In a heated Winter Session of Parliament, the Congress party is pushing for an apology from Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his recent comments regarding Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. The party's demand has intensified discussions in both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, with leaders like Rahul Gandhi criticizing the remarks. These debates are expected to be pivotal, reflecting the current political climate and legislative priorities. Additionally, there is a meeting convened by the high-level committee including PM Modi and leaders from opposing parties to discuss the appointment of the NHRC Chairman.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has scheduled a meeting with Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge to deliberate on the selection of the next Chairperson for the National Human Rights Commission. This controversial and critical appointment is being overseen by a committee led by the Prime Minister, with Mr. Gandhi and Mr. Kharge being members as Leaders of the Opposition in Parliament. The meeting comes at a tumultuous time during the final days of the Parliament's winter session, which has been disrupted by contentious bills and debates. The meeting also follows a heated confrontation between the opposition parties and the government over comments made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, with Prime Minister Modi responding that the accusations against his government are "gravely mistaken".
The two-day Constitution debate in Lok Sabha, as part of the Parliament's winter session, saw heated discussions between the ruling and opposition parties. With the 75th anniversary of India's Constitution adoption as the backdrop, top leaders from BJP and Congress sparred over constitutional matters. In other news, BJP's nominee Rekha Sharma was elected unopposed in the Rajya Sabha by-election from Haryana, with a promise to empower women.
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.
During the ongoing Parliament Winter Session, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram highlights issues with the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, specifically the harassment faced by individuals due to repeated KYC updates and lack of transparency in the process. He also questions the reliability of CIBIL scores and the absence of a proper redressal mechanism, highlighting the financial difficulties faced by a significant portion of the population.
The much-awaited winter session of Parliament commenced today but faced early disruptions leading to the adjournment of both Houses for the day. With 16 bills on the agenda and plans for a paperless Parliament, the Lok Sabha Secretariat advised MPs to opt for digital attendance. The first day included discussions on crucial bills such as the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill and the Railways (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha and the Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak in the Rajya Sabha.
Both Houses of Parliament experienced disruptions on the second business day of the winter session as opposition members raised protests over various issues, resulting in repeated adjournments. The primary focus of these protests were discussions on allegations of wrongdoing by the Adani Group and the violence in Sambhal. With talks of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) inquiry and Congress's Priyanka Gandhi set to take oath as an MP, it is unlikely that Thursday's session will see any significant progress. The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha has reiterated the need to follow established traditions and respect rulings from the Chair, while opposition parties have filed multiple notices seeking discussions on various issues.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to centralize government control over Waqf properties, has sparked debate and opposition from minority communities, civil society, and opposition leaders. As the Winter Session of Parliament approaches and the Joint Parliamentary Committee prepares to submit its report, all eyes are on whether TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu and JDU leader Nitish Kumar will support the government or the opposition. Amidst calls for more time for review, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has promised to pass the controversial bill, prompting further controversy and debate.
The Congress party is calling for a Joint Parliamentary Committee investigation into the alleged 'Adani Mega Scam', as US prosecutors have charged billionaire Gautam Adani and others for paying over $250 million in bribes to Indian officials in exchange for favorable terms for solar power contracts. The Bharatiya Janata Party has responded by targeting the Congress and questioning the timing of the development, as the allegation comes just before the start of Parliament session and the beginning of Donald Trump's presidency. The Congress also called for a new and credible head to be appointed for the Securities and Exchange Board of India, as the US Securities and Exchange Commission's actions have sparked criticism towards the Indian counterpart's handling of the investigation into the Adani Group's potential violations.
The Congress party has demanded Union Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation in light of the escalating violence in Manipur and has also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the state before the Winter Session of Parliament begins. According to Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, the double engine government in Manipur has completely failed and PM Modi should first hold a meeting with an all-party delegation from Manipur before calling an all-party meeting at the national level. The Congress also accused PM Modi of outsourcing Manipur to the Home Minister and highlighted the PM's lack of meetings and communication with the state's leadership. Additionally, both the BJP and Congress have requested a 7-day extension from the Election Commission to address poll code violations.