on Wednesday, but the House was adjourned till February 5, following repeated disruptions and uproar by Opposition members.

Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu on Wednesday hit out at Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi after being called a 'traitor' during a confrontation near Parliament, saying that even 'goons' would not behave the way the Congress leader did.Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp verbal attack, referring to Bittu as a "traitor", prompting an immediate and strong rebuttal from the former Congress leader.

As Bittu walked past the suspended MPs, Gandhi was heard remarking, "Here is a traitor walking right by. Look at the face." He also extended his hand towards Bittu and said, "Hello, brother, my traitor friend. Don't worry, you will come back (to the Congress).

The BJP slammed Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday for calling Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu a traitor and said the Congress leader did not just insult him with his remarks but the entire Sikh community. At a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, four Sikh leaders of the party, including Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri, alleged that Gandhi's remarks reflected his mindset and the his family's deep-seated hatred against Sikhs.

The entire Sikh community is "anguished" over the Congress leader's remarks and it would never forgive him, they said.

This came after Gandhi exchanged barbs with Bittu, a former Congress leader who is now with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in the Parliament House complex. In videos released by the Congress, Gandhi was heard calling Bittu "a traitor" and the minister retorting with the "desh ke dushman" (enemy of the nation) jibe.

The eight opposition members were suspended from the Lok Sabha for the remainder of the budget session for violating rules and "throwing papers on the chair" following uproar in the House over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's insistence on mentioning a specific reference to the 2020 standoff with China in eastern Ladakh.

The suspended MPs include Congress members Hibi Eden, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Manickam Tagore, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Prashant Yadaorao Padole, Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, and Dean Kuriakose, as well as CPI(M) MP S Venkatesan.

The proceedings in the Lok Sabha were abruptly adjourned on Wednesday ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s much-anticipated reply to the Vote of Thanks, following the President’s address. The tensions began earlier in the day when the Opposition, led by Congress, voiced its anger after Rahul Gandhi was prevented from quoting from the unpublished memoirs of former Army Chief, General MM Naravane, during his speech in the House. This incident sparked a series of protests and calls for action.

There were multiple adjournments throughout the day, and just before PM Modi was due to speak at 5 pm, a group of women MPs from the Opposition, including Varsha Gaikwad and Jyotimani, blocked the seats of the ruling party, including the Prime Minister’s chair, as reported by NDTV.

The MPs displayed a large banner that read, "Do what is right," in protest of the suspension of eight Opposition MPs the previous day.

Sandhya Rai, who was standing in for the Speaker, then adjourned the proceedings. The women MPs only ended their protest after several ministers intervened and urged them to vacate the area.

The Lok Sabha has been adjourned until tomorrow, with the expectation that the discussion will resume then.

The Lok Sabha will reconvene tomorrow at 11 AM for its scheduled proceedings. The Lok Sabha was adjourned ahead of Prime Minister Modi's scheduled address, following disruptions caused by the opposition uproar. 

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday strongly condemned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's use of the word "traitor" for BJP MP Ravneet Singh Bittu, saying it's unacceptable to label anyone, especially from the Sikh community, with such a term. Puri stated that Rahul Gandhi's comment was inappropriate, and parliamentary discourse should be grounded in decency and respectful language.

Puri added that while it's understandable Rahul Gandhi was upset about Bittu leaving Congress, using the word "traitor" is a serious issue, implying betrayal of the country. He emphasised that just because someone leaves a party, they shouldn't be labelled a traitor, and Gandhi's comment was unacceptable.

"Rahul Gandhi used the word 'traitor' for Ravneet Bittu today. This word should not be used lightly, as it means one who betrays the country. This is a serious issue for the Sikh community. LoP Rahul Gandhi is upset that Bittu ji left his party, but he also told him that you will come back. Just because a turban-wearing person leaves your party, you call him a traitor. The word he used is unacceptable. To label anyone from any community as a traitor is unacceptable. Parliamentary discourse, both outside and inside the parliament, has to be grounded in decency and in decent language," said Puri.

BJP workers staged a protest against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remarks about Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu. 

Congress MPs staged a protest on Parliament premises, chanting "LoP Ko Bolne Do" on Tuesday. The demonstration occurred as tensions rose over the ongoing debate and the Leader of Opposition's comments.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the handling of the Ladakh standoff with China, alleging that the Prime Minister failed to take responsibility during a critical moment and left the Army leadership "abandoned," saying "jo uchit samjho wo karo."

Speaking to reporters on the Parliament premises, Gandhi held what purpotedly was a copy of General Naravane's unpublished memoiras and said he was prepared to personally hand over the book to the Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha, asserting that the contents of the book reveal the "truth" about the government's response during the Ladakh crisis.

"I don't think the Prime Minister will have the guts to come to the Lok Sabha today because if he comes, I am going to give him this book. If the PM comes, I will go physically and hand him this book so he can read it and the country can get to know the truth," Gandhi said.

On Tuesday, the discussion on the motion led to a standoff between the opposition and the government in the Lok Sabha, as Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi reinvoked the unpublished memoir by former Army Chief General MM Naravane. Eight opposition MPs were suspended from Lok Sabha for the remainder of the budget session for violating rules and "throwing papers on the chair".

The opposition MPs who have been suspended for the remainder of the session are Congress members Hibi Eden, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Manickam Tagore, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Prashant Yadaorao Padole, Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, and Dean Kuriakose, and CPI(M) member S Venkatesan.

The Ongoing Budget session will span 30 sittings over 65 days, concluding on April 2. The two Houses will adjourn for a recess on February 13 and reconvene on March 9 to enable the Standing Committees to examine the Demands for Grants of various ministries and departments.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to reply in Parliament today on the motion of 'Thanks to the President's address' during the ongoing Budget Session. The motion was introduced in both Houses, with the Lok Sabha debate allocated 18 hours. The motion follows President Droupadi Murmu’s address on January 28.