After Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks in Parliament on Tuesday in which he appeared to insult and belittle Dr. B R Ambedkar, the opposition has come together to demand his removal from the Cabinet. In response to the two-day debate celebrating the 75 years of the Indian Constitution, Shah had said, "had you chanted God's name these many times, you would have been blessed with heaven in seven births." This has sparked outrage among opposition parties who see it as a continued disrespect for Ambedkar and the Dalit community as a whole. The opposition is calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take immediate action and remove Shah from his position, otherwise protests will be held across the country.
Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the 129th Constitutional Amendment Bill, implementing 'One Nation, One Election' in Lok Sabha. However, opposition leaders, including Congress MP's Manish Tewari and Gaurav Gogoi, raised objections to the Bill, stating that the Parliament does not have the competence to pass such a legislation. Despite the opposition, the Bill was passed with a majority and the House was adjourned till later in the day. Interestingly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had suggested sending the Bill to the Joint Parliamentary Committee for further consultation when it was first approved by the Union Cabinet.
In a move that could transform the country's electoral process, the Union Cabinet has given its approval to the 'One Nation, One Election' legislation, which aims to hold simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The bill, which is expected to be introduced in the ongoing winter session of Parliament, has been met with pushback from the Opposition, with many parties expressing concerns about its potential impact on regional parties. However, the government remains determined to move forward with its core ideological agenda, and will also launch a public campaign to garner support for the legislation. The success of this initiative will ultimately depend on the government's ability to address concerns and build consensus among all political stakeholders.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be heading the Union Cabinet meeting to discuss the implementation of the One Nation One Election plan, the approval of PAN 2.0, and three railway projects to improve connectivity and efficiency. The heavy rains in Tamil Nadu and the ongoing opposition in the Assembly may also be on the agenda for discussion during the meeting.
In a move to preserve and celebrate India's diverse cultural heritage, the Union Cabinet has approved the status of classical language to five Indian languages: Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali. This brings the total number of recognized classical languages to 11, with the government acknowledging their significance in preserving the country's rich history and tradition. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee both took to social media to express their delight at this decision, emphasizing the importance of promoting regional languages in India.
The state cabinet of Karnataka expressed its disappointment over the National Wildlife Board's decision to not clear the Kalasa-Banduri Nala (Mahadayi) drinking water project. In response, the cabinet has decided to hold an all-party meeting to discuss the matter and petition Prime Minister Narendra Modi against what they see as a grave injustice to the people of Karnataka. They have also directed the law department to seek legal counsel on filing a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the NWB's decision. Additionally, the cabinet discussed objections raised by Pramoda Devi Wadiyar regarding the Chamundeshwari Development Authority and clarified that they are within their rights to hold the meeting.
The Congress party has raised fresh allegations of conflict of interest against former SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Buch, who is currently working with ICICI Bank. The party questioned the bank's statement that it did not pay Buch any salary after her retirement and alleged that she was receiving a non-uniform "retiral benefit" from the bank. The party's media and publicity head, Pawan Khera, pointed out discrepancies in the amount and frequency of payments made to Buch and questioned whether a person's retiral benefit can exceed their annual salary. The party has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as the head of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, to clarify on Buch's appointment.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the BioE3 Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment Policy which aims to drive innovation and accelerate India's transition to a Net Zero carbon economy. This policy will also support the government's initiatives towards a sustainable and circular bioeconomy. With a focus on strategic sectors such as high value bio-based chemicals, precision biotherapeutics and climate resilient agriculture, the BioE3 Policy aims to foster a more resilient biomanufacturing ecosystem and promote job creation.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a new "unified pension scheme" for over 23 lakh Central government employees. This scheme guarantees 50% of salary as pension and aims to provide dignity and financial security for government employees. With the option to choose between the existing National Pension System (NPS) or the new pension scheme, the UPS will be implemented from April 1, 2025. This move comes amid protests from non-BJP ruled states over the NPS and will provide a minimum pension of Rs 10,000 per month after 10 years of service.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the NDA government is bound to follow the Constitution drafted by BR Ambedkar, which does not include any provision for creamy layer in SC/ST reservation. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, discussed the recent Supreme Court ruling on sub-categorisation of SC/ST reservation. The top court ruled that states can sub-classify SC/STs and even identify the creamy layer to exclude them from affirmative action, but the Union Minister ensured that the government is committed to Ambedkar's constitutional provisions.