Winter Session highlights: Both Houses adjourned, to resume tomorrow at 11 am

Lok Sabha passed the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

Lok Sabha has been adjourned to meet again on Friday at 11 am.

Rajya Sabha has been adjourned to meet again on Friday at 11 am.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said India continues to maintain the momentum of the fastest-growing major economy, with all sectors contributing significantly in economic activities.

“Because of the 'Make In India' programme and PM Modi's production-linked incentive schemes, the manufacturing sector is also now significantly contributing to the economy,” says Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Rajya Sabha.

BJP issued a line whip to all its MPs of Lok Sabha to be present in the house on December 8 as some very important legislative business will be taken up for discussion and to support the government's stand, a party statement read.

"Our second quarter growth is the highest in the world and we continue to maintain the momentum of being the fastest growing economy. During the same same quarter - July to September, 2023, the third and fourth largest economies of the world contracted. For India to reach 7.6% in the second quarter, it's a very significant number. In just last eight years, India has become the world's fifth largest economy," says Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Rajya Sabha.

Referring to the post-poll violence following West Bengal assembly elections, Union minister responded to TMC MP Derek O'Brien's “compare equals” statement said “you (Opposition) are certainly not equal to us when iti comes to violence the ensue after elections.”

Taking on the schemes launched by the former government, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said it is the government under the BJP that these schemes' were made productive and put to effect. Therefore, she called them “naam ke waaste” schemes.

“MP Jairam Ramesh had mentioned that in all probability there will be a discussion, something to the extent of saying we've been asking for these debates in the previous sessions, but the government has not been willing. We've never been hesitant about talking about the economy,” she said.

1. The Bill seeks to establish a Central Tribal University in Telangana which will be named 'Sammakka Sarakka Central Tribal University'. It will provide avenues of higher education and research facilities primarily for the tribal population of India.
2. "Further Consideration of the following motion moved by Dr Subhas Sarkar on the 6th December, 2023 namely "That the Bill further to amend the Central Universities Act, 2009, be taken into consideration," the legislative agenda released by Lok Sabha read.

A BJP MP from Haryana on Thursday termed live-in relationships a "dangerous disease" that needs to be eradicated from society and urged the government to make a law against it.

Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha during 'zero hour', Dharambir Singh also said divorce rates in love marriages were high and the consent of the parents of the bride and groom should therefore be made mandatory for such alliances. Read more

Union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday said that airplane ticket prices were being monitored by the government and that the prices had remained “sustainable” despite the blow dealt to the industry by COVID-19 and surging fuel prices.

He was responding to the question raised in the Lok Sabha on high airfares and whether the government is monitoring the tariff. Read more

Both Houses – Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha – adjourned till 2 PM.

“Jawaharlal Nehru himself admitted his mistakes but Congress did not correct those mistakes and continued it. This reflects the attitude of the Congress party,” Amravati MP Navneet Rana said after Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement regarding former PM Jawaharlal Nehru.

"Insofar as the US is concerned, certain inputs were given to us as part of our security cooperation with the US. Those inputs were of concern to us because they related to the nexus of organised crime, trafficking and other matters. So, because it has a bearing on our own national security, it was decided to institute an inquiry into the matter and an inquiry committee has been constituted. Insofar as Canada is concerned, no specific evidence or inputs were provided to us. So, the question of equitable treatment to two countries one of whom has provided inputs and one of whom has not, does not arise," EAM Dr S Jaishankar said after CPI(M) MP John Brittas raised the question of media reports of the US linking an Indian official to an alleged murder attempt on a US national and Govt of India's rebuttal to Canada's charges.

"This matter should be discussed in the House for the entire day. This is not a small matter. It is not only Amit Shah who knows the history of India, there must be others too. So, people of the country would get to know...When Article 370 was scrapped in 2019, Amit Shah had said that PoK would be brought back. It has been 10 years since PM Modi came to power, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was in power for 6 years. So, who is stopping the BJP?...Get back PoK before 2024 elections. You will get all the votes of entire India." Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said on Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement regarding former PM Jawaharlal Nehru.

“I said yesterday, that you (Giriraj Singh) don't tell us what is necessary and not. Your ministry has stolen ₹7,000 crores worth of MNREGA wages... You are withholding their wages...He is such a liar. He used the word 'Thumke lagana' then he said I've not said these words. That is the problem with the BJP. Every time they open their mouth and their lips move, it is to lie. From top to bottom, this is a party full of liars...the people of Bengal dislike you. They dislike your misogyny. They dislike the fact that you cannot take Nari Shakti. You cannot take women in authority. You cannot take women in power...We would hope that there would be an apology from him but he's even denying his remarks, it is too much to expect,” TMC MP Mahua Moitra said.

Women MPs of the TMC protest against Union Minister Giriraj Singh and demand his expulsion from the cabinet, over his remark on West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee.

Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha begin proceedings for the day.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday dubbed the recent victory of the BJP in three states as a result of team spirit. The party won elections in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

Addressing the lawmakers at the parliamentary party meeting, the PM shared the credit for the mandate that the party won with the party colleagues and is learn to have said that the party will need to move forward with a collective spirit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was given a standing ovation at the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting on Thursday following the party's stupendous win in three assembly polls.

Party MPs raised slogans lauding his leadership as senior leaders, including BJP president J P Nadda, felicitated Modi at the first meeting of the BJP Parliamentary Party in Parliament's Winter Session.

The BJP scored a thumping win over the Congress in the assembly polls to three states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.

BJP Parliamentary Party meeting is currently underway in Delhi. The party is commemorating the victory in three of four states in the recently concluded assembly elections.

Bharatiya Janata Party MPs welcome PM Modi with chants of "Modi ji ka swagat hai" at the Parliamentary party meeting in Delhi, after the party's victory in three states.

The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023, seeking to establish a Central Tribal University in Telangana was moved in the Lok Sabha for consideration on Wednesday. Both the ruling and the Opposition sides were deliberating upon the Bill until the House adjourned for the day. The Bill will be moved today for further consideration today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives for the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting, in Delhi.