In a surprising turn of events, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) allowed its seven Rajya Sabha MPs to vote their conscience instead of following the party whip, resulting in the passage of the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Upper House. The final tally of 128 in favour and 95 against exposes divisions within the Opposition, with some parties raising concerns about the bill's potential impact on minority communities. BJD's decision to allow a free vote was driven by the party's sensitivity towards various sections of the minority community.
The Lok Sabha was in session until the early hours of the morning, debating and passing important bills. However, amidst the proceedings, the government initiated a short discussion on the proclamation of President's Rule in Manipur at 2 AM which lasted only 41 minutes. The Opposition was surprised and protested, but the Speaker allowed the discussion to continue. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, in his speech, highlighted the failures of the government in maintaining law and order in Manipur and questioned the timing and necessity of the President's Rule.
The Waqf Amendment Bill, which was earlier passed by the Lok Sabha, sparked a heated debate in the Rajya Sabha today. While BJP MP JP Nadda defended PM Modi's welfare for all principle, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay attacked the BJP for ignoring the interests of Muslims. Union Minister Giriraj Singh also joined in, accusing the Congress of crossing the limits of appeasement by giving away 123 properties to Waqf in Lutyens' Delhi overnight in 2013. The debate highlights the deep division and polarizing views over the proposed amendments to the Waqf Act in Uttar Pradesh, the state with the highest number of Waqf properties in the country.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi vehemently opposes the Waqf amendment bill during a Lok Sabha discussion, stating that it is an attack on the foundation of Parliament and the Constitution. He also alleges that the government has ulterior motives for pushing the amendment, including diluting the Constitution, defaming minorities, dividing society, and disenfranchising the minority community. He questions the timing of the amendment and accuses the BJP-led government of restricting religious freedoms in India.
The Lok Sabha braces itself for a heated session as the Centre brings back the divisive Waqf (Amendment) Bill for consideration and passage. The eight-hour debate, agreed upon by leaders from all major parties, could be extended after taking the sense of the House. The previously introduced bill had faced backlash from the Opposition and was sent to a Joint Committee for further scrutiny, leading to clashes over proposed amendments and dissent notes being allegedly redacted. Some of the biggest points of contention include allowing non-Muslims to hold key positions in the Waqf board, giving power to the District Collector to determine ownership of disputed property, and removing the tribunal's final decision clause.
In response to a written query, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha that the government's Fact Check Unit (FCU) identified 1,575 fake news stories from 2022 to March 19 this year. The FCU, set up in 2019, also received over 25,000 queries and identified 338 fake news stories in 2022. The report highlights the efforts of the government in countering the spread of misinformation.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin hit back at his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath for his comments on the state's protest against the National Education Policy and Lok Sabha delimitation. Calling it a "battle for dignity and justice", Stalin accused the BJP of being "clearly rattled" by their protests. Amid the controversy over the two-language policy, Adityanath had stated that the country shouldn't be divided based on language or region to which Stalin responded, "This isn't riot-for-votes politics, it's a battle for dignity and justice."
Leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi accused the Lok Sabha speaker of not letting him speak in the House, calling it an undemocratic way of running the proceedings. He also stated that this was not the first time he was denied an opportunity to speak. This latest incident comes after a heated exchange between Gandhi and the speaker last week.
Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha, has accused Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla of denying him the opportunity to speak in the Parliament. Gandhi claimed that the proceedings were being run in an undemocratic manner and his repeated requests to raise key issues were ignored. The Speaker, however, asked Gandhi to follow the rules of procedure and conduct himself in accordance with the high standards and dignity of the House.
A group of Congress MPs, including the deputy leader and general secretary, met with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to discuss their concerns over the denial of opportunity for Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi to speak during a session. Birla had adjourned the house when Gandhi got up to speak, stating that he must adhere to the rules expected of members. This comes amid reports that most high court judges appointed since 2018 are from upper castes, raising concerns about proper representation and reservations for marginalized communities.