New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reply to the no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
He is likely to speak around late afternoon.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had informed the House on Wednesday that the prime minister will reply to the motion on August 10.
The discussion on the motion, which began on August 8, after being initiated by Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, has seen some high-voltage speeches from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister Smriti Irani and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Shah, during his more than two hour long speech Wednesday evening, had said that though the incidents of Manipur were “shameful”, the prime minister along with him had worked late nights to resolve the situation there.
Meanwhile, according to the day’s schedule, the government will seek passage of the Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the Lok Sabha.
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will move the bill for passage.
The bill seeks to amend the Advocates Act, 1961, and has been passed by the Rajya Sabha.
Punjab police have seized one pistol (Glock), cash Rs. 11,20,000, two magazines and 46 live cartridges with the arrest of five accused from Baramulla area of Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing the press conference here today, DIG Border Range Narendra Bahrgav said that five accused who were arrested and traced from Uri district Baramulla of J&K were brought to Amritsar today.
He said the money, arms and ammunition recovered from the arrested accused were to be used for terror activities.
The five arrested accused from J&K were identified as Raveel Kataria, Imtayaz Ahmed, Nafeez, Mukhtiar Ahmad and Fiaz Ahmed all were residents of Baramulla ( J&K).
On being asked how police succeeded in arresting five persons from J&K, DIG said that earlier police had seized 18 kilogram heroin with the arrest of three accused including one young lady on 27th July at Dinanagar in Gurdaspur district. During the interrogation these three arrested accused police got the lead and launched an operation in J&K with the help of Indian Army posted in the Baramulla area to nab them.
New Delhi- Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that the incidents of Manipur are shameful and said that the government has no intention to change the demography of the northeast state.
He also appealed the all the ethnic groups to shun violence and look for a peaceful solution to the problem by talking to the central government.
“I agree with the opposition about the violence which has happened there. It is shameful, but it is all the more shameful to politicise it, ” he said.
Shah at the same time said that had the video been shared with the state’s DGP or the police on time, then action would have been taken against the perpetrators at the earliest.
The Home Minister wondered why the video was leaked just a day before the commencement of the monsoon session.
He also urged the ethnic groups to talk to the Central government and look for a peaceful solution to the strife torn situation prevailing there.
Participating in the discussion on the no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha, the Home Minister attacked the Congress-led opposition saying that the most instances of ethnic and communal violence and riots took place during the reigns of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.
He even listed out all such incidents of the past several years, and went on to add that in 1993 and 1997 when ethnic violence had broken out in Manipur, no discussion took place in Parliament during the first instance, and when it did take place at the time of the second incident, only the Minister of State for Home replied to the discussion.
Shah said no prime minister or home minister had visited Manipur during those occasions however he had himself stayed there for three days and his junior minister Nityanand Rai stayed there for 23 days.
“I was the first Home Minister ever to do so, ” he said.
Shah also blamed Rahul Gandhi for playing politics on the Manipur issue.
After his more than two hours long speech, Shah requested through the Speaker to pass a resolution to seek peace in the state in Lok Sabha.
Leader of the Congress Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury opposed this proposal saying that their only demand was that Prime Minister should come to the House and speak on Manipur.
The House however passed the resolution through voice vote, after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that as Home Minister has already spoken on the matter and tomorrow the Prime Minister will reply to the motion, the resolution for peace in Manipur should be passed.
Earlier, the Home Minister in an all out attack on the Congress, said that while the erstwhile UPA regime was steeped in scams, the NDA had only done politics of development for 15 years (including six years of the Vajpayee government).
“That’s why you felt the need to change the name of your alliance to INDIA from UPA, while we don’t feel any such need to do so, ” Shah retorted.
He even listed out a long list of scams which had taken place during the erstwhile UPA regime, which were gleefully echoed by the treasury benches.
Chowdhury on several times tried to intervene, however Shah quietened him by saying that his own party had not given him time to speak on the no-confidence motion.
Shah also explained the genesis of the Manipur violence and explained how due to increasing Kuki population in the state, owing to their exodus from neighbouring Myanmar, the tensions had been rising between Meiteis and Kukis there.
The simmering tensions of past several months culminated in the eruption of violence in May, he said.
Shah also informed the House that violence has gradually ebbed in Manipur and out of the 152 dead, 101 had died in May itself, while the number of casualties have decreased since June.
He also elaborated on various measures taken by the government to normalise the situation there adding that the Chief Secretary and the DGP have been replaced while those who made the video have been caught.
On opposition’s question why the Chief Minister was not replaced, Shah said that this was because he was cooperating with the Centre.
The Home Minister also in detail explained all the welfare schemes launched by the government in the past nine years of the NDA government.
Attacking Rahul Gandhi, Shah said that he was a politician who had been launched 13 times in politics.
Referring to Gandhi’s visit to a Dalit woman Kalawati’s house during the UPA regime, Shah said that while the Congress leader only elaborated on her travails, it was the NDA government, which provided her with electricity and toilet and a house, when it came to power.
He also targetted INDIA alliance partners SP and NCP saying that while both SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi had described the Covid vaccine as Modi vaccine, Sharad Pawar had toppled the Maharashtra government with support from Jan Sangh
He ridiculed the opposition for criticising the Prime Minister, saying that he was one of the most popular prime ministers in the history of the country adding that while the opposition may not have confidence on the government but the people have the confidence in the government and that the NDA will again come back to power in 2024.
Jaipur : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, during his visit to Mangarh Dham in Rajasthan on World Tribal Day on Wednesday, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants Manipur to keep burning, adding the BJP’s ideology has killed the spirit of Mother India in Manipur.
Addressing the gathering, he said that the tribals were the first owners of India.
“This is our land, which we call India today… this land was the land of tribals. This was told to me by my grandmother Indira Gandhi, but the BJP calls tribals ‘Vanvasi’. This is an insult to the tribals and Mother India, ” he said.
Regarding the violence in Manipur, Rahul Gandhi said that the Prime Minister wants Manipur to keep burning.
“The Prime Minister wants the fire to keep burning in Manipur. It has been three months, it seems that Manipur is not a part of the country at all. I went to the relief camp. The leader of the opposition went but the PM did not. He did not say a word about Manipur, ” the Congress MP said.
The former Congress president further said “wherever the people of BJP go, they try to suppress the voice of India”.
“BJP’s thinking has set Manipur on fire. Manipur has been on fire for months. Bharat Mata was murdered in Manipur. BJP’s ideology has killed Mother India, ” he added.
Besides, addressing the tribals, Rahul Gandhi said: “The BJP says that you are not the owner of the country, you are the people living in the jungle. They call you ‘Vanvasi’ and hand over the forest to the industrialists. They want to finish the forest gradually, and you will be left nowhere.”
Describing the Ashok Gehlot-led Rajasthan government’s Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme as the ‘best health scheme’ in the country, Rahul Gandhi said “we run the government for the poor”.
Earlier, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced that Rs 100 crore has been earmarked for the development of Mangarh Dham.
Addressing the gathering, former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot said the Central government is failing on every front.
New Delhi : Opposition MPS from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Tuesday moved notices in Rajya Sabha demanding a discussion on the Manipur violence.
AAP member Raghav Chadha and RJD’s Manoj Kumar Jha gave suspension of business notice over the Manipur situation.
Chadha, through his notice, demanded discussion on the “breakdown of law and order in state of Manipur due to the failure of Central and state government.”
“The violence in Manipur has resulted loss of precious lives due to failure and incompetence of Central and state government, ” he said.
RJD MP Jha also demanded “discussion on Union and state government’s failure in restoring peace in Manipur.”
“A statement by the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi), followed by a comprehensive discussion shall send a message of healing to the people (of Manipur), ” Jha’s notice read.
Ethnic clashes erupted in Manipur on May 3 and since then hundreds of people have lost their lives whereas thousands have been forced to take refuge in the relief camps.
The Congress and other Opposition parties have been blaming the Biren Singh-led government for the current situation in the Northeastern state and demanded his dismissal.
Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested a couple on charges of impersonating as IAS and IPS officers and duping people. The accused have been identified as Manmohan Ganjoo, and Ayoush Koul Ganjoo.
According to a police spokesperson, the couple’s modus operandi involved deceiving people by making false promises of lucrative positions, career advancements, and other personal favors.
Further investigation revealed that Manmohan Ganjoo had been serving as a suspended police personnel. Law enforcement authorities executed a search warrant at the couple’s residence, leading to the confiscation of incriminating evidence.
Among the seized items were laptops, mobile devices containing fabricated transfer and appointment orders, including fraudulent documents related to Manmohan Ganjoo’s induction into the Indian Police Service (IPS). The authorities also discovered cash, jewelry, and other belongings that were allegedly obtained through fraudulent means.
Three individuals have already come forward to report instances of fraud perpetrated by the accused couple.
Earlier, a similar case surfaced this year when Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested Kiranbhai Patel, a conman hailing from Gujarat. Patel had successfully posed as a high-ranking official from the Prime Minister’s Office, managing to exploit his fabricated authority to receive benefits and privileges, including Z-plus security cover, during his visits to the Kashmir Valley.
New Delhi : Delhi Lieutenant Governor V. K. Saxena has accorded sanction for prosecution of two persons accused of spreading anti-national slogans like “Khalistan Zindabad” at the behest of banned outfit Sikh for Justice (SFJ) early this year.
According to information, accused Vikram Singh and Balram Singh were arrested by the Delhi Police for drawing multiple “pro-Khalistani” graffiti in areas of Vikaspuri, Janakpuri, Pachim Vihar, Peeragarhi, Meera Bagh and other adjoining parts of West Delhi on January 19.
Graffiti with anti-national slogans like “Khalistan Zindabad”, “SFJ”, “1984”, “Punjab Banega Khalistan”, “Referendum 2020 Vote for Khalistan”, were drawn by the accused, who during investigation, disclosed that they indulged in such activities on the instruction of fugitive secessionist and SFJ founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
“The L-G has granted the sanction for prosecution under Section 196 (1)of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973, in the case registered by the Special Cell of Delhi Police for the commission of offence under section 153B and 120B of the Indian Penal Code. Section 153B of IPC deals with Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integrity and social and religious harmony, ” said LG office.
During investigations, the Delhi Police seized USB Pen Drives containing CCTV footage, proof of payments and location of mobile phones of the accused in the area where graffiti were made.
“During investigations, it was revealed that a video was circulated on social media platforms wherein Pannu was advocating and encouraging secession through such graffiti and video message and conspiring to disrupt the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India, ” police said
New Delhi : A Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) delegation will visit the riot-hit Nuh (Mewat) district of Haryana on Tuesday to meet the victims of the violence that erupted on July 31.
The delegation will include party national vice-president and former MP Shaid Siddiqui, national general secretary Yashvir Singh, RLD national spokesperson Bhupendra Chaudhary and former Thana Bhawan MLA Rao Waris.
Chaudhary said that the team will meet the victims and gauge the prevailing situation in Nuh which happens to be a Muslim dominated district.
“The district administration was committing atrocities on innocent people in the guise of taking action, ” he said.
The RLD’s stance came hours after the Punjab and Haryana High Court put a hold the demolition drive in Nuh. The district administration had razed some of the buildings, including a three-storied hotel and a few medical shops, as part of its action against “illegal construction”.
Chandigarh : UK Sikh MP, Tanmanjeet Dhesi who is on a Punjab tour, met Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt) President, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa at his residence in Chandigarh. Dhesi was accompanied by his family.
Notably, MP, Tanmanjeet Dhesi who had landed at Amritsar on Thursday was made to sit for two hours at Sri Guru Ramdas Jee International Airport by the immigration officers.
After this incident, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa had an immediate conversation with the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah and Dhesi was given clearance by the airport authority.
Following that, the UK MP along with his family especially came to meet Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa at his residence in Chandigarh today and expressed his gratitude to him.
During the interaction with both the leaders, apart from the issues related to Panth also held key discussions on the difficulties faced by Punjabis living abroad while coming to India.
Meanwhile, Dhesi gave a special invitation to Dhindsa to visit England.
Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Paramjit Singh Raipur Member SGPC and Jaspal Singh Dhesi, father of Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi also remained present on this occasion.
New Delhi : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, whose Lok Sabha membership was restored earlier in the day, arrived in Lok Sabha along with his mother Sonia Gandhi and several party members.
He arrived inside Lok Sabha chamber much before 12 p.m., the time till which the House had been adjourned earlier in the morning.
Rahul Gandhi’s entry inside the House was led by Congress leaders, who could be seen chanting slogans: “Jodo Jodo Bharat Jodo!”
He was kissed by his mother as soon as he took his seat, even as several members from the opposition, including BSP MP Danish Ali along with leaders from Samajwadi Party, NCP, DMK, Trinamool Congress and several others went up to his seat and greeted him.
As soon as the House reconvened, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey raised an issue of a news organisation reportedly receiving Chinese aid, citing a news report.
At this moment, BJP MPs started shouting slogans “Congress China Bhai Bhai!” and even the Congress and other opposition members jumped in the Well of the House.
Amid furore, Kirit Solanki, who was in the Chair adjourned the House till 2 p.m.
