Parliament Budget Session Day 6 Live | Congress Demands PM Modi's Statement 'On Inhumane Treatment Of Indian Nationals In US'

The proceedings of the Rajya Sabha were adjourned till 2 pm.

RJD MP Manoj Jha on Friday urged the Centre to take "urgent steps" to address rising income inequality, saying disparity in earnings was not just a challenge for the economy but also a threat to social stability.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, he said the middle- and lower-income groups were witnessing a decline in their earnings while the income of the rich was rising.

"Income inequality is affecting several aspects of our lives. The income of the millionaires and the billionaires is rising ... We have no complaint with that but there is a parallel, sharp decline in the incomes of the middle- and lower-income groups, especially the unorganised sector," the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader said.

"Post Covid, this trend has become faster. The elite class' income has increased but, in comparison, the marginalised group, the working class, is witnessing a decline in their earnings," he said.

Jha asserted that income disparity affected the economy as well as social stability.

"It also affects democracy. Because when capital becomes concentrated, it influences politics. And when capital starts dominating politics, it is our collective responsibility to get out of it," he said.

"It also affects education and health care. If we do not take strong and immediate steps, we are sitting on a volcano," the RJD MP added, urging the government to take action.

The Centre on Friday asserted that there was no shortage of urea in the country and urged state governments to actively intervene and crack down on those creating unnecessary scarcity to profit by influencing the markets.

Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister JP Nadda rejected the claim of urea shortage in Uttar Pradesh's Dhaurahra made by Samajwadi Party member Anand Bhadauriya.

"I wish to tell the House, there was never a shortage of urea. Shortages are created by some who are keen to influence the markets," Nadda said.

The rakes of urea reach their intended destinations on the appointed dates and details in this regard are available with the ministry, he said.

He added, "Some people try to make profits by creating scarcity unnecessarily. State governments should intervene actively and members of Parliament should also step in."

Supply of fertilisers is planned in consultation with the Union agriculture ministry, Nadda said.

The minister said, "A date-wise and week-wise strategy is put in place to ensure that farmers get a supply of DAP (diammonium phosphate) on time."

An elaborate monitoring mechanism and district magistrates ensure that farmers get fertilisers on time, Nadda said.

A 45-kilogramme bag of urea is sold at a maximum retail price of Rs 266, while a 50-kilogramme bag of DAP costs the farmers Rs 1,350. In both cases, the government grants subsidies in excess of Rs 1,600 per bag to the farmers, he added.

Nearly 30 MPs from Bihar belonging to the BJP, JD(U), and LJP (Ram Vilas) met PM Modi in Parliament and felicitated him for the Budget announcements for their state.

On the frequent arrests of Tamil fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, DMK MP Kanimozhi said, "The Sri Lankan Navy has been arresting and harassing Tamil Nadu fishermen. Now, nearly 97 Tamil Nadu fishermen have been arrested. Our CM MK Stalin has written to the Minister and the PM. Every time he is here, he insists to the PM to find a solution for this problem. They have taken away nearly 210 boats of our fishermen. It is their livelihood that is getting affected. What can the fishermen do without their boats?... This is becoming a big issue in Tamil Nadu, especially for the fishermen, because their entire livelihood, family and everything is affected. The Union Govt, which has promised to have deliberations between the fishermen's groups and also have committees formed to resolve this issue permanently, has not done anything about it so far. Our demand is that the fishermen who have been arrested have to be released. They have to put pressure to release them. Justice has to be done. Boats which have been captured we want to be released. Our CM insists on a permanent solution for this problem. We want the Union Govt to speak to the Sri Lankan Govt & find a permanent solution for this."

A day after the Lok Sabha witnessed repeated adjournments over the deportation of Indians from the US, the House on Friday saw smooth conduct of the Question Hour.

Members from the treasury and opposition asked questions with no slogan shouting.

On Thursday, the House proceedings were repeatedly adjourned as opposition members raised slogans over the treatment meted out to Indians deported from the United States for living there illegally.

Despite a statement by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the latest deportation, the House did not function.

Proceedings begin in Lok Sabha

Proceedings begin in Rajya Sabha

"What happened two days ago is very shameful, and it is more shameful because we were told that India is highly respected by foreign countries... The way our citizens were deported from the US with handcuffs and iron chains is completely unacceptable," Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad said on the deportation of Indians from the US.

On PM Modi's 'The image of Hindus was tarnished due to wrong policies of the Congress' remark, Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav said, "They are the ones who are sabotaging the image of Hindus. Hindus have always been known to be inclusive. They are the ones who are making Hindus aggressive and violent."

Opposition MPs from Tamil Nadu protest on Parliament premises, demanding to bring back Indian fishermen caught by Sri Lankan forces.

Congress whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore has moved an adjournment motion demanding an Immediate Statement by the Honorable Prime Minister on the Inhumane Treatment of Indian Nationals in the US and India's Position on US Military Deportations

The proceedings of the Rajya Sabha were adjourned till 2 pm.

RJD MP Manoj Jha on Friday urged the Centre to take "urgent steps" to address rising income inequality, saying disparity in earnings was not just a challenge for the economy but also a threat to social stability.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, he said the middle- and lower-income groups were witnessing a decline in their earnings while the income of the rich was rising.

"Income inequality is affecting several aspects of our lives. The income of the millionaires and the billionaires is rising ... We have no complaint with that but there is a parallel, sharp decline in the incomes of the middle- and lower-income groups, especially the unorganised sector," the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader said.

"Post Covid, this trend has become faster. The elite class' income has increased but, in comparison, the marginalised group, the working class, is witnessing a decline in their earnings," he said.

Jha asserted that income disparity affected the economy as well as social stability.

"It also affects democracy. Because when capital becomes concentrated, it influences politics. And when capital starts dominating politics, it is our collective responsibility to get out of it," he said.

"It also affects education and health care. If we do not take strong and immediate steps, we are sitting on a volcano," the RJD MP added, urging the government to take action.

The Centre on Friday asserted that there was no shortage of urea in the country and urged state governments to actively intervene and crack down on those creating unnecessary scarcity to profit by influencing the markets.

Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister JP Nadda rejected the claim of urea shortage in Uttar Pradesh's Dhaurahra made by Samajwadi Party member Anand Bhadauriya.

"I wish to tell the House, there was never a shortage of urea. Shortages are created by some who are keen to influence the markets," Nadda said.

The rakes of urea reach their intended destinations on the appointed dates and details in this regard are available with the ministry, he said.

He added, "Some people try to make profits by creating scarcity unnecessarily. State governments should intervene actively and members of Parliament should also step in."

Supply of fertilisers is planned in consultation with the Union agriculture ministry, Nadda said.

The minister said, "A date-wise and week-wise strategy is put in place to ensure that farmers get a supply of DAP (diammonium phosphate) on time."

An elaborate monitoring mechanism and district magistrates ensure that farmers get fertilisers on time, Nadda said.

A 45-kilogramme bag of urea is sold at a maximum retail price of Rs 266, while a 50-kilogramme bag of DAP costs the farmers Rs 1,350. In both cases, the government grants subsidies in excess of Rs 1,600 per bag to the farmers, he added.

Nearly 30 MPs from Bihar belonging to the BJP, JD(U), and LJP (Ram Vilas) met PM Modi in Parliament and felicitated him for the Budget announcements for their state.

On the frequent arrests of Tamil fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, DMK MP Kanimozhi said, "The Sri Lankan Navy has been arresting and harassing Tamil Nadu fishermen. Now, nearly 97 Tamil Nadu fishermen have been arrested. Our CM MK Stalin has written to the Minister and the PM. Every time he is here, he insists to the PM to find a solution for this problem. They have taken away nearly 210 boats of our fishermen. It is their livelihood that is getting affected. What can the fishermen do without their boats?... This is becoming a big issue in Tamil Nadu, especially for the fishermen, because their entire livelihood, family and everything is affected. The Union Govt, which has promised to have deliberations between the fishermen's groups and also have committees formed to resolve this issue permanently, has not done anything about it so far. Our demand is that the fishermen who have been arrested have to be released. They have to put pressure to release them. Justice has to be done. Boats which have been captured we want to be released. Our CM insists on a permanent solution for this problem. We want the Union Govt to speak to the Sri Lankan Govt & find a permanent solution for this."

A day after the Lok Sabha witnessed repeated adjournments over the deportation of Indians from the US, the House on Friday saw smooth conduct of the Question Hour.

Members from the treasury and opposition asked questions with no slogan shouting.

On Thursday, the House proceedings were repeatedly adjourned as opposition members raised slogans over the treatment meted out to Indians deported from the United States for living there illegally.

Despite a statement by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the latest deportation, the House did not function.

Proceedings begin in Lok Sabha

Proceedings begin in Rajya Sabha

"What happened two days ago is very shameful, and it is more shameful because we were told that India is highly respected by foreign countries... The way our citizens were deported from the US with handcuffs and iron chains is completely unacceptable," Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad said on the deportation of Indians from the US.

On PM Modi's 'The image of Hindus was tarnished due to wrong policies of the Congress' remark, Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav said, "They are the ones who are sabotaging the image of Hindus. Hindus have always been known to be inclusive. They are the ones who are making Hindus aggressive and violent."

Opposition MPs from Tamil Nadu protest on Parliament premises, demanding to bring back Indian fishermen caught by Sri Lankan forces.

Congress whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore has moved an adjournment motion demanding an Immediate Statement by the Honorable Prime Minister on the Inhumane Treatment of Indian Nationals in the US and India's Position on US Military Deportations