Leaders of India, including President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, paid tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his sixth death anniversary. Vajpayee, who passed away in 2018, was a renowned leader and a towering figure in Indian politics, who made history as the first non-Congress Prime Minister to complete a full term in office. His contributions and vision continue to be remembered and honored by the nation.
The Congress has written a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, asking him not to consider farmer leaders' media interaction after meeting with Rahul Gandhi in the Parliament complex last week as a violation of decorum. This comes after Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's "halwa" remark on the halwa ceremony. In her reply to the Budget discussion, Sitharaman also brought up past instances of non-parliamentarians, including women filmstars, interacting with the media on various occasions.
In a fiery speech during a discussion on the Union Budget, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi likened PM Narendra Modi and his government to the mythical Chakravyuh from the Mahabharata, trapping the country and its people in a web of monopoly, corruption, and political dominance. He slammed the budget and accused it of favoring big businesses and ignoring the plight of farmers, youth, and small businesses. Gandhi's scathing attack on the government received backlash from Speaker Om Birla, but he continued to criticize the internship program announced in the budget, calling it a mere band-aid on a broken system.
The Lok Sabha was stalled for over 30 minutes after a heated exchange between Congress member Charanjit Singh Channi and BJP's Ravneet Singh Bittu. The argument, which got personal, resulted in Chairman Sandhya Ray expunging remarks from both members. While Channi spoke about former Punjab CM Beant Singh's assassination, Bittu responded by saying his grandfather sacrificed his life for the country, not for the Congress. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh asked for a review of both speeches, stating that any statement that goes against Parliamentary traditions should be removed. Speaker Om Birla emphasized that no member, especially a minister, should insult or disgrace the House.
The ongoing debate on Budget 2024 in Lok Sabha turned heated when TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee clashed with Speaker Om Birla over the discussion on the three farm laws. The Trinamool MP accused the Centre of passing the bills without consulting farmers or Opposition parties, but the Speaker maintained that the House had a thorough discussion on the issue. The Budget, which was criticized by Banerjee for favoring BJP coalition partners, was defended by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as she dismissed the TMC's criticism.
During a heated Budget discussion in Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee exchanged sharp words over the previously passed agricultural laws. The MP from West Bengal claimed that no discussion took place on the issue, while the Speaker maintained that the issue was discussed for over five hours. Banerjee also criticized the Budget for lacking clarity and only serving the interests of BJP coalition partners.
The Central government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has declared June 25 as 'Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas' or 'Constitution Murder Day' to commemorate the 1975 Emergency and pay homage to those who suffered during it. The decision was also supported by President Droupadi Murmu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who condemned the imposition of the Emergency by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and called it a dark chapter in Indian history. On the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, the government aims to remind people of the atrocities and violation of civil liberties that occurred during this time.
During a debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Speaker Om Birla engaged in a verbal exchange when Gandhi questioned why Birla bowed down to Prime Minister Modi but not to him when they shook hands on his election as the presiding officer. Birla responded saying it is a tradition to bow to elders, to which Gandhi said that the Speaker is the tallest leader of the House. Their exchange highlights the dynamics of power and hierarchy within the Indian political landscape.
In a daring move, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi displayed pictures of Lord Shiva, Guru Nanak, and Jesus Christ in the Lok Sabha while emphasizing the opposition's adherence to their teachings. However, his action was met with opposition from Speaker Om Birla, who stated that it violated the House's rules. In his speech, Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the ruling BJP and its pro-Hindu narrative, asserting that Hinduism is based on non-violence and resilience rather than fear, hatred, and falsehoods. This incident occurred during a discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address in a parliamentary joint sitting.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra expressed concern after Congress MP Deepender Hooda was reprimanded by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla for chanting ‘Jai Samvidhan’ during Shashi Tharoor's oath-taking ceremony. The Speaker had earlier interrupted the opposition's chant, stating that Tharoor was already taking oath on the Constitution. This incident has raised questions about freedom of expression in Parliament.