Parliament budget 2023 session highlights: Smriti Irani says Congress ‘cheated’ minorities

“They (Congress) say they are sympathizers of minorities. Earlier during their govt, money was taken for every 'Haj' application, but for the first time Modi govt brought a policy so that poor Muslims don't have to pay the amount for application form,” Union minister Smriti Irani said.

"I need to repeat it as they are doing this to heckle me and to ruin the flow of the speech...Mahua is only behind the truth," said TMC MP Mahua Moitra in Lok Sabha speaking during Motion of Thanks on the President's Address.

Congress MP Digvijay Singh on Tuesday reiterated the demand for setting up a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) to probe the Hindenburg Research report that alleges irregularity in the business of the Adani Group conglomerate.

State-owned Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) holds less than 1% stake in both equity and debt in the Adani Group, the government told Parliament on Tuesday.

Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 11am tomorrow. 

The NDA government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has worked for the development of women, poor and backward classes while also enhancing the country's leadership role in many global issues, BJP members said on Tuesday in Rajya Sabha.

We condemn the baseless allegations levelled by Rahul Gandhi against our govt while speaking in Parliament today. I need to remind him-he, his mother & his brother-in law are on bail. I want to ask him what are National Herald & AgustaWestland scandals?: BJP leader RS Prasad.

State-owned Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) holds less than 1% stake in both equity and debt in the Adani Group, the government told Parliament on Tuesday.

There has been a 69-per cent increase in the number of medical colleges in the country, from 387 before 2014 to 654 as of now, the government informed Parliament on Tuesday.

Further, there has been a 94-per cent rise in the number of MBBS seats, from 51,348 to 99,763, and a 107-per cent increase in the number of postgraduate (PG) seats, from 31,185 before 2014 to 64,559 as of now, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar said in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi hit out at the Centre over the Adani-Hindenburg row in Lok Sabha today by questioning the relationship between billionaire Gautam Adani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Top quotes by Rahul Gandhi

“Bharat juda hua hai (India is in one piece),” says Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla as Opposition members raise ‘Bharat Jodo’ slogans after Rahul Gandhi's speech on the Motion of Thanks on President's address.

“PM said we politicised it (HAL) but fact is that they gave the contract to Ambanis and they went bust. Adanis had no defence experience but were given 4 defence contracts,” says Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha.

“All over the country, one word that i heard from Kerala to Kashmir is Adani, Adani, Adani. This name when people asked me about, they wanted to know how come he was successful in every business, how come he never failed, what is the magic…what is this relation,” Rahul Gandhi says in Lok Sabha, showing a photo of Gautam Adani with PM Modi on a plane. “This is the relation,” he adds. 

Speaker Om Birla objects saying such “posters” are not suitable for the House. Gandhi responds saying “it's just a photo, not a poster.”

“On agniveers, retired officers told us that it seems that the idea came from the RSS and was thrust on the Army. They said we are training 1000s in weapons and then soon after, they will become civilians amid high unemployment. The officers told me that Ajit Doval is the man behind this idea,” says Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha, while speaking on President's speech.

“How is it that the Agniveer Yojana was mentioned only once in the President's speech? Unemployment, inflation – there was no word of that in the address. So all the issues that people told me about during the yatra, we didn't hear in the President's address,” he adds amid uproar from government benches.

“When we first started walking (referring to Bharat Jodo Yatra), we wanted to play the opposition and tell people about their problems. However, as we progressed, after 500-600 kms, there was a major change. Instead of us telling the people the source of their problems, the yatra started speaking to us,” Rahul Gandhi says in Lok Sabha.

Rahul Gandhi is addressing Lok Sabha.

Rajya Sabha has resumed proceedings.

Amid uproar over CP Joshi's speech in Lok Sabha DMK's A Raja ran towards CP Joshi's chair, reports news agency ANI.

Joshi said he will clarify his remarks which were found objectionable by the Opposition may be expunged. Opposition MPs protested in the lower house while CP Joshi was speaking on Sati and Jauhar.

Amid ruckus in Lok Sabha, the house was adjourned till 1.30pm. DMK MPs along with other Opposition MPs were seen protesting at the Parliament. Lok Sabha Speaker was meeting with party leaders, specially women MPs, who are protesting against remarks made by BJP MP CP Joshi during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on President's speech.

Opposition MPs from southern states protested against the scrapping of Maulana Abul Kalam scholarship for minority students by the Central Government and “discrimination against minorities in this Budget”.

Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 2pm amid Opposition uproar over fraud allegations against Adani Group, reports PTI.

Rajya Sabha was also adjourned till noon.

“A massive earthquake, 7.8 magnitude on Richter Scale, ripped through Turkey and Syria on Feb 6, followed by a series of earthquakes causing huge devastation, loss of lives and damage to infrastructure in both countries. As reported in media, over 4000 people lost their lives.”

“Our country, promptly on its part, sent assistance as NDRF search and rescue teams, specially trained dogs, medical supplies and other equipment to assist the authorities in those countries. We extend our solidarity with the govts and people of Turkey and Syria,” said RS chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 12pm today amid Adani row. Opposition MPs' demanded a discussion on the Adani stock issue and demanded for a JPC.

A discussion on the President’s speech in Parliament is likely to take place today as opposition members have agreed to participate in House debates. The discussion could not be held yesterday as both Houses were adjourned amid protests by Opposition MPs. 

Read more