Parliament winter session Highlights: Rahul Gandhi says not allowed to meet Russian deputy PM

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman specified the rationale behind the Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025. She said that the GST system taxed the consumption of pan masala at 28 per cent plus compensation cess. “Since the compensation cess is going to end, that portion will shift into a 40 per cent cess,” Sitharaman said.

However, the finance minister said that many types of pan masala still do not fall under the tax net because GST is applied on the basis of consumption. “Excise taxes production. But pan masala cannot be taxed on production because it is not classified as an excisable product,” she said.

“Hence, through the new law, the government is imposing a production-based tax in the form of a cess,” Sitharaman added.

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday moved the Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025 in Lok Sabha for consideration and passing.

“I rise to move that the bill to augment the resources for meeting expenditure on national security and for public health and to levy assess for the said purposes on the machines installed or other processes undertaken by which specified goods are manufactured or produced and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto,” Sitharaman said.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said in Rajya Sabha that maximum number of human trafficking cases are from Punjab. “As far as states are concerned, the maximum number of trafficking cases is from the state of Punjab,” Jaishankar said.

Jaishankar was replying to supplementaries during the question hour of the Upper House.

The EAM said the Punjab government had constituted an SIT and a fact-finding committee to look into these cases. “As per information given by them to us, 25 FIRs have been registered against 58 illegal travel agents, and 16 accused have been arrested,” Jaishankar said.

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said in the Lok Sabha that the Health and National Security Cess will not be levied on essential commodities. Sitharaman said in the Lower House that a Health and National Security Cess will be levied on production capacity of a pan masala unit, in addition to the 40 per cent GST.

Rajya Sabha proceedings have resumed again.

After Rahul Gandhi said that government doesn't allow leader of opposition to meet foreign dignitaries, union minister Ramdas Athawale called the allegations “baseless.”

"Rahul Gandhi's and Priyanka Gandhi's allegations are baseless. Any opposition leader who wants to meet President Putin can take an appointment. If Putin wants to meet the opposition, the government will place no obstacles."

Parliament winter session live: After LoP Rahul Gandhi said he was not allowed to meet the visiting Russian dignitaries, Opposition leaders expressed displeasure over it. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said, “In a democracy, it would be nice that the visiting dignitaries meet everyone... I think this is an important visit, and in our country, without doubt, many important bilateral relations need to be maintained- with Russia, China, and the US. We cannot accept a proposition that one relationship has to be determined by the nature of another relationship.” Priyanka Gandhi said the government was reversing the protocol. “They don't want anyone to raise their voice. They don't want to listen to any other opinion. They should abide by the protocols of a democracy. God knows what they are scared of. In a democracy, everyone should be able to put forward their opinions, discussions must be held, and appropriate action must be taken. The government is insecure, and this decision is a reflection of that,” she was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Parliament winter session live: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that he was denied meeting with first deputy prime minister of Russia Denis Manturov who arrived at the parliament on Thursday.

“It usually is a tradition that whoever visits from outside has a meeting with LoP. It used to happen during the governments of Vajpayee ji, Manmohan Singh ji. This has been a tradition. But these days, foreign dignitaries or when I visit abroad, Govt suggests them to not meet the LoP. This is their policy and they do it all the time,” he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Parliament winter session live: Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge slammed the Centre as rupee value plunged to an all-time low against dollar. Crtiticising the government's economic policies, Kharge said the Indian currency has no value in the world under the current government. Kharge said that government policies have weakened the Rupee, and that the Indian currency has "no value" in the world. “Rupee is weakening due to their policies. Had their policy been good, the Rupee's value would have gone up. This shows that our economic condition is not good. We can say whatever we want and appreciate ourselves, but this shows that our currency has no value in the world,” Kharge was quoted as saying by ANI.

Parliament winter session live: BJP MPs demanded an apology from Samajwadi Party Mohibullah Nadvi over his 'Jihad' remark in the Lok Sabha. Nadvi kicked up a row on Wednesday after he said that muslims "might have to do jihad" due to the oppression they are facing in the country. While Nadvi has defended his remarks made during his speech opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Act, BJP launched a strong protest against the statement, dismissing any claims of Muslim oppression.

Parliament winter session live: Amid the winter session of the Parliament, the opposition bloc has been protesting against the rising levels of air pollution in Delhi.

As per ANI, MPs were seen wearing an oxygen mask and holding a banner to take a jibe at PM Narendra Modi, which read "Mausam ka maza lijiye" (enjoy the weather).

The remark on the banner quotes PM Modi's address at the start of the Winter Session of Parliament.

Parliament winter session live: Ahead of Russian president Vladimir Putin's visit to India, the first deputy prime minister of Russia, Denis Manturov has arrived at the parliament.

Ahead of Putin's India visit, Manturov, who is also the co-chair of the India-Russia Inter-governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperationsaid said that Putin's visit marks a "return to the tradition of annual high-level summits," describing it as a major step toward deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries."

Parliament winter session live: As the Opposition MPs protested against the air pollution outside the Parliament today, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said children and senior citizens are being affected. “The situation keeps getting worse year after year. Only statements are made every year, no concrete action is taken. We have all said that the government has to take action and we all stand with them. This is not a political issue that we would point fingers at each other,” she said, and added, "Which season should we enjoy? Look at the situation outside. Like Sonia ji said, children are unable to breath. She has asthma, and senior citizens like her are facing breathing difficulty. ..."

Parliament winter session live: Opposition MPs held a protest against the air pollution that has been affecting Delhi and other parts of north India for over a month now. Earlier on Wednesday, Opposition MPs arrived at the Parliament wearing gas masks as a mark of protest.

Parliament winter session live: As the Opposition seeks a debate on Delhi's air pollution, Congress MP Ajay Maken blamed the BJP and the AAP for the crisis in the national capital . “In Delhi, the Delhi government and the Central Government are parties. Neither of them can play the blame game now... Till the time public transport in Delhi is improved, the issue of pollution will not be resolved. During 15 years of Congress, we had everything under control...BJP and AAP have completely failed to curb pollution in Delhi,” he said.

Parliament winter session live: As rupee crossed the 90-mark against the dollar, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday took a swipe at the BJP and asked what is their answer now as they had commented when the dollar had risen during Manmohan Singh's time. The rupee slumped 28 paise to an all-time low of 90.43 against the US dollar in early trade on Thursday. “Some years ago when (value of) dollar (with respect to the rupee) was high during Manmohan Singh's time, what did these people say? What is their answer now, ask them, why are you asking me,” she told reporters outside the Parliament.

Parliament winter session live: The motion was moved by Manickam Tagore, Manish Tewari and Vijayakumar alias Vijay Vasanth. Tagore, in his notice to Lok Sabha Secretary General, said the government has failed to to chalk out a coordinated national strategy and “remains paralysed, issuing advisories instead of action, committees instead of solutions”.

Parliament winter session live: Seeking a discussion on worsening air quality in Delhi and other parts of north India, Congress MPs have moved Adjournment Motion notices in the Lok Sabha to discuss the issue. Congress's Manickam Tagore, Manish Tewari and Vijayakumar alias Vijay Vasanth moved the notices to discuss the air quality in north India as they urged the Centre to declare pollution a national health emergency.