Category: Politics

Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Syed Naseer Hussain has accused officials of hiding parts of his statement about the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. He shared this on the social media platform X, expressing his disappointment and anger. Hussain argued that this action is an attempt to silence voices from the Opposition.

As a member of the Joint Committee working on the Waqf Bill, 2024, he had written a detailed dissenting opinion against the bill. He was shocked to find that parts of his notes had been removed without his consent. “The Joint Committee is already seen as a joke, and now they’re going even lower by censoring dissenting opinions from other MPs! What are they afraid of?” Hussain wrote.

The Joint Committee’s report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is expected to be presented to the Lok Sabha on February 3. According to the List of Business, Jagdambika Pal, the Committee’s chairman, along with BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal, will present the report in both Hindi and English.

The report was handed over to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on January 30, 2025. On the same day, Jagdambika Pal came to Parliament to meet with the Speaker and submit the final report on the bill.

On January 29, the Joint Committee approved the report and the revised bill. However, opposition leaders also filed their dissenting notes about it. The Committee had previously approved the original Waqf Bill from 1995 with 25 changes across 14 sections.

In a statement to ANI, JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal said, “We have approved the report and the revised bill. For the first time, we included a section that says the benefits of Waqf should go to marginalized people, including the poor, women, and orphans. We will present this report to the Speaker tomorrow.”

Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge is unhappy with the Indian government’s economic policies, calling it ‘Modinomics’. He says these policies have caused high unemployment and led to the closing down of many small businesses and farms. He thinks key government programs like Make in India, Skill India, and Digital India have not worked at all.

Kharge stated, “I have no hopes for this budget. After over 10 years of Modiji’s plans, all we see is the highest unemployment rates, small companies shutting down, and farmers protesting near Parliament. Programs like Make in India and Digital India are just slogans without real results.”

He also complained that the central government is not treating Karnataka fairly, especially since many residents voted for the ruling party. “What’s the foreign investment now? Almost zero. Last month, over nine billion dollars were pulled out of India. Even Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who has been elected from Karnataka, hasn’t been courteous to our state. We’re not getting our fair share of taxes, and this is why we are suffering under ‘Modinomics’,” Kharge explained.

Today, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2025 in Parliament. This will be her eighth consecutive budget. The budget will cover government spending, tax changes, and other important news. Earlier, the Economic Survey predicted that India’s economy would grow between 6.3% and 6.8% in the next financial year.

The Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of India’s President, recently responded to comments made by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. Without naming her, they said her remarks were “unacceptable” and hurt the dignity of the President’s position. Gandhi had claimed that President Droupadi Murmu looked tired during her speech in Parliament and could “hardly speak.”

The Rashtrapati Bhavan clarified that President Murmu was never tired and that she finds it energizing to speak for underprivileged communities, women, and farmers. They suggested that some leaders may not be familiar with how to express themselves in Indian languages like Hindi, which contributed to their misunderstanding. The statement emphasized that such comments are in poor taste and should have been avoided.

Sonia Gandhi’s remarks drew criticism from leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Minister Kiren Rijiju demanded an apology from the Congress party, defending President Murmu, a tribal woman, and highlighting her significant contributions to the country.

During her address, President Murmu talked about the government’s focus on development for all, aiming to make India a “Vikshit Bharat” (Developed India). She celebrated India’s advances in defense and public transport, stating that the country’s railway network is expanding, connecting places from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.

Derek O’Brien, a member of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the Rajya Sabha, recently shared his thoughts on the current Budget session of Parliament. He believes that a Deputy Speaker may not be appointed this time, just like in the last Lok Sabha, where the position remained unfilled.

O’Brien mentioned that the upcoming news will be mostly about two women: President Droupadi Murmu and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who will announce the Budget. He pointed out that the TMC has 39% women lawmakers, which is the highest among the six largest political parties in India. In comparison, the Telugu Desam Party has only 6%, BJP has 13%, while the Indian National Congress, DMK, and SP have 14% each.

Commenting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks about live concerts in India, O’Brien questioned whether discussions will focus more on Coldplay’s concert or the stampede at the Maha Kumbh festival that caused lives to be lost.

He stated it is surprising that despite the BJP’s strong majority in the Lok Sabha, they have not appointed a Deputy Speaker yet. He even made a bold claim that during the current session, the NDA, led by PM Modi, will likely continue this trend.

O’Brien also criticized Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who is also the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, for talking too much in the previous session, taking up nearly 30% of the speaking time. He raised a question about whether Dhankhar would break this record.

This session is also noteworthy because it marks the first time an impeachment motion was filed against the Rajya Sabha Chairman, though it was dismissed for technical reasons. O’Brien teased that we should watch if the Opposition will try to submit another motion.

Finally, he noted that the trend in Parliament has changed, with fewer bills being sent for closer review. In the past Lok Sabha, 7 out of 10 bills were carefully examined, but now it’s down to just 2 out of 10.

O’Brien dismissed rumors about the Waqf Amendment Bill being passed before the upcoming Delhi elections on February 5, explaining that Parliament will be busy discussing other issues until March 6.

A comment by senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi about President Droupadi Murmu’s speech has sparked a big political argument. After the President’s speech at the start of the Budget session, Sonia suggested that the speech was too long and tiring. She was heard saying, “The President was getting very tired by the end. She could hardly speak; poor thing.”

The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) quickly criticized her words, calling them disrespectful. BJP member Sukanta Majumdar spoke out, saying, “This is a derogatory comment. Sonia and Rahul Gandhi should not say such things about the President. Droupadi Murmu comes from an Adivasi family and is the first citizen of our country. The Congress cannot accept that.”

President Murmu’s speech focused on improving agriculture, helping farmers, and supporting India’s growth. The Congress and BJP often disagree, and this recent incident adds to their ongoing feud. As of now, the Congress hasn’t officially responded to Sonia’s remarks. The BJP is continuing its criticism, seeing it as an attack on the President’s dignity. This situation highlights the deeper divisions in politics, especially about how different communities are represented and respected in leadership.

Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his hopes for a better life for the poor and middle-class people in India. He prayed to Goddess Lakshmi, who represents wealth and good fortune, that she continues to bless them.

PM Modi expressed pride in India’s journey as a democracy, celebrating its 75 years of freedom. He noted how India has earned respect around the world.

Looking ahead, Modi mentioned that the upcoming budget is very important. He called it the first full budget of his third term as Prime Minister. He believes that by 2047, when India celebrates 100 years of independence, the country will become developed and prosperous. This budget is expected to bring fresh energy and optimism to the country.

The Budget Session of Parliament begins today with a speech from the President and an overview of the Economic Survey. The new budget is expected to focus on helping the economy grow and improving the lives of citizens.

On Wednesday, opposition leaders criticized the central and Uttar Pradesh governments for a stampede that happened during the Maha Kumbh Mela. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the tragedy was caused by poor planning and too much focus on VIP guests instead of ordinary pilgrims. He called for the government to prioritize regular devotees and improve safety.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also condemned the lack of proper arrangements, saying that it was shameful to spend so much money yet still have such tragic events happen. Sadly, at least 30 people lost their lives, and 60 more were hurt in the stampede which happened early Wednesday at the Sangam area. Many pilgrims were trying to get enough space to take a bath on Mauni Amavasya, an important day during the festival.

Akhilesh Yadav, head of the Samajwadi Party, suggested that the army should take over the organization of the event to ensure better safety. He wanted all leaders who claimed to provide world-class arrangements to step down from their positions since they failed in their duties.

Mayawati, the leader of the BSP, expressed her sorrow over the incident, while West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee highlighted how proper planning is essential for large gatherings. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren also offered his condolences and called for a thorough investigation to prevent similar incidents.

Kharge again stressed that better arrangements must be made for pilgrims still coming to the Maha Kumbh festival and said the government should listen to the needs of the devotees. He urged his party members to help those affected by the tragedy. Former Congress leader Rahul Gandhi echoed this, sharing his sadness over the loss and hoping for a quick recovery for those injured.

Sanjay Raut from the Shiv Sena party questioned who was responsible for organizing the event. He said that special areas were closed off for ministers, which could cause problems. Raut emphasized that many crores had been spent on the event and questioned where that money went since people’s lives were at stake. He claimed that the deaths were due to poor management.

Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Nitesh Rane recently asked for a ban on wearing burqas during the upcoming Class 10 and Class 12 state board exams. In a letter to the school education minister Dada Bhuse, he expressed concerns that girls wearing burqas in exam halls might cheat or cause security problems.

Rane suggested that if girls cannot be identified, it may be hard to catch anyone using electronic devices to cheat. He believes that having female police officers or female staff check the students could ensure everything is done fairly.

He emphasized how important these exams are for students’ futures and stressed that they should be held in a fair and transparent way. The Class 10 exams are set to start on February 21, while the Class 12 exams will begin on February 11. As of now, officials from the school education ministry have not responded to Rane’s request.

On Monday, the Karnataka High Court made an important decision. They told the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to hold off on their notices sent to Parvathi Siddaramaiah, who is the wife of Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Byrathi Suresh. These notices were about a serious investigation into possible money issues and other financial problems. Now, both of them can breathe a little easier, at least for now, as the court’s stay gives them temporary relief. More updates will follow soon!

On Monday, a special group of lawmakers called the Joint Parliamentary Committee reviewed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. They accepted all changes suggested by the ruling party, the BJP-led NDA, but turned down every change proposed by the opposition. Committee chairman Jagdambika Pal spoke to reporters after the meeting, saying the accepted changes will make the law better and more effective. However, opposition members complained about the meeting, claiming it was unfair. TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee said they felt ignored and accused Pal of being bossy. Pal defended the meeting, stating it was fair and that the majority’s opinion counted.

One important change in the proposed law is that Waqf properties can’t be questioned if they are being used for religious purposes. Pal noted that 14 amendments suggested by NDA members passed, while opposition members had hundreds of amendments across 44 clauses, all of which were rejected after voting.