Parliament Winter Session LIVE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi In Lok Sabha.
Parliament Winter Session Live Updates: The Indian Constitution lays the foundation for the country’s unity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday. “It is time to celebrate 75 years of the Constitution and I am glad Parliament is also part of it,” he said, as he addressed the Lok Sabha during the two-day debate on the Constitution.
Earlier in the day, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, addressed the House, during which he cited BJP icon V D Savarkar’s criticism of the Constitution. Savarkar has clearly stated in his writings that there is nothing Indian about the Constitution and that the book that India is run by should be superseded by the Manusmriti, Mr Gandhi said.
“When you (BJP) speak of protecting the Constitution, you are ridiculing Savarkar,” the Lok Sabha MP from Rae Bareli said.
Here are the Live Updates of Parliament Winter Session:
“It’s sad that after Independence, the core values of unity were attacked. Those who grew up with the mindset of slavery, they found contradiction in diversity and were spewing venom to attack India’s unity,” PM Narendra Modi told Parliament.
Continuing his speech, PM Narendra Modi said: “Women power made great contributions to the making of Constitution. Women are at the centre of every initiative of government, their representation in Parliament and council of ministers are increasing. Several nations gave voting rights to women quite late, but in India, the Constitution gave this right to women at the outset.”
“I want to bow to the makers of the Constitution… India’s democracy has been inspirational for the world, that’s why we are the mother of democracy,” PM Modi said.
Speaking in the Lower House, PM Narendra Modi said: “It is time to celebrate 75 years of Constitution, I am glad Parliament is also part of it.”
Former Union minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad hit out at the Congress on Saturday, saying its leader Rahul Gandhi needs to change his tutor as he is unaware of facts, as he slammed the opposition party over Emergency. Participating in a debate in the Lok Sabha on 75 years of the Constitution’s adoption, Prasad said the framers of the Constitution knew that the Indian heritage is secular in nature as mentioned in the “Rigveda”.
Mr Prasad said the original Constitution had pictures of Lord Ram, Lord Hanuman and Mughal emperor Akbar, but not of Babar and Aurangzeb. He said in a hypothetical situation, if the Constitution was framed today, the opposition would have protested the insertion of such pictures in it.
Amidst the chaos in the Lower House, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey claimed that “Indira Gandhi had even funded Savarkar’s trust. The Congress should stop spreading lies. Rahul Gandhi can never be Savarkar.”
Later, Rahul Gandhi said, “I had asked Indira Gandhi ji about her views on Savarkar, and she said, ‘Savarkar apologised to the British… Gandhi ji went to jail, Nehru ji went to jail, but Savarkar ji sought forgiveness'”.
The Lok Sabha turned into a battleground when Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde invoked a letter written by former prime minister Indira Gandhi praising V D Savarkar, sparking a fiery debate involving the treasury bench and Congress members. Referring to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s critical comments earlier on Savarkar, Shinde questioned the Congress’ repeated criticism of the freedom fighter.
Shinde read out from Indira Gandhi’s letter, stating, “Veer Savarkar’s daring defiance of the British Government has its own importance in the annals of our freedom movement. I wish success to the plans to celebrate the birth centenary of this remarkable son of India.” Shinde then posed a pointed question to Rahul Gandhi, “Was your grandmother, Indira Gandhi, also against the Constitution in praising Savarkar? We take pride in Savarkar ji and his contribution to the nation.”
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya slammed the Congress in the Lok Sabha, saying the “attackers” of the Constitution are posing as “champions” of the Constitution in a “hypocritical drama” that is going on for decades in the country. “For a very long time, a big hypocritical drama has been conducted in this country, where those who are the attackers of the Constitution have posed themselves as champions of the Constitution. This hypocrisy must be exposed. For a very long time, this hypocrisy has continued,” he said.
In the Lok Sabha, AIMIM lawmaker Asaduddin Owaisi spoke on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, saying: “Read Article 26, it gives religious denominations the right to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes. The Prime Minister says that Waqf has nothing to do with the Constitution. Who is teaching the Prime Minister? Make him read Article 26. The goal is to snatch away Waqf properties…You want to snatch it away on the basis of your strength…”
BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, during his address to the House, said the results of the Haryana and Maharashtra assembly elections show that the Opposition cannot “fool the citizens in the name of the Constitution”.
Congress leader KC Venugopal is currently addressing Parliament. Alleging bias towards opposition parties in the House, he said: “If we are discussing the Constitution, this House should be open for everyone. But what is happening is that this House is not for the Opposition, but only the BJP.”
Parliament Winter Session Update
Anurag Thakur, BJP MP from Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh opened the Constitution in the Lok Sabha and read the preface out loud. Quoting a line from the preface, he said, the Constitution brought an end to the emergency imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi assured that INDIA bloc will implement caste census and pave way for new kind of development in India.We will ensure 50 per cent cap on reservation is removed, he added.
Parliament Winter Session Update: Rahul Gandhi Raises Questions On Sambhal Violence
Quoting the Constitution, “Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth”, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi raised questions on the Sambhal violence in which five were killed.
“Those who gang raped the girl are roaming outside while the parents of the victim are locked inside their house. Parents cannot go outside,” said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha, during the Constitution debate.
“The family told me that the UP government promised them relocation but it has been four years, they haven’t been relocated. Every day they are threatened by the accused,” he said, adding, INDIA Bloc will offer relocation.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi began his speech by quoting Veer Savarkar and said, “The worst thing about the Constitution of India is that there is nothing Indian about it. Manusmriti is that scripture which is most worshipable after vedas for our Hindu nation… This book for centuries has codified the spiritual and divine march of our nation. Today, Manusmriti is law.”
#WATCH | During discussion on 75th anniversary of adoption of the Constitution of India, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi says, “I want to start my speech by quoting what the Supreme Leader, not of the BJP but of the modern interpretation of the ideas of the RSS has to say about the… pic.twitter.com/eS7HGR8Ivp
– ANI (@ANI) December 14, 2024
Parliament Winter Session Update: Rahul Gandhi Participates In Constitution Debate
“The constitution contains a set ideas from one philosophy of our nation. When we look at the constitution, we can hear the voice and the ideas of BR Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. But where did those idea come from? Those idea came from a old, profound tradition in this country,” said Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha.
Parliament Winter Session LIVE Updates: Tamil Nadu MP D. Raja Questions The Rule Of Law
D Raja, DMK MP from Tamil Nau questioned the rule of law in the country. He raised three issues – Manipur violence, Bilkis Bano and protests by wrestlers.
Union Parliamentary Minister Kiren Rijiju shared numbers to highlight the development in North-East ever since BJP took over in 2014. Between 1947 and 2014, nine airports were built in north-east. In the last 10 years, the number has increased to 17.
Similarly, till 2014, 10,900 km long national highways were built. In the last 10 years, 16, 207 km have been built.
Indians are one of the most intelligent people in the world. But despite this, why isn’t India a developed nation, asked Union Parliamentary Minister Kiren Rijiju. In his address to the Lok Sabha, Mr Rijiju called for a plan.
“In 23 years, India has to become a develop nation. By India can fully develop by 2047,” he said.
Kiren Rijiju Takes A Dig At Opposition Over Voting Rights
India has universal voting rights; but at times it is said minorities have no rights, said Union Minister Kiren Rijiju in an apparent dig at opposition.
In his speech in the Lok Sabha, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju asked to not use words that may tarnish India’s image. He brought in examples of other nations where minorities are discriminated.
#WATCH | In Lok Sabha, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju says, “…A narrative is being created. According to the survey of the Center for Policy Analysis in European Union, 48% people in European Union have been victims of discrimination. Most of them are… pic.twitter.com/oqZVtpGLDn
– ANI (@ANI) December 14, 2024
When disruption began in the House, Kiren Rijiju said, “Sometimes it is okay to interrupt, but doing it repeatedly will not work for you or for us.”
He added that he is a simple man and speaks his mind. Mr Rijiju called to work together peacefully.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju says, “…I feel proud that when Prime Minister Modi’s tenure started, following the Constitution, the same spirit, he placed the mantra of his government in front of this country. And that mantra is Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas.”
#WATCH | Speaking in Lok Sabha during discussion on the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of India, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju says, “…I feel proud that when Prime Minister Modi’s tenure started, following the Constitution, the same… pic.twitter.com/RuOL7d8rbo
– ANI (@ANI) December 14, 2024
In his opening remarks on day 2 of the Constitution debate, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju remembered B R Ambedkar, one of the architects of Indian constitution.
He spoke about Articles 15, 16, 25, and 29 offering equal rights.
- Article 15 prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth
- Article 16 guarantees equal opportunity in public employment
- Article 25 guarantees freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion
- Article 29 protects the cultural and educational rights of minorities
Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, starts the discussion on the “glorious journey of 75 years of the Constitution of India”. In his speech, Mr Rijiju mentioned the time and number of days – 2 years, 11 months and 18 days – it took to make the constitution.Mr Rijiju also talked about the significance of each element of national flag.
“The government is refusing to give a special package to Wayanad. We have requested the Home Minister, we have written to the Prime Minister…Himachal Pradesh has also seen similar large-scale devastation and there is a Congress government there. They are seeking help from the Centre…and yet in both cases the Central government is denying the victims their due because of politics. They are citizens of India. There should be no discrimination during natural disasters…”
#WATCH | Delhi: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra says, “The government is refusing to give a special package to Wayanad. We have requested the Home Minister, we have written to the Prime Minister…Himachal Pradesh has also seen similar large-scale devastation and there is a… https://t.co/mIyBAQipwupic.twitter.com/7xdie56kHH
– ANI (@ANI) December 14, 2024
Less than half an hour left for Lok Sabha to resume at 11am and opposition MPs from Kerala including Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have initiated a stage protest outside Parliament. The MPs are protesting at Makar Dwar of Parliament demanding financial aid for landslide-affected people in Wayanad.
#WATCH | Delhi: Opposition MPs from Kerala including Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra stage protest at Makar Dwar of Parliament demanding financial aid for landslide-affected people in Wayanad pic.twitter.com/aISeKa1jQR
– ANI (@ANI) December 14, 2024
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the Lok Sabha today, the second day of the constitution debate.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi may speak too.
During the constitution debate, Kannauj MP and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticised the number of mosque surveys in the recent past. He said, those looking for temples under mosques don’t want peace.
Akhilesh Yadav raised doubts on the security along the borders, state of economy and internal safety of citizens. Referring to the alleged Chinese transgressions, he said India’s borders are shrinking. Mr Yadav said efforts are being made to make the country’s 20 crore minorities, especially Muslims, second class citizens.
“Caste census will bridge gap among castes. Whenever we get opportunity, we will conduct caste census,” he said.
In her maiden speech in the Lok Sabha as a Member of Parliament from Wayanad, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra compared the constitution to a protective shield, safeguarding the citizens of the country.
“In the struggle of crores of Indians, in their strength to battle the toughest situations, and in their hope of justice from the country, the flame of our Constitution is burning. Our Constitution is a ‘suraksha kavach’ (protective barrier) that keeps citizens safe – it is a ‘kavach’ of justice, unity, and the right to express. It is sad that in 10 years, colleagues of the ruling side who make big claims have made all attempts to break down this ‘kavach’,” she said.
हमारा संविधान इंसाफ, उम्मीद, अभिव्यक्ति और आकांक्षा की वो ज्योत है, जो हर हिंदुस्तानी के दिल में जल रही है। pic.twitter.com/fN3lBfNY2y
– Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) December 13, 2024
On the first day of the Constitution debate in Lok Sabha, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took a jibe at Congress and said that the party that undermined the Constitution talks about protecting it.
“These days, many opposition leaders roam around with a copy of the Constitution in their pockets because it has been their tradition, whereas the BJP bows to it,” he said.
आजकल विपक्ष के कई नेता संविधान की प्रति को अपनी जेब में रखकर घूमते हैं, क्योंकि यही उनके यहाँ परंपरा रही है, जबकि बीजेपी इसे सर माथे पर लगाती है। pic.twitter.com/WggXuOP7Vo
– Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) December 13, 2024
