Parliament Budget Session Day 3 | BJP MPs Move Privilege Motion Against Sonia Gandhi Over 'Derogatory Remarks' Against President Murmu

Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha have been adjourned till 11 AM on Tuesday Feb 4. The house will resume tomorrow with the discussion on motion for the vote of thanks on the President's address.

As BJP MPs moved a privilege motion against former Congress President Sonia Gandhi over her alleged derogatory remarks against President Droupadi Murmu, Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan said that "whatever is happening in the House, has never been its culture".

"BJP should have learnt from Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Manmohan Singh how they laughed off the insulting terms used for them... As far as the Privilege Motion is concerned, I want to clarify that we are not going to be afraid... They have failed on every front. To divert the people from the failed budget, they came up with this...," Ranjan said.

BJP MPs have moved a Notice for Breach of Parliamentary Privilege, Ethics and Propriety against former Congress President Sonia Gandhi over her "derogatory and slanderous words against President of India with the motive to lower the dignity of the highest office".

In a joint letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman, Jagdeep Dhankar, the BJP MPs said that Gandhi's remarks "warrant serious consideration and disciplinary action". The MPs said that the remarks in question "as publicly quoted" were "The poor, lady, the President, was getting very tired by the end...she could hardly speak...poor thing".

The BJP MPs' letter said that the remarks by the Congress Rajya Sabha MP appeared to "demean the stature and dignity of the President of India, the highest constitutional authority of our nation".

Backing Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi over raking up the India-China border row in the Parliament, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said that the BJP led Central government was soft on the neighbouring country. "Dr S Jaishankar (External Affairs Minister) had himself accepted that China is stronger than India. This shows that India is not strict with China and the imports from China are constantly rising... China is a key issue for India and the central government should be serious about it," Gogoi said.

A parliamentary delegation from the Russian Federation, led by Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, called on the President, Droupadi Murmu and Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla.

According to a press release by the President's Secretariate, the Russian delegation called on the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan today. Welcoming the delegation to India, the President said that exchanges of this nature among public representatives not only foster stronger cooperation but also allow the partnership to remain contemporary and updated. She stated that the positive impact of regular contacts is also evident in the broader ‘India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’, which continues to benefit significantly from the ongoing interaction at various levels.

The Russian delegation also called on Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla in the Parliament.

Birla, while sharing the pictures of the meeting on X, said that he shared with the delegation the "great strides made by our country during this democratic journey, strengthening the constitutional values".

"India and Russia enjoy vibrant and special ties in multiple domains from defence and energy to culture and people to people connect. Both the Parliaments have special role in building these ties. I am hopeful that this visit will strengthen our strategic relationship and will contribute to the growing cooperation between the two Parliaments," he said.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday paid tributes to "thousands" who died in the January 29 Maha Kumbh stampede, triggering an uproar from the treasury benches even as Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar asked him to retract the statement.

Kharge, the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, was quick to add that "this is my estimate (and) if this is not right you (the government) should tell what is the truth". He said he was ready to be corrected.

"I did not say 'thousands' to blame anyone. But how many people died, give that information at least. I will apologise if I am wrong. They should give figures how many died, how many are missing," he said.

There was a stampede during the Amrit Snan on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya on January 29. According to the figures provided by the Uttar Pradesh government, 30 people were killed and 60 others were injured.

However, while participating in a debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address in Rajya Sabha, Kharge used the phrase "the thousands who died in Kumbh" to pay tributes to the deceased. "I pay my tributes to the people who died in Maha Kumbh... the thousands who died in Kumbh," he said, leading to the protest by the ruling members.

Kharge, however, added this was his estimate and the government should provide the "correct" figures. "This is my estimate, if this is not right you should tell what is the truth... I am asking you to declare what the actual numbers are. If I am wrong I am ready to correct," he said. Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar urged him to retract his statement.

"The LoP has indicated a scenario using figures to the extent of thousands. I appeal to him, in this House, whatever is spoken, carries great weight. You have spoken something which has numbed everyone," Dhankhar said.

"A message that goes from here, even if it is contradicted, goes to the whole world. Can you go to that extent? I would appeal to you as one of senior most leaders of this country, if you put a figure in thousands I can only appeal to your conscious," he said. Kharge said he did not mention the figure to blame anyone.

Even as Chairman Dhankhar called Kharge making the claim a "very sad moment" and asked him to withdraw his statement, the Leader of Opposition insisted the government give the correct figures and continued with his speech. (PTI)

The controversy over Congress leader Sonia Gandhi making alleged derogatory remarks against President Droupadi Murmu is deepening as 40 MPs from BJP are set to meet Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar with their letter requesting to move a privilege motion against the former Congress chief.

Soon after the President delivered her address to the joint sitting on January 31, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were seen discussing the speech.

"The poor lady, the President, was getting very tired by the end...she could hardly speak poor thing," Sonia Gandhi was purportedly heard saying in a video doing the rounds on social media.

The BJP slammed Sonia Gandhi for her reaction, alleging the Congress leader referring to the President as a "poor thing" demeans the high office and reflects her feudal mindset.

Gandhi's remarks snowballed into a huge controversy, with the Rashtrapati Bhavan saying they were in "poor taste, unfortunate and unacceptable." Prime Minister Narendra Modi also tore into the Congress, accusing its 'shahi parivaar'(royal family) of insulting the President, who hails from a tribal background, and claiming that the party has always undermined the progress of those who come from marginalized communities.

Arvind Kejriwal Aam Aadmi Party has turned Delhi into a "dirty slum", BJP Rajya Sabha member Kiran Choudhry said on Monday, slamming AAP for making excuses and blaming others for the bad state of affairs in the national capital.

Initiating the discussion on the motion of thanks on the President's address in the Rajya Sabha, Choudhry said AAP has lost the faith of the people of Delhi. Without naming former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, she tore into APP leaders for using "condemnable terms" like "water terrorism, genocide, poison in Yamuna being supplied to Delhi and equating it with the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki" during the campaign for Delhi assembly elections.

They seem to have "lost their senses" and are making these statements when they have realised that after ten years, the people of Delhi are fed up with them for their non-performance.

Alleging that the AAP government did not take up any developmental work in Delhi, Choudhry said they have not fulfilled the promises that they made to the people of Delhi, and it is shameful. "Today, the condition of Delhi has gone from worse to the worst. The state of Delhi, the national Capital, is like that of a dirty slum," she claimed.

Further, she said that for the namesake, Delhi is the capital of the country, and the world only sees Luytens' Delhi but a visit to the interior streets, outskirts and small colonies of Delhi presents the reality of Delhi, which is full of "dirty drainages, overflowing garbage dumps, overflowing sewers, and polluted and stinking drinking water". "They should also go there and see what is the condition of Delhi. They will hang their heads in shame," she asserted.

Terming the condition of the present Yamuna river a "cesspool of absolute dirt, toxic element" that the people of Delhi are made to drink, she asked AAP where has the Rs 6,000 crore that was supposed to be used in the cleaning of the Yamuna been used? Delhi, under the AAP government, has the highest loss of processed water to the tune of 40-50 per cent. Nothing can be more shameful than this, she added.

Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge replies to the Motion Of Thanks On the President's address. "The President is an integral part of our Parliament and we all respect him. There is nothing new in what the government has made him say in this speech. I listened to the entire speech, many failures in it were also described as successes," Kharge said.

Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge is replying to the Motion Of Thanks On President's address.

Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi during his address in the House today made a massive allegation of voter manipulation during the recent Maharashtra Assembly Elections.

Gandhi alleged that 70 lakh new voters were added in the western state between Lok Sabha and Assembly Elections. He asked the Election Commission to provide new voters' data to Congress, Shive Sena and NCP so that we can see who has been added and where.

Here are excerpts from his speech:

The most interesting part, and the Prime Minister is not looking at me, is that in Maharashtra more voters were added in 5 months than were added in 5 years in Maharashtra.

Almost 70 lakh new voters were suddenly added between Lok Sabha and assembly elections.

In one building in Shirdi, 7000 new voters have been added.

I am not making an allegation. All I am asking is there is something problematic in this. The total number of new voters added is equal to Himachal Pradesh.

We ask the EC to provide us with the electronic Lok Sabha voter list with names and addresses and the Assembly election voter list.

Please give us the names and addresses and polling booths

Interestingly, the new voters are mostly from the constituencies that the BJP has swept.

ECI has to give the data of the Maharashtra elections to the Congress, Shiv Sena and NCP so that we can see who has been added and where.

The rules have changed. The Election Commissioner used to be chosen by the Chief Justice, Prime Minister and Leader Of the Opposition. Why was the CJI removed from the panel? This is a question to them.

Rahul Gandhi's address in Lok Sabha continues:

The Army has contradicted the Prime Minister that China is sitting on 4,000 km of our territory.

The PM has denied but for some reason, the Indian Army keeps on telling the Chinese that they are in India.

The reason China is in our territory is important.

People think wars are fought between armies.

The fact of the matter is wars are fought between industrial systems.

And China has far bigger industrial systems and that is why they have to guts to sit inside our territory.

They have the guts because Make In India has failed.

If and when we fight a war with China, we would be fighting with Chinese motors and Chinese optics.

For the future of our country, we have to build a production system and we cannot allow this revolution to go by.

On India-USA Ties

India and the US should focus on how they can take advantage of this revolution.

India is as important as the US as they (US) cannot build a production system without India.

Because their cost structure is much more than ours.

That would be the first part of the president's address (if INDIA bloc is in power).

On Caste System

We have done a caste survey in Telangana and the results are shocking

Almost 90% of Telangana is either Dalit, Adivasi, backward or minority

I am absolutely convinced that that is how it is in the entire country.

Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is replying to the Motion of Thanks on President's Address, in Lok Sabha. Here are some more of his remarks:

We would start teaching our children about electric motors, drones, and AI and most importantly we have to start building a production network.

We will not give you a laundry list.

China has a 10-year lead on India on this.

Our President's address will tell our youngsters that we will start to build capabilities.

We would ensure that our banking systems are not taken over by two or three players.

That our banking systems will be open to millions of small business users.

We will not send our foreign minister to the US two or three times to invite our Prime Minister to his (US President's) coronation.

At this, there was a ruckus as Kiren Rijiju opposed LoP Gandhi commenting on India's foreign ties.

Rahul (addressing Rijiju): I apologise for disturbing your peace of mind.

Rijiju: You should apologise for lying. This is a serious issue.

Rahul Continues

We cannot afford that the Chinese are at the forefront of this revolution.

We would ensure that experts would talk to our students and guide them about these future technologies.

We would make them partners in this revolution.

Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is replying to the Motion of Thanks on President's Address, in Lok Sabha. Here are some of his remarks early on in his address:

I struggled through the President's address to maintain my attention. It was the same laundry list of things the government has done

This is not the type of president's address that should be delivered.

There is no point in me saying it is a laundry list and not providing an alternative idea.

What an alternative address will look like under INDIA bloc Gathbandhan government.

The future of this country is going to be determined by the youth of the country.

Anything we say has to be spoken to them (youth)

The first thing in front of us and I am sure PM and everyone else in this house would agree.

A universal problem that we have faced is that we have not been able to tackle the problem of unemployment.

Neither the UPA Government nor today's NDA government has given a clean-cut answer to the youth about employment.

The PM proposed the Make in India programme, a good idea. I am not blaming the PM but it would be fair to say that he failed.

The first alternative vision would be to answer how we are going to solve this problem.

Lok Sabha witnessed prolonged noisy protests by opposition parties today, who demanded a discussion on the recent stampede at Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj and a list of those deceased.

When the House met for the first time after the President's address to the joint sitting and presentation of the 2025-26 budget, the opposition MPs led by the Congress were on their feet and demanded a discussion on the recent tragedy in Maha Kumbh. The House took up 18 questions with brief replies from ministers. Usually, 20 questions are listed for oral replies during the Question Hour every day.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu replied to the question during Question Hour in Rajya Sabha regarding the 2nd Asia Pacific ministerial conference on Civil Aviation.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu replied to the questions asked by BJP MP MEsha Vishram Kulkarni during the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha regarding the Enhancement of flight safety measures.

BJP MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri moves the motion of thanks on the President's Address in Lok Sabha.

Minister of State for Cooperation Krishan Pal Gurjar introduced “Tribhuvan” Sahkari University Bill, 2025 in Lok Sabha on Monday. The Bill aims to establish the Institute of Rural Management Anand in Gujarat as a university and an institution of national importance.

A visiting delegation of Russian politicians led by State Duma chairman Vyacheslav Volodin witnessed the ongoing Lok Sabha today. "I am glad to inform you that we have in our special visitors' box a delegation led by Russia’s State Duma chairman Vyacheslav Volodin. On behalf of the session, we welcome them. The delegation's visit here indicates the depth of India-Russia relations. This will further strengthen our ties. We wish them a happy and safe stay in India," the Speaker said.

The Duma is the lower House of the Russian Parliament. Volodin reached India early Monday. He is set to meet Indian leadership and visit Rajya Sabha as well. Before leaving Moscow, Volodin was quoted by an international news agency saying, “Attempts by Washington and Brussels (European Union) to isolate Russia from the rest of the world have failed. India is a strategic partner. We have long-standing relations of trust and mutually beneficial cooperation with it.”

The question hour has concluded in Lok Sabha and MPs are now presenting their papers in Lok Sabha. While several MPs did ask their questions and the concerned ministers replied to them, the question hour witnessed massive protests by the opposition MPs over the Maha Kumbh stampede.

Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday reconstituted the panel of Vice-Chairpersons of the upper house. "I have to inform members that the panel of Vice Chairpersons Of Rajya Sabha has been reconstituted," the Chairman said shortly after the session began today morning.

The new panel includes: NCP MP Sunetra Ajit Pawar, AITC MP Sushmita Dev, BJP Kiran Choudhary, BJP MP Sangeeta Yadav, BJP MP Ghanshyam Tiwari, BJP MP Dinesh Sharma, DMK MP P Wilson, and MP Vikramjeet Singh Sahni.

As Lok Sabha continues to witness ruckus during the question hours, here are Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar's opening remarks in the upper house today. "267th Session of Rajya Sabha is a milestone in the constitutional journey of Bharat, being the first one convened as we march into the last quarter of the century of adoption of our Constitution on November 26, 1949. On this occasion, we express profound gratitude to our vigilant founding fathers for their wisdom and foresight in providing us with a Constitution that has remarkably shaped the destiny of our Republic."

Opposition MPs continue to raise slogans in Lok Sabha, seeking discussion over the Jan 29 Maha Kumbh stampede in which at least 30 devotees lost their lives. "Kumbh me marne walun ki, pushti karo, pushti karo" (Confirm the names of those who died in Kumbh) and "Shame, Shame" slogans reverberated in Lok Sabha as Speaker Om Birla was seen repeatedly asking the protesting MPs to end their ruckus. "Aap ko janata ne table todne ke liye bheja hai ya charcha karne ke liye?" (have people elected you to break chairs or participate in serious discussions?) the Speaker was seen telling the MPs.

Following Ministers to lay papers on the Table in Lok Sabha today:

• Ashwini Vaishnaw for Ministry of Railways.
• Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for Ministry of Culture.
• Jayant Chaudhary for Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Ministry of Education.
• Shripad Yesso Naik for Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
• Pankaj Chaudhary for Ministry of Finance.
• Kirtivardhan Singh for Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change;
• Suresh Gopi for Ministry of Tourism
• Sukanta Majumdar for Ministry of Education.

Opposition MPs in Lok Sabha are continuously raising slogans against the government since the session began today. The MPs seek a discussion over the recent Maha Kumbh stampede in which at least 30 people died and dozens of others were injured. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju was seen slamming the opposition MPs for disturbing the question hour. Lok Speaker speaker Om Birla also asked the protesting MPs to end the ruckus. "Have people elected you to ask questions to the government or create a ruckus?" the Speaker told the MPs.

The BJP-led central government will table the Tribhuvan Sahkari University Bill in Lok Sabha today. The Bill aims to establish the Institute of Rural Management Anand in Gujarat as a university and an institution of national importance. "Shri Amit Shah to move for leave to introduce a Bill to establish the Institute of Rural Management Anand, as a University to be known as the "Tribhuvan" Sahkari University and to declare the same as an institution of national importance; to impart technical and management education and training in co-operative sector; to promote cooperative research and development and to attain standards of global excellence therein in order to realise the vision of “Sahkar Se Samriddhi” and to strengthen the co-operative movement in the country through a network of institutions, and also to declare the Institute as one of the Schools of the University.

Proceedings in both houses on the third day of the Parliament's Budget session have begun amid opposition MPs' chanting slogans against the central and the UP government over the recent deaths in a stampede in the ongoing Maha Kumbh mela in Prayagraj. Meanwhile, the JPC report on Waqf Bill is set to be tabled in Lok Sabha today. "When the Speaker proposes the agenda and the Business Advisory Committee agrees, we will table it," BJP MP and Chairman of JPC on Waqf Amendment Bill, Jagadambika Pal said.

Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha have been adjourned till 11 AM on Tuesday Feb 4. The house will resume tomorrow with the discussion on motion for the vote of thanks on the President's address.

As BJP MPs moved a privilege motion against former Congress President Sonia Gandhi over her alleged derogatory remarks against President Droupadi Murmu, Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan said that "whatever is happening in the House, has never been its culture".

"BJP should have learnt from Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Manmohan Singh how they laughed off the insulting terms used for them... As far as the Privilege Motion is concerned, I want to clarify that we are not going to be afraid... They have failed on every front. To divert the people from the failed budget, they came up with this...," Ranjan said.

BJP MPs have moved a Notice for Breach of Parliamentary Privilege, Ethics and Propriety against former Congress President Sonia Gandhi over her "derogatory and slanderous words against President of India with the motive to lower the dignity of the highest office".

In a joint letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman, Jagdeep Dhankar, the BJP MPs said that Gandhi's remarks "warrant serious consideration and disciplinary action". The MPs said that the remarks in question "as publicly quoted" were "The poor, lady, the President, was getting very tired by the end...she could hardly speak...poor thing".

The BJP MPs' letter said that the remarks by the Congress Rajya Sabha MP appeared to "demean the stature and dignity of the President of India, the highest constitutional authority of our nation".

Backing Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi over raking up the India-China border row in the Parliament, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said that the BJP led Central government was soft on the neighbouring country. "Dr S Jaishankar (External Affairs Minister) had himself accepted that China is stronger than India. This shows that India is not strict with China and the imports from China are constantly rising... China is a key issue for India and the central government should be serious about it," Gogoi said.

A parliamentary delegation from the Russian Federation, led by Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, called on the President, Droupadi Murmu and Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla.

According to a press release by the President's Secretariate, the Russian delegation called on the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan today. Welcoming the delegation to India, the President said that exchanges of this nature among public representatives not only foster stronger cooperation but also allow the partnership to remain contemporary and updated. She stated that the positive impact of regular contacts is also evident in the broader ‘India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’, which continues to benefit significantly from the ongoing interaction at various levels.

The Russian delegation also called on Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla in the Parliament.

Birla, while sharing the pictures of the meeting on X, said that he shared with the delegation the "great strides made by our country during this democratic journey, strengthening the constitutional values".

"India and Russia enjoy vibrant and special ties in multiple domains from defence and energy to culture and people to people connect. Both the Parliaments have special role in building these ties. I am hopeful that this visit will strengthen our strategic relationship and will contribute to the growing cooperation between the two Parliaments," he said.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday paid tributes to "thousands" who died in the January 29 Maha Kumbh stampede, triggering an uproar from the treasury benches even as Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar asked him to retract the statement.

Kharge, the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, was quick to add that "this is my estimate (and) if this is not right you (the government) should tell what is the truth". He said he was ready to be corrected.

"I did not say 'thousands' to blame anyone. But how many people died, give that information at least. I will apologise if I am wrong. They should give figures how many died, how many are missing," he said.

There was a stampede during the Amrit Snan on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya on January 29. According to the figures provided by the Uttar Pradesh government, 30 people were killed and 60 others were injured.

However, while participating in a debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address in Rajya Sabha, Kharge used the phrase "the thousands who died in Kumbh" to pay tributes to the deceased. "I pay my tributes to the people who died in Maha Kumbh... the thousands who died in Kumbh," he said, leading to the protest by the ruling members.

Kharge, however, added this was his estimate and the government should provide the "correct" figures. "This is my estimate, if this is not right you should tell what is the truth... I am asking you to declare what the actual numbers are. If I am wrong I am ready to correct," he said. Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar urged him to retract his statement.

"The LoP has indicated a scenario using figures to the extent of thousands. I appeal to him, in this House, whatever is spoken, carries great weight. You have spoken something which has numbed everyone," Dhankhar said.

"A message that goes from here, even if it is contradicted, goes to the whole world. Can you go to that extent? I would appeal to you as one of senior most leaders of this country, if you put a figure in thousands I can only appeal to your conscious," he said. Kharge said he did not mention the figure to blame anyone.

Even as Chairman Dhankhar called Kharge making the claim a "very sad moment" and asked him to withdraw his statement, the Leader of Opposition insisted the government give the correct figures and continued with his speech. (PTI)

The controversy over Congress leader Sonia Gandhi making alleged derogatory remarks against President Droupadi Murmu is deepening as 40 MPs from BJP are set to meet Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar with their letter requesting to move a privilege motion against the former Congress chief.

Soon after the President delivered her address to the joint sitting on January 31, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were seen discussing the speech.

"The poor lady, the President, was getting very tired by the end...she could hardly speak poor thing," Sonia Gandhi was purportedly heard saying in a video doing the rounds on social media.

The BJP slammed Sonia Gandhi for her reaction, alleging the Congress leader referring to the President as a "poor thing" demeans the high office and reflects her feudal mindset.

Gandhi's remarks snowballed into a huge controversy, with the Rashtrapati Bhavan saying they were in "poor taste, unfortunate and unacceptable." Prime Minister Narendra Modi also tore into the Congress, accusing its 'shahi parivaar'(royal family) of insulting the President, who hails from a tribal background, and claiming that the party has always undermined the progress of those who come from marginalized communities.

Arvind Kejriwal Aam Aadmi Party has turned Delhi into a "dirty slum", BJP Rajya Sabha member Kiran Choudhry said on Monday, slamming AAP for making excuses and blaming others for the bad state of affairs in the national capital.

Initiating the discussion on the motion of thanks on the President's address in the Rajya Sabha, Choudhry said AAP has lost the faith of the people of Delhi. Without naming former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, she tore into APP leaders for using "condemnable terms" like "water terrorism, genocide, poison in Yamuna being supplied to Delhi and equating it with the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki" during the campaign for Delhi assembly elections.

They seem to have "lost their senses" and are making these statements when they have realised that after ten years, the people of Delhi are fed up with them for their non-performance.

Alleging that the AAP government did not take up any developmental work in Delhi, Choudhry said they have not fulfilled the promises that they made to the people of Delhi, and it is shameful. "Today, the condition of Delhi has gone from worse to the worst. The state of Delhi, the national Capital, is like that of a dirty slum," she claimed.

Further, she said that for the namesake, Delhi is the capital of the country, and the world only sees Luytens' Delhi but a visit to the interior streets, outskirts and small colonies of Delhi presents the reality of Delhi, which is full of "dirty drainages, overflowing garbage dumps, overflowing sewers, and polluted and stinking drinking water". "They should also go there and see what is the condition of Delhi. They will hang their heads in shame," she asserted.

Terming the condition of the present Yamuna river a "cesspool of absolute dirt, toxic element" that the people of Delhi are made to drink, she asked AAP where has the Rs 6,000 crore that was supposed to be used in the cleaning of the Yamuna been used? Delhi, under the AAP government, has the highest loss of processed water to the tune of 40-50 per cent. Nothing can be more shameful than this, she added.

Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge replies to the Motion Of Thanks On the President's address. "The President is an integral part of our Parliament and we all respect him. There is nothing new in what the government has made him say in this speech. I listened to the entire speech, many failures in it were also described as successes," Kharge said.

Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge is replying to the Motion Of Thanks On President's address.

Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi during his address in the House today made a massive allegation of voter manipulation during the recent Maharashtra Assembly Elections.

Gandhi alleged that 70 lakh new voters were added in the western state between Lok Sabha and Assembly Elections. He asked the Election Commission to provide new voters' data to Congress, Shive Sena and NCP so that we can see who has been added and where.

Here are excerpts from his speech:

The most interesting part, and the Prime Minister is not looking at me, is that in Maharashtra more voters were added in 5 months than were added in 5 years in Maharashtra.

Almost 70 lakh new voters were suddenly added between Lok Sabha and assembly elections.

In one building in Shirdi, 7000 new voters have been added.

I am not making an allegation. All I am asking is there is something problematic in this. The total number of new voters added is equal to Himachal Pradesh.

We ask the EC to provide us with the electronic Lok Sabha voter list with names and addresses and the Assembly election voter list.

Please give us the names and addresses and polling booths

Interestingly, the new voters are mostly from the constituencies that the BJP has swept.

ECI has to give the data of the Maharashtra elections to the Congress, Shiv Sena and NCP so that we can see who has been added and where.

The rules have changed. The Election Commissioner used to be chosen by the Chief Justice, Prime Minister and Leader Of the Opposition. Why was the CJI removed from the panel? This is a question to them.

Rahul Gandhi's address in Lok Sabha continues:

The Army has contradicted the Prime Minister that China is sitting on 4,000 km of our territory.

The PM has denied but for some reason, the Indian Army keeps on telling the Chinese that they are in India.

The reason China is in our territory is important.

People think wars are fought between armies.

The fact of the matter is wars are fought between industrial systems.

And China has far bigger industrial systems and that is why they have to guts to sit inside our territory.

They have the guts because Make In India has failed.

If and when we fight a war with China, we would be fighting with Chinese motors and Chinese optics.

For the future of our country, we have to build a production system and we cannot allow this revolution to go by.

On India-USA Ties

India and the US should focus on how they can take advantage of this revolution.

India is as important as the US as they (US) cannot build a production system without India.

Because their cost structure is much more than ours.

That would be the first part of the president's address (if INDIA bloc is in power).

On Caste System

We have done a caste survey in Telangana and the results are shocking

Almost 90% of Telangana is either Dalit, Adivasi, backward or minority

I am absolutely convinced that that is how it is in the entire country.

Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is replying to the Motion of Thanks on President's Address, in Lok Sabha. Here are some more of his remarks:

We would start teaching our children about electric motors, drones, and AI and most importantly we have to start building a production network.

We will not give you a laundry list.

China has a 10-year lead on India on this.

Our President's address will tell our youngsters that we will start to build capabilities.

We would ensure that our banking systems are not taken over by two or three players.

That our banking systems will be open to millions of small business users.

We will not send our foreign minister to the US two or three times to invite our Prime Minister to his (US President's) coronation.

At this, there was a ruckus as Kiren Rijiju opposed LoP Gandhi commenting on India's foreign ties.

Rahul (addressing Rijiju): I apologise for disturbing your peace of mind.

Rijiju: You should apologise for lying. This is a serious issue.

Rahul Continues

We cannot afford that the Chinese are at the forefront of this revolution.

We would ensure that experts would talk to our students and guide them about these future technologies.

We would make them partners in this revolution.

Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is replying to the Motion of Thanks on President's Address, in Lok Sabha. Here are some of his remarks early on in his address:

I struggled through the President's address to maintain my attention. It was the same laundry list of things the government has done

This is not the type of president's address that should be delivered.

There is no point in me saying it is a laundry list and not providing an alternative idea.

What an alternative address will look like under INDIA bloc Gathbandhan government.

The future of this country is going to be determined by the youth of the country.

Anything we say has to be spoken to them (youth)

The first thing in front of us and I am sure PM and everyone else in this house would agree.

A universal problem that we have faced is that we have not been able to tackle the problem of unemployment.

Neither the UPA Government nor today's NDA government has given a clean-cut answer to the youth about employment.

The PM proposed the Make in India programme, a good idea. I am not blaming the PM but it would be fair to say that he failed.

The first alternative vision would be to answer how we are going to solve this problem.

Lok Sabha witnessed prolonged noisy protests by opposition parties today, who demanded a discussion on the recent stampede at Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj and a list of those deceased.

When the House met for the first time after the President's address to the joint sitting and presentation of the 2025-26 budget, the opposition MPs led by the Congress were on their feet and demanded a discussion on the recent tragedy in Maha Kumbh. The House took up 18 questions with brief replies from ministers. Usually, 20 questions are listed for oral replies during the Question Hour every day.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu replied to the question during Question Hour in Rajya Sabha regarding the 2nd Asia Pacific ministerial conference on Civil Aviation.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu replied to the questions asked by BJP MP MEsha Vishram Kulkarni during the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha regarding the Enhancement of flight safety measures.

BJP MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri moves the motion of thanks on the President's Address in Lok Sabha.

Minister of State for Cooperation Krishan Pal Gurjar introduced “Tribhuvan” Sahkari University Bill, 2025 in Lok Sabha on Monday. The Bill aims to establish the Institute of Rural Management Anand in Gujarat as a university and an institution of national importance.

A visiting delegation of Russian politicians led by State Duma chairman Vyacheslav Volodin witnessed the ongoing Lok Sabha today. "I am glad to inform you that we have in our special visitors' box a delegation led by Russia’s State Duma chairman Vyacheslav Volodin. On behalf of the session, we welcome them. The delegation's visit here indicates the depth of India-Russia relations. This will further strengthen our ties. We wish them a happy and safe stay in India," the Speaker said.

The Duma is the lower House of the Russian Parliament. Volodin reached India early Monday. He is set to meet Indian leadership and visit Rajya Sabha as well. Before leaving Moscow, Volodin was quoted by an international news agency saying, “Attempts by Washington and Brussels (European Union) to isolate Russia from the rest of the world have failed. India is a strategic partner. We have long-standing relations of trust and mutually beneficial cooperation with it.”

The question hour has concluded in Lok Sabha and MPs are now presenting their papers in Lok Sabha. While several MPs did ask their questions and the concerned ministers replied to them, the question hour witnessed massive protests by the opposition MPs over the Maha Kumbh stampede.

Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday reconstituted the panel of Vice-Chairpersons of the upper house. "I have to inform members that the panel of Vice Chairpersons Of Rajya Sabha has been reconstituted," the Chairman said shortly after the session began today morning.

The new panel includes: NCP MP Sunetra Ajit Pawar, AITC MP Sushmita Dev, BJP Kiran Choudhary, BJP MP Sangeeta Yadav, BJP MP Ghanshyam Tiwari, BJP MP Dinesh Sharma, DMK MP P Wilson, and MP Vikramjeet Singh Sahni.

As Lok Sabha continues to witness ruckus during the question hours, here are Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar's opening remarks in the upper house today. "267th Session of Rajya Sabha is a milestone in the constitutional journey of Bharat, being the first one convened as we march into the last quarter of the century of adoption of our Constitution on November 26, 1949. On this occasion, we express profound gratitude to our vigilant founding fathers for their wisdom and foresight in providing us with a Constitution that has remarkably shaped the destiny of our Republic."

Opposition MPs continue to raise slogans in Lok Sabha, seeking discussion over the Jan 29 Maha Kumbh stampede in which at least 30 devotees lost their lives. "Kumbh me marne walun ki, pushti karo, pushti karo" (Confirm the names of those who died in Kumbh) and "Shame, Shame" slogans reverberated in Lok Sabha as Speaker Om Birla was seen repeatedly asking the protesting MPs to end their ruckus. "Aap ko janata ne table todne ke liye bheja hai ya charcha karne ke liye?" (have people elected you to break chairs or participate in serious discussions?) the Speaker was seen telling the MPs.

Following Ministers to lay papers on the Table in Lok Sabha today:

• Ashwini Vaishnaw for Ministry of Railways.
• Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for Ministry of Culture.
• Jayant Chaudhary for Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Ministry of Education.
• Shripad Yesso Naik for Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
• Pankaj Chaudhary for Ministry of Finance.
• Kirtivardhan Singh for Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change;
• Suresh Gopi for Ministry of Tourism
• Sukanta Majumdar for Ministry of Education.

Opposition MPs in Lok Sabha are continuously raising slogans against the government since the session began today. The MPs seek a discussion over the recent Maha Kumbh stampede in which at least 30 people died and dozens of others were injured. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju was seen slamming the opposition MPs for disturbing the question hour. Lok Speaker speaker Om Birla also asked the protesting MPs to end the ruckus. "Have people elected you to ask questions to the government or create a ruckus?" the Speaker told the MPs.

The BJP-led central government will table the Tribhuvan Sahkari University Bill in Lok Sabha today. The Bill aims to establish the Institute of Rural Management Anand in Gujarat as a university and an institution of national importance. "Shri Amit Shah to move for leave to introduce a Bill to establish the Institute of Rural Management Anand, as a University to be known as the "Tribhuvan" Sahkari University and to declare the same as an institution of national importance; to impart technical and management education and training in co-operative sector; to promote cooperative research and development and to attain standards of global excellence therein in order to realise the vision of “Sahkar Se Samriddhi” and to strengthen the co-operative movement in the country through a network of institutions, and also to declare the Institute as one of the Schools of the University.

Proceedings in both houses on the third day of the Parliament's Budget session have begun amid opposition MPs' chanting slogans against the central and the UP government over the recent deaths in a stampede in the ongoing Maha Kumbh mela in Prayagraj. Meanwhile, the JPC report on Waqf Bill is set to be tabled in Lok Sabha today. "When the Speaker proposes the agenda and the Business Advisory Committee agrees, we will table it," BJP MP and Chairman of JPC on Waqf Amendment Bill, Jagadambika Pal said.