Parliament Budget Session 2024 highlights: Rajya Sabha to resume at 11 am today

Congress MP Manish Tewari given adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha to discuss India-China border situation.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is to move in the Lok Sabha today the Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, further to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989 (IX of 1989), the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000 (XX of 2000) and the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act, 2000 (XXI of 2000), be taken into consideration. Also to move that the Bill be passed.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh is to move in the Lok Sabha today the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 to prevent unfair means in the public examinations and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, be taken into consideration. Also to move that the Bill be passed.

Discussion over the motion of thanks on President's address to resume in the Rajya Sabha today.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi is to move a motion in the Rajya Sabha today to suspend the provisions of rule 17 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) in its for consideration and passing of:- (i) the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 (ii) the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024; (iii) the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, 2024 by the House."

Union Minister Arjun Munda is to move in the Rajya Sabha today the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2024 further to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 to modify the list of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in relation to the State of Odisha. The Bill will be moved in the house for its consideration and passage.

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav is to move in the Rajya Sabha today the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, 2024 further to amend the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. The Bill will be moved in the house for its consideration and passage.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed confidence that the NDA will get more than 400 seats and the BJP will win at least 370 seats in the Lok Sabha elections.

Modi said he was convinced that the opposition parties have lost the courage to contest elections and have resolved to stay on the opposition benches for a long time.

"I can gauge the mood of the nation, it will definitely give NDA more than 400 seats and the BJP at least 370 seats," the prime minister said replying to the debate in Lok Sabha on the Motion of Thanks on President's Address.

On PM Modi's reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address, West Bengal Minister Shashi Panja says, "Our question is, does BJP want to win on negative votes?...can he speak about inflation and they are working to reduce it? Can he speak about what are the steps they are taking to stop farmers from committing suicide? Instead of speaking about what they have done for the nation and what they want to do further, he was trying to find the faults of the opposition. He thinks that they (BJP) can win by negative votes and through ED and CBI"

Quoting a famous poem by Rabindranath Tagore, in a jab at the INDIA Bloc and the current rift within it over seat sharing, PM Modi in Lok Sabha on Monday targeted the INDIA bloc for lack of unity among parties.

"The Congress cannot think beyond a single family. A few days ago, they put together a 'Bhanumati ka Kunba (Bhanumati's clan, meaning a group of disparate people)' but then they started 'Ekla chalo re (Walk alone)'," he said, quoting a famous poem by Rabindranath Tagore, in a jab at the INDIA Bloc and the current rift within it over seat sharing.

PM Modi, while speaking in the Lower House of Parliament during debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address, attacked the opposition over their 'outcry' over the action by the central agencies.

"They express their anger... I understand their pain, their problem because it has hit the bull's eye (teer nishane par laga hai). The agencies are taking actions against corruption. Earlier, the entire time of the House was spent on discussing scams and corruption. There was a constant demand for action, there were only reports of corruption everywhere. Today, when action is taken against the corrupt, these people create ruckus in their support," he said.

Rajya Sabha to resume at 11 am today. 

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said, "PM Modi is repeating one speech again and again. I don't understand if he is tired or something has happened. We respect the PM's oratory talent but today it was below form, I think. We were saying that we should not have high expectations because he is giving the same speech...Nehru ji died 60 years back, but he speaks about him. What has happened to PM Modi? I think he needs fresh energy."

> “I appreciate the resolution the opposition has taken. Every word of their speeches has confirmed my confidence and that of the country that they have resolved to stay there (in the opposition) for a long time."

> “Ek hi product baar-baar launch karne ke chakkar mein, Congress ki dukaan tala lagne ki naubat aa gayi hai..."

> “Congress must have learnt what is alignment, but the alignment of the alliance is distorted."

> "Nehru ji thought that Indians are lazy and less intelligent...Looking at the people in Congress today, it seems that Indira Ji could not assess the people of the country correctly but assessed Congress correctly..."

> "People of Kashmir, country paid heavy price for Jawaharlal Nehru's mistakes."

Tap here to read more…

The Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 11 am on February 6.

The amendment brought by several opposition MPs to the President's address was not approved in the Lok Sabha, Sansad TV Reported. 

 PM Modi said the central agencies are independent. His statement came as Opposition leaders accused the BJP government at the Centre of using ED, CBI and I-T department against opposition leaders. On his government’s action against corruption, PM Modi said, "The country is shocked seeing the stackes of cash being recovered…"

PM Narendra Modi said, "Two songs on inflation were superhits in our country - 'Mehngai Mar Gayi' and 'Mehngai Dayain Khaye Jaat Hai'. Both of these songs came during Congress' governance. Inflation was in double digits during UPA's tenure, it can't be denied. What was their government's logic? Insensitivity. They said - you can have expensive ice creams but why do you cry about inflation?...Whenever Congress came to power, it strengthened inflation."

PM Modi said in the Lok Sabha on Monday, “When action is being taken against corrupt, the Opposition is protesting.”

PM Narendra Modi said, "During the UPA Government, an extra-constitutional body was formed. The government could not have its way before that body. National Advisory Council - did it have any OBC members? Find out..."

"Startups, digital creators, unicorns, gig economy - these are the new vocabulary of the new Bharat. Today, India is a leading digital economy," said PM Modi during his reply on President's address in Parliament.

“I am seeing big investments in the field of semiconductors,” PM Modi said in his address in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

PM Modi in Lok Sabha: "Congress party and UPA government did not do justice with OBCs. A few days ago, Karpoori Thakur ji was conferred with Bharat Ratna. In 1970, when he became Bihar CM, what not was done to destabilise his government. Congress can't tolerate OBCs...They keep counting how many OBCs are there in govt. Can’t you (Congress) see the biggest OBC here?"

PM Modi in Parliament hails 'Nari Shakti', says, "From space to Olympics, Sashastra Bal to Sansad, the country has seen the empowerment of women."

PM Modi hails Ayodhya Ram temple in Parliament. He said, "The third term of our government is not far now, 100-125 days maximum..."

PM Narendra Modi said the Congress' mindset is that it has never trusted the capability of the country. "It considered itself rulers and the public as someone lesser, someone smaller...," he added. He read out a statement of the then PM Jawaharlal Nehru, "...It means that Nehru ji thought that Indians are lazy and less intelligent."

He also read out a statement of former PM later Indira Gandhi; says "...Looking at the people in Congress today, it seems that Indira ji could not assess the people of the country correctly but assessed Congress absolutely correctly..."

PM Modi quoted 2014 interim Budget and said, "India was the 11th largest economy in 2014. Today, India is the 5th largest economy and yet they (Congress) are silent...They had even lost the ability to dream...It is Modi’s guarantee that in our third term, India will be the third largest economic power..."

PM Modi said, “Nehru thought Indians were lazy,” adding that Indira Gandhi was no different than Nehru.

PM Narendra Modi said, "...On the basis of the experience of 10 years of governance, looking at today's strong economy and the rapid speed with which India is progressing today, I can confidently say that in our third term, India will be the third largest economic power. This is Modi's guarantee."

As an Opposition MP raised the issue of there not being anything for minorities in President's Address, PM Narendra Modi said, "Maybe fishermen are not from the minority in your place, maybe animal herders are not from the minority in your place, maybe farmers are not from the minority in your place, maybe women are not from the minority in your place...What has happened to you?...How long will you keep thinking about divisions? How long will you keep dividing the society?..."

PM Modi attacked the Congress and Rahul Gandhi, saying, "Ek hi product baar-baar launch karne ke chakkar mein, Congress ki dukaan tala lagne ki naubat aa gayi hai..."

"Nearly more than 60 MPs have expressed their views on the Motion of Thanks on President's address. I thank all of them. I particularly appreciate the resolve taken by the opposition. From their speech, My confidence and that of the country has become firm that they have decided to be there (on the opposition benches) for long," said PM Modi in his reply to the Motion of Thanks on President's address.

PM Modi said, "They (Opposition) failed to fulfill their responsibility as opposition...I have always said that the country needs a good opposition."

Referring to the “Vocal for Local” and Vande Bharat initiatives, PM Modi said the Opposition has said “cancel” to everything. “These are not my achievements but the nation's," he said.

PM Modi said Rahul Gandhi's 'Mohabbat Ki Dukan' is on the verge of shutting down.

PM Modi held the Congress responsible for the condition of the Opposition today. “They got so many Opportunity, but they were not able to do their duty in 10 years.”

PM Modi said, "I appreciate the Opposition's resolve to remain in the opposition for a long time...The way you sat here (in govt) for many decades, the same way you resolve to sit there (in opposition)...The public will certainly give you its blessings..."

The Opposition has decided to remain in Opposition for a long time. “You have taken a resolution to remain in the Opposition…the people of India will give you their blessings…”

Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury raiseD the issues of Ladakh and Maldives, in the House. He said, "...Not even a word on security concerns was mentioned in President's Address...The situation in Ladakh is deteriorating day by day...What is happening in Maldives?..."

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "...I express my disagreement with whatever he said in connection with China and LAC. I condemn this..."