Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Scindia’s speech vs Irani’s speech: RSS, O P Sharma, Godse deleted in House records, JNU students stay
Rule No 352 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha states a member “shall not refer to any matter of fact on which a judicial decision is pending”.
On Thursday, the Lok Sabha secretariat released a list of words expunged from the heated discussion the day before over the JNU sedition row and the suicide of a Dalit student in Hyderabad. It was usual procedure. What was unusual were the words that were expunged and those that were not. While references made in the speech by Congress chief whip Jyotiraditya Scindia to the RSS, Delhi BJP legislator O P Sharma and Nathuram Godse were expunged, what stayed on record were the names of the eight JNU students identified by HRD Minister Smriti Irani.
Rule No 352 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha states a member “shall not refer to any matter of fact on which a judicial decision is pending”. The eight students named by Irani are being investigated by Delhi Police for their role in organising a protest in JNU against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru during which “anti-national slogans” were allegedly raised. They have not been pronounced guilty yet by any court of law. Asked why the word RSS was expunged, an official spokesperson of the secretariat told The Indian Express that it was “because of the context of its usage and not the word per se.” Asked about the students, the spokesperson said, “The context in which the minister listed their names was relevant and therefore, there was no expunction.” Article 105(2) of the Constitution grants MPs freedom of speech, but not to say anything against any individual or to use defamatory, indecent or unparliamentary words against anyone without giving advance notice, including to the minister concerned. Rule No 353 states: “No allegation of a defamatory or incriminatory nature shall be made by a member against any person unless the member has given an adequate advance notice to the Speaker and also to the Minister concerned….” And Rule No 380 stipulates: “If the Speaker is of opinion that words have been used in debate which are defamatory or indecent or unparliamentary or undignified, he may, in his discretion, order that such words be expunged from the proceedings of the House.” BJP MLA Sharma was at the centre of a controversy last week after he assaulted a CPI activist outside the Patiala Courts complex ahead of the bail hearing of JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar. “Karyavahi vritant mein shamil nahin kiya gaya (Not included in the record of proceedings),” states the revised version of the proceedings at ten different sections in the speech of Scindia. Irani named the JNU students in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. “The individuals who are named by the faculty of JNU are Syed Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya, Ashutosh Kumar, Rama Naga, Anant Prakash Narayan, Kanhaiya Kumar, Aishwarya Adhikari and Shweta Raj,” states the record of Irani’s speech. The only word used by Irani, which the Lok Sabha secretariat found deserved to be deleted, was “dushkarm (misdeed)”. Irani had used the word while objecting to Scinidia using the same word in his speech earlier.
On Thursday, the Lok Sabha secretariat released a list of words expunged from the heated discussion the day before over the JNU sedition row and the suicide of a Dalit student in Hyderabad. It was usual procedure. What was unusual were the words that were expunged and those that were not. While references made in the speech by Congress chief whip Jyotiraditya Scindia to the RSS, Delhi BJP legislator O P Sharma and Nathuram Godse were expunged, what stayed on record were the names of the eight JNU students identified by HRD Minister Smriti Irani.
Rule No 352 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha states a member “shall not refer to any matter of fact on which a judicial decision is pending”. The eight students named by Irani are being investigated by Delhi Police for their role in organising a protest in JNU against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru during which “anti-national slogans” were allegedly raised. They have not been pronounced guilty yet by any court of law. Asked why the word RSS was expunged, an official spokesperson of the secretariat told The Indian Express that it was “because of the context of its usage and not the word per se.” Asked about the students, the spokesperson said, “The context in which the minister listed their names was relevant and therefore, there was no expunction.” Article 105(2) of the Constitution grants MPs freedom of speech, but not to say anything against any individual or to use defamatory, indecent or unparliamentary words against anyone without giving advance notice, including to the minister concerned. Rule No 353 states: “No allegation of a defamatory or incriminatory nature shall be made by a member against any person unless the member has given an adequate advance notice to the Speaker and also to the Minister concerned….” And Rule No 380 stipulates: “If the Speaker is of opinion that words have been used in debate which are defamatory or indecent or unparliamentary or undignified, he may, in his discretion, order that such words be expunged from the proceedings of the House.” BJP MLA Sharma was at the centre of a controversy last week after he assaulted a CPI activist outside the Patiala Courts complex ahead of the bail hearing of JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar. “Karyavahi vritant mein shamil nahin kiya gaya (Not included in the record of proceedings),” states the revised version of the proceedings at ten different sections in the speech of Scindia. Irani named the JNU students in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. “The individuals who are named by the faculty of JNU are Syed Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya, Ashutosh Kumar, Rama Naga, Anant Prakash Narayan, Kanhaiya Kumar, Aishwarya Adhikari and Shweta Raj,” states the record of Irani’s speech. The only word used by Irani, which the Lok Sabha secretariat found deserved to be deleted, was “dushkarm (misdeed)”. Irani had used the word while objecting to Scinidia using the same word in his speech earlier.
Clarify if anti-India slogans should be tolerated: Amit Shah asks Rahul
Shah also said that a mandate should also be developed that no one dares to raise such anti-national slogans in future.
BJP chief Amit Shah Wednesday asked Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition parties to make their stand clear in Parliament whether “anti-national slogans”allegedly raised in JNU in the name of “freedom of expression” should be tolerated or not. In a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi, who had joined the agitating JNU students, Shah alleged that he was supporting the forces dividing the country for “votebank politics”.
“Rahulji don’t stoop so low for votebank politics. The country got freedom due to the sacrifice of thousands of martyrs. You are supporting the forces dividing the country in the name of freedom of speech,” he said “Today debate is being held in the Parliament whether raising anti-national slogans should be tolerated in the name of freedom of speech or not. I want to ask Congress whether those raising slogans like ‘Afzal Guru tere hatrayre zinda hain’ and ‘Bharat ke tukde honge’ were traitors or not,” Shah said and asked Rahul to clarify before the people whether he supports the “anti-national slogans”. “If he does not support such slogans, he should dare to condemn them,” Shah said, adding that “BJP condemns such slogans and our party will never support such acts”. Addressing a public meeting after unveiling the statue of 11th century king of Shravasti, Raja Suheldeo in Bahraich district, Shah said, “India got freedom due to the sacrifices made by millions but today if you support those who threaten to break the country in the name of freedom of expression, you will have to answer the nation”. The BJP leader said that Narendra Modi government has launched a campaign for development and growth of the nation but Opposition was creating hurdles and is not letting the Parliament function. Describing the contribution of Raja Suheldeo, Shah said his name is taken with pride not only in Uttar Pradesh but the entire country. Shah said when a foreign mercenary, Salar Gazi (Ghaznavid general and nephew of Mahmud of Ghazni), came to destroy Surajkund, Suheldeo thwarted his mission and destroyed Ghazi’s entire army. He said by unveiling Suheldeo’s statue a message would be sent to every village and coming generations about how mercernaries can be defeated. Suheldeo is mentioned in Mirat-i-Masudi, a 17th-century Persian-language historical romance. Twentieth century onwards, various Hindu nationalist groups have characterized him as a Dalit Hindu king who defeated a Muslim invader.
BJP chief Amit Shah Wednesday asked Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition parties to make their stand clear in Parliament whether “anti-national slogans”allegedly raised in JNU in the name of “freedom of expression” should be tolerated or not. In a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi, who had joined the agitating JNU students, Shah alleged that he was supporting the forces dividing the country for “votebank politics”.
“Rahulji don’t stoop so low for votebank politics. The country got freedom due to the sacrifice of thousands of martyrs. You are supporting the forces dividing the country in the name of freedom of speech,” he said “Today debate is being held in the Parliament whether raising anti-national slogans should be tolerated in the name of freedom of speech or not. I want to ask Congress whether those raising slogans like ‘Afzal Guru tere hatrayre zinda hain’ and ‘Bharat ke tukde honge’ were traitors or not,” Shah said and asked Rahul to clarify before the people whether he supports the “anti-national slogans”. “If he does not support such slogans, he should dare to condemn them,” Shah said, adding that “BJP condemns such slogans and our party will never support such acts”. Addressing a public meeting after unveiling the statue of 11th century king of Shravasti, Raja Suheldeo in Bahraich district, Shah said, “India got freedom due to the sacrifices made by millions but today if you support those who threaten to break the country in the name of freedom of expression, you will have to answer the nation”. The BJP leader said that Narendra Modi government has launched a campaign for development and growth of the nation but Opposition was creating hurdles and is not letting the Parliament function. Describing the contribution of Raja Suheldeo, Shah said his name is taken with pride not only in Uttar Pradesh but the entire country. Shah said when a foreign mercenary, Salar Gazi (Ghaznavid general and nephew of Mahmud of Ghazni), came to destroy Surajkund, Suheldeo thwarted his mission and destroyed Ghazi’s entire army. He said by unveiling Suheldeo’s statue a message would be sent to every village and coming generations about how mercernaries can be defeated. Suheldeo is mentioned in Mirat-i-Masudi, a 17th-century Persian-language historical romance. Twentieth century onwards, various Hindu nationalist groups have characterized him as a Dalit Hindu king who defeated a Muslim invader.
Budget Session begins: House to debate campus unrest today
PM Modi tells party MPs to put forward view ‘effectively, forcefully’.
New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu walks towards the Central Hall at Parliament House for his address on the first day of Budget Session, in New Delhi on Tuesday.
A united opposition and a combative government are set to cross swords in the Rajya Sabha Wednesday, a day after the two sides agreed to hold a discussion on the student unrest in universities like JNU and Hyderabad Central University. In the Lok Sabha, the opposition Congress has given a notice for adjournment motion to discuss the issue.
The Congress has decided to field Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad to take on the government in the Rajya Sabha. From the BJP side, Bhupender Yadav is likely to speak first.
New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu walks towards the Central Hall at Parliament House for his address on the first day of Budget Session, in New Delhi on Tuesday.
A united opposition and a combative government are set to cross swords in the Rajya Sabha Wednesday, a day after the two sides agreed to hold a discussion on the student unrest in universities like JNU and Hyderabad Central University. In the Lok Sabha, the opposition Congress has given a notice for adjournment motion to discuss the issue.
The Congress has decided to field Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad to take on the government in the Rajya Sabha. From the BJP side, Bhupender Yadav is likely to speak first.
Budget session: Will leave politics if any Congress-appointed VC accuses me of saffronisation, says Smriti Irani
On day two of the Budget session, Rajya Sabha witnessed repeated disruptions while Lok Sabha debated the controversies arising out of the suicide of Dalit student Rohith Vemula and the alleged 'anti-national' programme held at JNU. Here's the latest.
Day two of the Budget session of Parliament saw Rajya Sabha face repeated adjournments as Opposition party BSP stormed the Well of the House demanding that the BJP government come clear on the constitution of an inquiry committee into the suicide of Rohith Vemula. The House was then adjourned for the day.
In Lok Sabha, a discussion is currently underway on the controversy arising out of the suicide of Dalit student Rohith Vemula as well as the Jawaharlal Nehru University ‘anti-national’ row. Jyotiraditya Scindia led the charge for the Congress, while BJP’s Anurag Thakur countered him.
As it happened
7:55 pm What is say is always based on fact: Rajnath Singh
7:54 pm All those guilty in the attack on journalists and students at Patiala court will be punished: Rajnath Singh
7:53 pm Govt not interfering in the investigation into the JNU case: Rajnath Singh
7.35 pm: There still are many VCs appointed by UPA, I challenge that even if one of them says I do saffronisation I will leave politics: Smriti Irani.
7.26 pm: Have you ever seen Rahul Gandhi go to one spot twice? No, he saw a political opportunity here: Smriti Irani.
7.25 pm: JNU authorities had recommended suspension of Kanaihya Kumar, Umar Khalid and few others over Afzal event, Irani tells LS.
7.24 pm: Irani says JNU administration withdrew permission to hold event after it found it was not being held for “poetry reading”.
7.22 pm: Irani quotes alleged anti-national slogans raised inside JNU campus.
7.15 pm: Smriti Irani alleges Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao did not act after Rohith Vemula’s suicide.
7.12 pm: A visibly choked Irani says no attempt was made to take Rohith Vemula to doctor, his body was used as political tool.
7.10 pm: Mujhe suli pe chadhaya ja raha hai kyuki mere vibhaag ne patra likha? Smriti Irani in Lok Sabha.
Am I being targeted because my department wrote the letter, asks Smriti Irani.
7.05 pm: Aapki ichha Jawab sunne ki thi hi nahi, niyat mein khot thi: Smriti Irani to Congress leaders in Lok Sabha.
You don’t wish to listen to the answers, your intentions are wrong: Irani.
7.00 pm: Hanumantha Rao ji ne mujhe likha ki Congress ke karyakal meinn jis VC ka appointment hua uske karyakal mein atmhatya hui: Smriti Irani in LS.
Hanumantha Rao ji wrote to me that the VC of the university where Vemula committed suicide was appointed by the Congress: Irani.
6:26 pm “I want to ask Congress why Afzal’s body was not handed to his family. I want to ask the BJP if you are not able to prove charges against Kanhaiya, will you quit politics. Kanhaiya is innocent. How long will you both keep fighting on ideology. Dalits can never get justice by you parties because you both are anti-Dalits. Don’t impose your ideologies on Indians,” said Asaduddin Owaisi.
West Bengal elections: Talks with CPM have been on for some time, says state Congress chief
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said if and when the alliance happens, “there is absolutely no contradiction (in the party’s position in Kerala and Bengal) as alliances are state-specific.”
THE CPM central leadership may have allowed its West Bengal unit to enter into a local-level electoral arrangement with the Congress only Thursday, but state Congress Chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Friday said talks between the two parties have been on for some time and the process to work out the mechanics of the adjustment for the forthcoming Assembly elections is on. Chowdhury said the CPM and Congress do not have much option. “The people of Bengal, who are oppressed and suppressed under the dictatorial rule, have decided to oust the Trinamool Congress government. They are not bothered which party — be it the CPM or Congress — will come to power. They want to throw out Mamata Banerjee from power,”.
THE CPM central leadership may have allowed its West Bengal unit to enter into a local-level electoral arrangement with the Congress only Thursday, but state Congress Chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Friday said talks between the two parties have been on for some time and the process to work out the mechanics of the adjustment for the forthcoming Assembly elections is on. Chowdhury said the CPM and Congress do not have much option. “The people of Bengal, who are oppressed and suppressed under the dictatorial rule, have decided to oust the Trinamool Congress government. They are not bothered which party — be it the CPM or Congress — will come to power. They want to throw out Mamata Banerjee from power,”.
Arunachal Pradesh gets a new CM, Kalikho Pul sworn in at night.
Pul’s swearing in came a day after the Supreme Court vacated its order of maintaining status quo in the state, thus paving the way for installation of a new government.
Dissident Congress leader Kalikho Pul, 46, was sworn in as the ninth Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh on Friday with the support of 18 rebel Congress MLAs, and two Independents and 11 BJP MLAs who gave outside support. The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee, meanwhile, claimed that Pul and 18 other dissidents were no longer its members. Pul’s swearing-in came a day after the Supreme Court vacated its interim order to maintain status quo in the Arunachal Pradesh assembly, paving the way for government formation. The Centre had revoked President’s Rule in the state before Governor J P Rajkhowa administered the oath of office to Pul around 9.30 pm.
Dissident Congress leader Kalikho Pul, 46, was sworn in as the ninth Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh on Friday with the support of 18 rebel Congress MLAs, and two Independents and 11 BJP MLAs who gave outside support. The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee, meanwhile, claimed that Pul and 18 other dissidents were no longer its members. Pul’s swearing-in came a day after the Supreme Court vacated its interim order to maintain status quo in the Arunachal Pradesh assembly, paving the way for government formation. The Centre had revoked President’s Rule in the state before Governor J P Rajkhowa administered the oath of office to Pul around 9.30 pm.
Patriotism in my blood, don’t need certificate from RSS, BJP: Rahul Gandhi
He said neither he nor the Congress or its president were afraid of PM Narendra Modi
Meanwhile, the Congress leader continued to face protests over lending support to the JNU agitation. ABVP workers tried to disrupt his entry into his constituency by waving black flags and asking him to go back. More than a dozen activists of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the BJP’s youth wing, were rounded up while some were taken into custody by the district police for raising slogans against the Congress leader, Inspector in-charge S K Mishra said. He added that the decision to release the BJYM workers will be taken later. BJP youth wing leader Sudhanshu Shukla alleged that some Congress workers clashed with them. Later in the day, some BJP activists, led by district leader Chandra Mauli Singh, burnt an effigy of Rahul Gandhi.
Facing constant attack from the ruling party at Centre for supporting “anti-nationals” over ongoing JNU row, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi Friday hit back saying “patriotism” runs in his blood and he does not need any certificate from RSS and BJP. He said neither he nor the Congress and its president were afraid of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who “doesn’t speak truth, doesn’t fulfil promises”.
“Rashtrabhakti mere khoon me hai (Patriotism is in my blood)…32 bullets were fired at (grandmother) Indira Gandhi and my father (Rajiv Gandhi) was also assassinated for the cause of this country. My family has taught me lessons in patriotism…we have not learnt anything else. So I do not need any certificate from RSS or BJP,” Rahul said in Amethi.
Addressing a series of meetings here, the Congress leader kept attacking Modi and said a situation has come in the country where attempts are being made to suppress all voices of dissent.
“Today, whoever speaks against Modiji, is being threatened. But neither me, nor the Congress or its president are afraid of him. We are going to form government in every state now. People of Bihar rejected him. People of Assam are going to do the same, and then in 2019, people of the entire country will reject him,” he said at a public meeting in Salon area of Amethi.
Asking people to remember that “Narendra Modi does not speak the truth and fails to fulfil promises”, Rahul targeted the BJP government at Centre for rising prices of pulses and failing to bring back the black money. “We are going to fight for the rights of poor and if he (Modi) cannot fulfil his promises, then he should step out of the way,” Rahul said addressing locals in Suchi village.
Making light of Modi’s flagship project Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Rahul said, “He is running clean India campaign but his own constituency, as per a recent survey, is among the lowest ranked cities in terms of cleanliness. His constituency is the dirtiest”.
Telling people that Modi has suddenly remembered farmers and is now holding rally for them, the Congress leader pointed out that “PM took a selfie with Obama but never with a farmer, labourer or an unemployed youth”. Rahul asked “what development works have been done by the Modi government” and claimed that “instead of the poor the central government was working for the industrialists”.
He even hit out at the “Make in India” campaign saying, “ask them, if the produce generated by farmers is not made in India”.
In a marked change from his earlier visit when he used to say that his hands are tied up as Congress does not have government in Uttar Pradesh or Centre, Rahul this time asked masses to come to him with their problems and he will try to solve them and even put pressure on the governments.
“We do not have governments (in UP or Centre) but still we will pressurise those in power. I will try to help as much as I can but for better performance you will have to bring Congress government in UP in 2017,” he repeated at almost every meeting and chaupal that he held .
During the day he had tea at the house of a Dalit, visited a local temple and inspected a MGNREGA work site.
‘SP, BSP represent particular section’
‘SP, BSP represent particular section’
Addressing chaupals in Amethi, Rahul accused the Samajwadi Party and BSP of “representing” a “particular” section of the society and said this was the reason why Uttar Pradesh was “lagging behind” in development. “The governments that are formed in Uttar Pradesh belong to a particular section of society and this is why the state has lagged behind in the race of development”, he told presidents of gram sabhas here.
“When Mulayam Singh comes to power, he forms government of a particular section…Mayawati comes and she also makes government of another section…the state is not going to benefit from this,” he said, adding that “though people say that the Congress has been weakened in the state, but this is not the fact and they need to come to Rae Bareli and Amethi to see this”.
Exuding confidence that Congress will come to power in the state, he charged the Centre with attempting to snatch development of Amethi.
“After taking away the mega food park and Hindustan paper mill, they now want to take away the Rajiv Gandhi institute of information technology and the workers need to remain prepared for it,” he said.
Jayalalithaa announces free bus travel for senior citizens in Chennai.
The free travel, with a cap of ten journeys in a month, is the latest in the series of freebies implemented by the AIADMK regime such as cost-free milch cows, sheep, mixers, grinders and fans and laptop for students.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday announced free bus travel for senior citizens in Chennai metropolitan area from her 68th birthday on February 24. Making the announcement in the state assembly, she asserted that with this the AIADMK government has fulfilled “all the electoral promises” made by the party in 2011 in the state, which is set to go to polls in barely three months.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday announced free bus travel for senior citizens in Chennai metropolitan area from her 68th birthday on February 24. Making the announcement in the state assembly, she asserted that with this the AIADMK government has fulfilled “all the electoral promises” made by the party in 2011 in the state, which is set to go to polls in barely three months.
