Parliament LIVE | Privilege motion against Sonia for remarks on President
The motion has been moved by BJP MPs who called Sonia’s comment “derogatory and slanderous”
The Parliament session on Monday (February 3) began on a stormy note with the Opposition protesting over the Maha Kumbh stampede.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, while speaking on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address on January 31, called her speech a repeat of the government’s “laundry list” of this outlined last year.
Also read: Congress slams functioning of Waqf panel
Make in India has failed: Rahul
He said successive governments, be it the UPA or the present NDA, have not been able to tackle unemployment and give a clear-cut answer to youth about employment.
Rahul said while 'Make in India' was a good idea, the prime minister "pretty much failed".
He claimed the reason China is sitting inside the country is because 'Make in India' has failed and India is refusing to produce. "I am worried that India is going to give up this revolution to the Chinese once again," he said.
Hitting back, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju asked Rahul to substantiate his claims on the government's foreign policy.
Rahul’s claim that S Jaishankar went to the US to get an invite for Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Donald Trump’s “coronation” was received with a rebuttal by the foreign minister who called it a deliberate “falsehood”.
Privilege motion against Sonia
Later in the day, a group of BJP MPs moved a notice for breach of Parliamentary Privilege, Ethics and Propriety motion against Rajya Sabha MP Sonia Gandhi for her remarks against President Droupadi Murmu. Sonia had called Murmu a “poor thing” while commenting on her addresses to Parliament on the opening day of the Budget session.
Also read: Sonia's 'poor thing' remark about President Murmu triggers row
Alleging use of “derogatory and slanderous words” to describe the President, the BJP MPs said such behaviour warrants “serious consideration and disciplinary action”.
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- 3 Feb 2025 8:05 AM GMT
LS takes up 18 questions amid noisy Opposition protests over Kumbh stampede
Lok Sabha on Monday witnessed prolonged noisy protests by opposition parties demanding a discussion on the recent stampede at Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj and a list of those deceased.
When the House met for the first time after the President's address to the joint sitting and presentation of the 2025-26 budget, the opposition MPs led by the Congress were on their feet and demanded a discussion on the recent tragedy in Maha Kumbh.
Soon the opposition members stormed the Well of the House resorting to noisy protests and sloganeering.
Led by deputy leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi and Congress general secretary K C Venugopal, the opposition members also sought suspension of the Question Hour and demanded a discussion on the stampede.
Opposition members were raising slogans such as "Sanatan virodhi sarkar istifa do (step down anti-sanatan government).
Speaker Om Birla warned members against thumping tables as a mark of protest, saying people send their representatives to ask questions, not damaging tables.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also condemned the protests, hoping the Question Hour will be held peacefully.
"You (Speaker) have repeatedly appealed to them (opposition) but they are not listening," he said.
The opposition MPs also sought a complete list of those who died in the stampede.
Speaker Birla repeatedly told the protesting members that they can raise their issues during the debate on motion of thanks to the President for her address to the joint sitting. "The Honourable President had referred to the tragedy at Maha Kumbh. You can raise your issues during the debate," he said.
According to Vaibhav Krishna, DIG Mahakumbh, 30 people were killed and 60 others injured in the stampede at the Maha Kumbh venue in Prayagraj.
The stampede took place on January 29 when a huge crowd broke the barricades as crores of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya.
Birla said the Question Hour, where important issues are discussed, should not be disrupted and the opposition members should allow the House to run smoothly.
"Arrangement should be made for smooth functioning of the Question Hour as members wait for days for their turn to participate in the discussion," he said.
"However, you don't want the House to run properly. Have people elected you to disrupt the House and raise slogans," he said.
As the opposition continued their protests throughout the Question Hour from 11 am to 12 noon, Birla later said there should be a resolution that there is no disruption during the Question Hour and the House should run smoothly during this time.
"We should make arrangements that all concerned issues should be raised after 12 noon (zero hour)," he said.
Opposition members, including those from Congress, DMK, TMC and SP, walked out briefly after conclusion of the Question Hour. They returned later.
The House took up 18 questions with brief replies from ministers. Usually, 20 questions are listed for oral replies during the Question Hour every day.
