The second day of the Parliament Budget Session was filled with heated debates and protests, as opposition parties demanded a detailed discussion on the doubts surrounding the electoral process and the controversial National Education Policy. The Lok Sabha also discussed the Manipur budget and passed four bills, while the DMK MP Kanimozhi filed a privilege motion against Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for his remarks about Tamil Nadu. Government sources have also stated that the Waqf Amendment Bill will be brought for passage later this month. Stay updated on all the action with our LIVE updates.
DMK MPs, led by Kanimozhi, staged a protest in Parliament against the National Education Policy and the three-language formula, accusing the Centre of imposing Hindi on Tamil Nadu. Additionally, they demanded an apology from Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for his alleged derogatory comments towards the people of Tamil Nadu. The DMK argues that linking central funds with the adoption of the NEP and three-language policy puts the future of Tamil Nadu's students at risk.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah plans to introduce the Immigration and Foreigners Bill focusing on passport, visa, and registration requirements for foreigners. The session, lasting until April 4, is expected to see heated debates on issues like alleged manipulation of electoral rolls and the ongoing violence in Manipur. The opposition intends to raise concerns about duplicate Electoral Photo Identity Card numbers, potentially leading to a confrontation.
The second part of the Parliament Budget Session began today, with a clash between the Opposition and the government over the National Education Policy in Tamil Nadu. The government is pushing for the passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill, which may further add tension to the already heated session. Parliament will also be discussing the imposition of President's rule in Manipur, with a response from Union Home Minister Amit Shah expected during the third week of March. Follow live updates of the ongoing session here.
The Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan called out the DMK-led government in Tamil Nadu for changing their stance on implementing the centrally-sponsored PM-SHRI scheme, accusing them of prioritizing politics over the welfare of students. Pradhan urged the state government to join the program, assuring that the medium of instruction would still be Tamil. The heated exchange between the two parties sparked off protests and a walkout in parliament and across Tamil Nadu. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin called out the Union Minister for his arrogant and insulting language, demanding he control his tongue.
The war of words between Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan intensified as Stalin slammed Pradhan for his remarks about the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) during a speech in Parliament. Pradhan's comments sparked a fresh political controversy and sharpened the divide between the Centre and Tamil Nadu over the National Education Policy (NEP) and the three-language policy. In response, Stalin demanded the release of Tamil Nadu's funds and accused Pradhan of speaking arrogantly and disrespecting Tamilians.
The Union Cabinet has cleared all 14 amendments proposed by the Joint Parliamentary Committee to the Waqf Amendment Bill, which is expected to be presented during the upcoming Budget session. The controversial bill, which aims to regulate waqf properties and settle disputes, has been under scrutiny since its introduction in August 2024. The amendments, which address some of the key concerns of the Opposition, give more power to the Waqf Tribunal and extend the timeline for registering waqf properties under a central portal.
With an overwhelming majority, the Vietnamese parliament has approved a railway project worth over US$8 billion that will link the country's northern port city to the Chinese border. This project, which received strong support from lawmakers, will span 391 kilometers and cover nine localities. With a feasibility study set to begin this year, Vietnam is aiming to complete the project by 2030 in hopes of boosting economic ties with China.
Several Indian parliamentarians, including opposition leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Akhilesh Yadav, staged a demonstration in the Parliament complex to protest the treatment of Indian deportees by US authorities. The deportees claimed to have been cuffed and shackled throughout their 40-hour journey on a US military aircraft, leading to widespread condemnation from the opposition parties. The leaders called on the Modi government to provide a detailed statement on the matter and demanded to know why the government did not arrange for the deportees to be brought back with dignity and respect on an Indian plane. Congress president Rahul Gandhi also shared a video of one of the deportees highlighting their ordeal, urging the Prime Minister to listen to their pain and ensure that Indians are treated with dignity and humanity, not handcuffs.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the Parliament regarding the deportation of over 100 Indian nationals from the US, assuring that the government is actively engaging with the US to ensure the deportees are not mistreated. He also emphasized the need for cracking down on the illegal immigration industry and taking necessary action against agents based on information provided by the deportees.