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Parliament Budget Session Day 4 LIVE | 'Govt Of Minimum Governance And Maximum Publicity, Is For The VIP, Of the VIP, By The VIP': Sagarika Ghosh In RS

Parliament Budget Session 2025 Day 4 Live Updates Lok Sabha And Rajya Sabha Tuesday February 4
File photo of new Parliament building (PTI)

By ETV Bharat English Team

Published : Feb 4, 2025, 9:28 AM IST

Updated : Feb 4, 2025, 2:29 PM IST

Day 4 of the ongoing Budget Session in Parliament today (Feb 4, 2025), which began at 11 am today, is expected to end on a fiery note as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to reply to the motion of thanks on President's address. Sources in BJP told ETV Bharat that he will address the Budget session in Lok Sabha at around 5 pm today. During his address, PM Modi is expected to respond to Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha who made major allegations during his reply to the President's address on Monday.

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju asked Rahul to be prepared to face Prime Minister Modi. "Be prepared to face at 5 PM today! Kripiya bhaagen nahin. Aaj shaam 5 baje, Pradhaan Mantri Narendra Modi ji ke javaab par pichlee baar kee tarah vitaran na karen," (Please do not run away. Today at 5 PM, do not behave like last time in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji) Rijiu said in a post on X.

On Monday, calling President Droupadi Murmu's Jan 31 address "same laundry list" of things the government has done, Rahul targeted the Narendra Modi-led central government, claiming that Make in India had failed, China had occupied Indian territory, and that no government -- UPA or NDA -- had been able to tackle unemployment. Not taking EAM S Jaishankar's name, Gandhi made pointed remarks that the Foreign Minister was sent to the US multiple times to ask them to invite PM Modi to Donald Trump's inauguration as President.

He also alleged that as many as 70 lakh new voters were added in Maharashtra between the Lok Sabha and Assembly Elections, most of them in constituencies BJP swept.

LIVE FEED

2:06 PM, 4 Feb 2025 (IST)

Govt For The VIP, Of the VIP, By The VIP: Sagarika Ghosh In Rajya Sabha

AITC Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghosh in response to President Droupadi Murmu's address, slammed the central government calling it a government of "minimum governance and maximum publicity".

She recited lines from a satirical poem by Bengali writer Sukumar Ray's book Aabol Tabol published in 1923. "Why is it that the Raja of Bomba Gorer hangs mango pancakes in a painting? The queen wears a pillow on her head and the queen's brother hammers nails into the slices of bread. This is a satirical poem. It shows a government disconnected from reality. The citizen is forced to become a mute spectator, watching the government's absurd drama. This is exactly what this government is about. This is a government disconnected from reality, that doesn't know how to tackle the catastrophe of unemployment, the crisis of price rise. This is a government that doesn't not how to tackle the challenge of security in Manipur. This is a government not guided by our great national motto Satyamev Jayate.

"Like the Raja of Bomba Gorer, this government lives in an imagined reality. All it wants is media publicity and set a media narrative. This is precisely why India today faces an acute governance deficit. This government came to power with the slogan 'minimum government, maximum governance'. Instead today, we have a government which is minimum governance and maximum publicity."

On Kumbh stampede

"Kumbh Mela is a classic example of minimum governance and maximum publicity. The publicity blitz and event management at this year's Kumbh is so overpowering that it is as if there never has been a Kumbh mela before. I have been a journalist and I covered the Kumbh Mela in 2001 and 2013. Much less hype and much better crowd management.

This time there was a stampede. There have been two or three stampedes. Investigative journalists are reporting far higher number of dead than the government is telling us. VIP culture at the Kumbh is responsible for this, reporters are saying...This is a government for the VIP, Of the VIP, by the VIP," the AITC MP said.

1:53 PM, 4 Feb 2025 (IST)

PM Internship Scheme Not Meant For Jobs But For Exposure: FM Sitharaman in Rajya Sabha

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said that the Prime Minister Internship Scheme announced last year was not meant to provide jobs, instead it was to provide exposure and skill to the youth to make them ready for jobs.

"The intent of the program itself is not to provide a job, but to provide an exposure, and through the internship, and kind of awareness of what is there in the market for which they have to be trained," the finance minister told Rajya Sabha, responding to a question during the Question Hour.

She clarified and said that internship is different from employment, and explained the details of PM internship scheme. She asserted that the government wanted to allow youth to get an internship or exposure in the top 500 companies. "With the exposure and the internship having been completed, they would be better placed to seek jobs," she added.

In the budget of July 2024, the BJP-led NDA government has announced five different kinds of approaches for a Viksit Bharat. Among those was measures for promotion of manufacturing and services through internship. The government announced launching a comprehensive scheme for providing internship opportunities in 500 top companies to 1 crore youth over 5 years. They will gain exposure for 12 months to real-life business environments, varied professions and employment opportunities.

An internship allowance of Rs 5,000 per month along with a one-time assistance of Rs 6,000 are being provided. Companies will be expected to bear the training cost and 10 per cent of the internship cost from their CSR funds. The internship programme was meant for people who, till then, couldn't find an opportunity because either they were not skilled enough, or they were not trained enough.

1:42 PM, 4 Feb 2025 (IST)

Congress MP Channi Accusses Govt Of Spreading Hatred, Demands Shah's Apology Over Ambedkar Remarks

Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi, speaking during the Motion for thanks in the Lok Sabha, accused the central government of spreading hatred and depriving Dalits of their rights. He also demanded an apology from Union Home Minister Amit SHah over his remarks on Dr B R Ambedkar. Channi alleged that the government's policies were harming marginalised communities.

12:50 PM, 4 Feb 2025 (IST)

Health Minister Nadda Responds To Question Over Aftermath Of Covid Vaccination and Its Impact

AA Rahim, the CPI (M) Rajya Sabha asks the Union Health Minister whether the government has conducted any study on the aftermath of vaccination and the impact of Covid-19.

"Prevention of future pandemics is important. Studying the impact of covid 19 is crucial to preventing future pandemics. There is a high level of concern in society over the death rate among people who have recovered from Covid-19. Has the government conducted any study on the aftermath of vaccination and the impact of Covid-19? If not is the government willing to conduct such a study? " Rahim asked.

In his response, Union Health Minister JP Nadda said: "As far as the emerging pandemics are concerned, we have got a very robust system. We have the National Centre for Disease Control, which keeps surveillance and is the apex body which takes care of the diseases, pathogens and emerging virus mutations. Under NCDC, we have an integrated disease surveillance program, a platform for disease surveillance. We have got RRT, the rapid response team. We have a decentralised multi-disciplinary team for health control and containment..."

12:31 PM, 4 Feb 2025 (IST)

How Do You Make Organic Farming Economically Viable For Farmers: Shashi Tharoor To Union Agriculture Minister

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor Tuesday asked Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan how the government planned to make organic farming economically viable.

"The Honourable Minister has addressed a very important topic, the question of natural and organic farming. And it's true that this has been expanding in our country, but only to 1 million hectares of arable land, which is a tiny fraction, not even 1% of the 141 million hectares that we are cultivating crops in our country.

Now, what's striking is that the Minister has not addressed the issue of the economic viability of natural farming. There are two reports I've read from ICRIER and IIFSR, that highlight that the yield goes down—even though their input costs are lower because they don't have to buy fertilizer, farmers are finding that their yield goes down.

Basmati has gone down by 32%, and wheat has gone down by 59% yield, which means that it's not economically viable for them. A crop that otherwise would sell in the market for ₹28-29 costs up to ₹40 in terms of relationship to the yield.

Now the question is, if you have a problem where your yield is not good and labour costs are higher because your labour has to be a little more trained, and 87% of farmers using organic farming are not able to secure better prices, then how do you make this economically viable for the farmer?"

12:17 PM, 4 Feb 2025 (IST)

Akhilesh Yadav To Yogi Govt: Why Hide Information On Maha Kumbh Stampede?

Samajwadi Party chief and former UP Chief Minister slammed the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government over the recent recent Maha Kumbh stampede. Speaking in Lok Sabha during the motion of thanks on President's address, Akhilesh demanded that facts and numbers on those deceased and injured should be presented in the parliament.

Excerpts from his address:

When you can give Budget data, why aren't you able to give us the data regarding the Maha Kumbh stampede?...I demand there should an all-party meeting on this tragedy and data regarding the dead and injured and their treatment should be presented in the parliament. I want to ask the double-engine government, why did you hide the information when nothing had happened, according to you?

The khoya paya (lost and found) division and crisis management should be handed over to the Army.

The state government turned a religious event into an opportunity for political chest-thumping.

People had arrived to earn good deeds and they went back with the bodies of their loved ones.

When they came to know that people had died, they flew a government helicopter and showered flower petals. Clothes and shoes had piled up, they used JCBs to clear them.

11:56 AM, 4 Feb 2025 (IST)

Supriya Sule Points To Alleged 5000 Crore PMFBY Scam In Maharashtra, Agri Minister Responds

During the Question Hour in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, NCP MP Supriya Sule asked Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan whether he was aware of an alleged Rs 500 or Rs 5,000 crore scam in Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY) in Maharashtra.

"I want to ask the agriculture minister that the current Maharashtra agriculture minister has spoken on record about Rs 500 crore of corruption in PMFBY. Your own MLA then corrected your agriculture minister that it was not 500 crore but 5,000 crore. I want to ask you, since your minister and MLA have said it, are you aware of it and would you inquire about the matter?" Sule asked.

Chouhan responded by saying if there is corruption, they will probe it and the guilty will be punished. "I am getting to know about it from the MP. Sometimes she says 500 crore and sometimes 5000 crore. Such sentences don't work. However, I still want to assure you that if there is corruption and it is proven, we won't spare the culprits. If there is corruption, we will probe it and those found guilty won't be spared," the Union Agriculture Minister said.

11:47 AM, 4 Feb 2025 (IST)

Declare Bali Yatra In Odisha A National Festival: Debashish Samantaray In RS

BJD Rajya Sabha MP Debashish Samantaray on Tuesday requested the central government to declare Bali Yatra in Odisha a National Festival. Speaking in the upper house, Samantaray said that the Bali Yatra had assumed the significance of a national festival as people from across the country participated in it.

"Come Kartik Purnima, when thousands of boats float on Mahanadi, (they) symbolically remember the 2000 years of maritime glory of Odisha. This fair over the years has assumed a size where people have called it one of the biggest fairs in Asia. Over seven days, it has grown into a national festival in many ways where you find national craftsmen, dance performances, weaving, self-help groups and tribals participating to sell their produce in the market. My leader and former CM Naveen Patnaik has declared it a state function and had requested the central government to accord it a national festival status."

"I request the culture and tourism minister to declare it a national festival," he said.

11:22 AM, 4 Feb 2025 (IST)

Shivraj Singh Chouhan Slams Congress On Old Crop Insurance Scheme, Speaks on Premium Collected under PMBFY

On a question on Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan says that under the old crop insurance scheme during the Congress government, the crop insurance considered losses happening on Tehsil level. "It meant that if one farmer, one village or even 10 villages faced losses, they were not covered unless the losses happened on the entire tehsil level...we have changed it, and brought it down to village level."

Chouhan also responded to a question regarding Premium Collected under PMBFY. "Earlier, it used to take a lot of time for claims to be cleared. The previous scheme was defective. It used to take years. But now it has been decided that in a maximum of one month after harvesting crops, the state must send its report and soon after getting the report, the insurance claims must be cleared," he said.

11:12 AM, 4 Feb 2025 (IST)

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Replies to Questions On Farmers and Farmer Schemes

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is responding to questions asked by multiple MPs on farmers, agriculture, and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, the crop insurance scheme.

11:10 AM, 4 Feb 2025 (IST)

Congress Leader Manickam Tagore Moves Adjournment Motion In Lok Sabha Over New UGC Regulations

Congress Leader Manickam Tagore has moved an adjournment motion In Lok Sabha over the new UGC regulations on the appointment of Vice Chancellors and hiring of contract teachers.

Congress Leader Manickam Tagore Moves Adjournment Motion In Lok Sabha Over New UGC Regulations (Sansad)

11:00 AM, 4 Feb 2025 (IST)

Parliament Budget Session 2025 Day 4 LIVE Updates | Proceedings Begin In Both Houses

The Day 4 proceedings of Budget Session 2025 in both houses of the Parliament have begun at exactly 11 am today. In Lok Sabha, the session begins with the question hour. In Rajya Sabha, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar is wishing concerned MPs on their birthdays.

10:48 AM, 4 Feb 2025 (IST)

Parliament Budget Session 2025 Day 4 LIVE: Be Prepared To Face PM Modi At 5 PM today: Rijiju To Rahul

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju Tuesday asked Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to be prepared to face Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is set to speak in Parliament today in reply to the motion of thanks on President's address.

"Be prepared to face at 5 PM today! Kripiya bhaagen nahin. Aaj shaam 5 baje, Pradhaan Mantri Narendra Modi ji ke javaab par pichlee baar kee tarah vitaran na karen," (Please do not run away. Today at 5 PM, do not behave like last time in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji) Rijiu said in a post on X.

While replying to the Motion of Thanks to President Droupadi Murmu's address in the Parliament, Rahul cited Telangana's population study and said almost 90 per cent of the people are either Dalit, adivasi or backward or minority.

The LoP said he was convinced that the story was the same across the nation. "The OBC population of the country is not 1 less than 50%...If we look at the largest corporates in this country, none of them are owned by OBCs, Dalits or Tribals," the Congress leader said in the Lok Sabha.

Rijiju slammed Rahul and said he has only been talking about SC, ST, OBC in the last 2-3 years. "Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) is the biggest OBC face in the country. Can he not see that? PM of the country is an OBC. He is the most popular leader in the world. Can he not see that? Is Rahul Gandhi blind?"

The union minister said that he himself is a Scheduled Tribe (ST) and is working as India's parliamentary affairs minister. "MoS Arjun Ram Meghwal is working as the Law Minister, he is an SC. Can't he see that?" Rijiju asked while speaking to news agency ANI.

10:06 AM, 4 Feb 2025 (IST)

Parliament Budget Session 2025 Day 4 LIVE: Govt Likely To Bring Privilege Motion Against Rahul

Sources told ETV Bharat that the NDA government will bring a privilege motion against LoP Rahul Gandhi for the "blatant lies" during his Monday address in Lok Sabha. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday vehemently denied Rahul Gandhi's claims, especially those on China. He demanded that the chair take appropriate action against certain remarks made by the Congress leader if he fails to authenticate the same.

What is a Privilege Motion?

If any member of the Parliament believes that the parliamentary privileges that MPs enjoy have been breached, they can raise a privilege motion. Once raised, the Speaker can refer it to the "Privileges Committee."

9:50 AM, 4 Feb 2025 (IST)

Parliament Budget Session: Cong MP From Kanyakumari Moves Adjournment Motion On Railway Infras and Funda Allocation For Tamil Nadu

Congress MP from Kanyakumari Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth has moved an adjournment motion for Tuesday on Railway Infrastructure and Allocation of Funds for Tamil Nadu. He has urged the Government to address concerns regarding the allocation of ₹6,626 crore for railway projects in Tamil Nadu, highlighting gaps in execution, transparency, and the actual impact on infrastructure development.

Here are the key demands he had made in his adjournment motion:

Execution

While the allocation of ₹6,626 crore is significant, the execution of railway infrastructure projects has been alarmingly slow. There have been consistent delays, and several projects have either not commenced or are moving at a pace that does not match the rising demands. The Government’s inaction has had a direct negative impact on the railway infrastructure, which serves millions of daily commuters.

Blockages and Delays

The Union Government has continuously blocked or delayed crucial railway projects in Tamil Nadu. This has hindered the state’s growth and stalled the development of vital infrastructure that could relieve the pressure on the existing system. These political and bureaucratic blockages must be addressed immediately to ensure that the allocated funds are put to proper use and result in visible improvements.

Infrastructure Issues

New Express Trains:Tamil Nadu urgently requires new express trains to meet the rising travel demands. It was anticipated that at least 10 new express trains would be introduced each year, but the pace of implementation has been far too slow. The overcrowded trains and the growing commuter demands require the Government to act swiftly and introduce the necessary services.

Unreserved Coaches:The shortage of unreserved coaches continues to cause inconvenience to the public, especially for those who cannot afford reserved seats. With the state’s population rising, the capacity for unreserved coaches must be increased to ensure better accessibility for all.

Senior Citizens' Concession:The removal of the Senior Citizens’ Travel Fare Concession has caused distress among the elderly population, particularly in Tamil Nadu, where many senior citizens rely on this scheme for affordable travel. We urge the Government to reinstate the concession to alleviate the financial burden on this vulnerable section of society.

MEMU Rail Service:The long-awaited MEMU rail service connecting Thiruvananthapuram and Kumari Nellai districts has not yet seen adequate progress. This is a crucial project for regional connectivity and must be expedited.

Chennai-Kanyakumari Route:Speed restrictions on the Chennai-Kanyakumari route continue to hinder travel efficiency. With a length of 160 km, this route is vital for commuters and tourism, and we call on the Government to grant the necessary permissions to allow higher train speeds, reducing delays and improving the travel experience.

Safety Concerns and Redevelopment Delays: The installation of the Kavach safety system is a positive step, but progress has been slow, with only 600 km of the sanctioned 1,460 km completed. Additionally, the redevelopment of key stations like Egmore, Madurai, and Kanyakumari, as part of the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, has seen minimal progress. The ₹2,498 crore allocated for the redevelopment of 77 stations must be used effectively to ensure that these stations are modernized and meet the growing demands.

Pamban Bridge Project:Despite the Pamban Bridge being constructed at a cost of ₹535 crore, there has been no clear timeline for its inauguration. This project, which is crucial for improving connectivity, has been delayed, and we urge the Government to provide a definitive timeline for its completion.

While the Government has allocated ₹6,626 crore for Tamil Nadu’s railway development, the execution has been slow, and transparency regarding the use of these funds has been lacking. We urge the Government to address the gaps in execution, expedite the completion of key projects, and ensure that Tamil Nadu’s railway infrastructure meets the needs of its growing population. The people of Tamil Nadu deserve timely, efficient, and transparent development in the railway sector, and it is the Government’s responsibility to deliver on these promises.

9:42 AM, 4 Feb 2025 (IST)

Parliament Budget Session 2025 Day 4 LIVE: Standing Committee Reports To Be Tabled Today

On Day 4 of the Budget session set to begin at 11 am, the following reports of the standing committee on education, health, women, children, and youth and sports are to be tabled today.

  1. Action taken by the Government on the Recommendations/ Observations contained in the 354th report on Review of Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram (RYSK) pertaining to the Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
  2. Action taken by the Government on the Recommendations contained in the 341st report on Review of Education Standards, Accreditation Process, Research, Examination Reforms and Academic Environment in Deemed/Private Universities/other Higher Education Institutions.
  3. Action taken by the Government on the Recommendations/Observations contained in the 148th Report on Mental Health Care and its management in contemporary times.
  4. Action taken report on Implementation of Ayushman Bharat.
  5. On the functioning of the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS).
  6. On implementation of Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.
  7. On review of the National Ayush Mission pertaining to the Ministry of Ayush.

9:33 AM, 4 Feb 2025 (IST)

Parliament Budget Session 2025 LIVE: Owaisi's Late Evening Remarks On Waqf Bill Create Buzz: 'I Am Warning This Govt'

Late Monday evening, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi made a fiery speech on Waqf Amendment Bill, warning the government that if they clear it in its present form, it will lead to social instability as the Bill has been rejected by the Muslim community.

Speaking in Lok Sabha at 9.38 pm, Owaisi, while participating in the debate on the President's Address, said the implementation of the Bill would take this country back to the 1980s and early 1990s.

"I am cautioning and warning this government - if you bring and make a Waqf law in the present form, it will be violation of Article 25, 26 and 14, it will lead to social instability in this country. It has been rejected by the entire Muslim community. No Waqf property will be left, nothing will be left," Owaisi said.

"You want to make India 'Viksit Bharat', we want 'Viksit Bharat'. You want to take this country back to the '80s and early '90s, it will be your responsibility. Because, as a proud Indian Muslim, I will not lose an inch of my Masjid... I will not lose an inch of my Dargah. I will not allow that," he said.

"We will no more come and give a diplomatic talk over here. This is the House where I have to stand and speak honestly, that my community - we are proud Indians. It is my property, not given by anyone. You cannot snatch it away from me. Waqf is a form of worship for me," Owaisi said.

9:19 AM, 4 Feb 2025 (IST)

Parliament Budget Session 2025 Day 4 LIVE Updates: Papers To Be Laid On The Table Today

On Day 4 of the Budget session set to begin at 11 am today, the following ministers are to lay papers on the table:

  1. Jitin Prasad for Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
  2. Krishan Pal for Ministry of Cooperation.
  3. Ram Nath Thakur for Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
  4. Nityanand Rai for Ministry of Home Affairs.
  5. Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma for Ministry of Heavy Industries.
Last Updated : Feb 4, 2025, 2:29 PM IST

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