Highlights of the day: Budget session to be extended by a day till Feb 10

Updates: From CM Dhami tabling the UCC Bill in the Uttarakhand assembly to the devastating wildfires in Chile, catch all the latest updates from around the world here

The ongoing Budget session of Parliament is being extended by a day till Saturday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said here. The government plans to table a 'white paper' comparing the state of the Indian economy before and after 2014, sources said. The session, which began on January 31, was otherwise slated to end on February 9. In her interim budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said that the central government would release a 'White Paper' comparing the state of the Indian economy before and after 2014. "The crisis of those years has been overcome, and the economy has been put firmly on a high sustainable growth path with all-round development. "It is now appropriate to look at where we were then till 2014 and where we are now, only for the purpose of drawing lessons from the mismanagement of those years. The government will lay a White Paper on the table of the House," the finance minister had said in her speech on February 1. Parliament usually does not function on weekends but there have been instances in the recent past when the Houses have met on Saturdays.

Noting the points raised by the parliamentarians during the debate over the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, 2024, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav assures that the bill does not completely decriminalise any serious offence which violates the water pollution norms. He adds that the Centre is just cutting down on the bureaucratic delays faced by industries in seeking environmental clearance. Assuring that India will fulfill its Paris climate agreement promises while keeping India’s progress in its mind.  “Environment and progress must go hand and hand. Only via progress will poverty be eradicated, allowing them to live life with dignity,” says Mr. Yadav while moving the while for passage. The Bill is passed via voice vote. The Upper House continues its discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday claimed that land parcels of tribals are being "snatched" in the name of development in the country. Gandhi whose 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' resumed from Jharkhand's Khunti district this morning alleged that the previous BJP government in the state had acquired acres of land of tribals but such resources remained "unutilised". Addressing a gathering during a roadshow as part of the yatra at Kamdara Chowk in Gumla district, the Congress MP said, I talked to several tribal women here in Jharkhand and they told me that their land was snatched in the name of development and finally given to corporate houses or NGOs. This is the big issue for tribals. He said the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre had introduced a land acquisition law, under which it was provisioned that no tribal land would be taken without the consent of Gram Sabha.

Speaking about the Supreme Court's strong remarks on Chandigarh Mayoral polls that the civic poll officer was "murdering democracy", Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday said that taking cognizance is not the only thing, let's wait for the next step of the Supreme Court.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami is set to present the Uniform Civil Code Uttarakhand 2024 Bill in the State Assembly today. Earlier, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will be "for the good of all sections" and there is no need to worry as he requested members of other parties to debate the bill in the House in a positive manner.

 
In the Lok Sabha today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will table the Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, further to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989 (IX of 1989), the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000 (XX of 2000) and the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act, 2000 (XXI of 2000). On the other hand, Union Minister Jitendra Singh will table the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha today to prevent unfair means in the public examinations.

The devastating Chile fires have claimed more than 120 lives turning large areas into ashes. The authorties have issued warnings indicating a likely rise in the death toll, according to an ANI report which cited CNN. President Gabriel Boric has declared a state of emergency in Chile. Many residents in the country have been forced to leave their houses. Hundreds of people affected by the fires came back to their homes on Monday to search through the debris. Many have said they prefer to sleep near their homes in order to save their belongings from looters.
 

11:16 PM

CrPC 144 invoked in Noida ahead of proposed farmers' march to Parliament

Ahead of major protest demonstrations by farmers in Noida and Greater Noida, the Gautam Buddh Nagar Police on Tuesday said restrictions under CrPC section 144 will be in effect on February 7 and 8.

 

Police also issued a traffic advisory, cautioning commuters against diversions on some routes in the twin cities in view of the farmers' movement on tractors.

 

Farmers groups in Noida and Greater Noida have been protesting since December 2023 with demands for hiked compensation and developed plots against their land acquired by the local development authorities in the past.

9:58 PM

23 ED officers carried out raids at my personal assistant's home, nothing recovered: Delhi CM

23 ED officers carried out raids at my personal assistant's home for 16 hours and nothing was recovered, says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, reported PTI. He added, "ED raids being carried out to trample AAP, trouble us."

8:05 PM

Retired army personnel-turned-LeT 'terrorist' held in Delhi

The Delhi Police has arrested an alleged member of Lashkar-e-Taiba module operating in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara, officials said on Tuesday.

 

The accused, who is a retired army personnel, has played an instrumental role in receiving arms and ammunition from across the Line of Control (LoC), they said.

 

The accused, identified as Riyaz Ahmad Rather and is a resident of Kupwara district, was arrested on Sunday from New Delhi Railway Station, the police said.

 

Riyaz was havildar in Indian Army and retired last year, police said.

 

He was involved in hatching a conspiracy along with one Khursheed Ahmad Rather and Ghulam Sarwar Rather in receiving arms and ammunition from across the LoC by the terrorist handlers, a senior police officer said.

7:56 PM

Budget session to be extended by a day till Feb 10

The ongoing Budget session of Parliament is being extended by a day till Saturday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said here.

 

The government plans to table a 'white paper' comparing the state of the Indian economy before and after 2014, sources said.

 

The session, which began on January 31, was otherwise slated to end on February 9.

 

In her interim budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said that the central government would release a 'White Paper' comparing the state of the Indian economy before and after 2014.

 

"The crisis of those years has been overcome, and the economy has been put firmly on a high sustainable growth path with all-round development.

 

"It is now appropriate to look at where we were then till 2014 and where we are now, only for the purpose of drawing lessons from the mismanagement of those years. The government will lay a White Paper on the table of the House," the finance minister had said in her speech on February 1.

 

Parliament usually does not function on weekends but there have been instances in the recent past when the Houses have met on Saturdays.

7:21 PM

Saturation of govt welfare schemes is 'real secularism, social justice': PM Modi

ttaining saturation of central government-sponsored welfare schemes in states by ensuring that all eligible individuals receive their benefits is real secularism and social justice, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday. When there is saturation of welfare schemes, differences between people disappear, Modi said while addressing the 'Viksit Bharat, Viksit Goa' public meeting in Margao town of South Goa. The Prime Minister congratulated the BJP government in Goa for attaining 100 per cent saturation in central government's flagship schemes. "Amongst the main schemes of the central government, in several schemes, Goa has attained 100 per cent saturation," he said. When there is saturation of schemes, differences between people end. Every beneficiary gets the entire benefit.... people don't have to pay bribe to get their rights, Modi said. Saturation (of welfare scheme where all beneficiaries get the facilities) is real secularism and social justice. Saturation is Modi's guarantee to Goa and the country, he asserted. The PM said to attain this goal, the central government conducted 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra'. Those who were away from the government schemes also benefited from Modi's guarantee after this Yatra, he said. During the meeting, the Prime Minister inaugurated the campus of National Institute of Technology (NIT) at Cuncolim, National Institute of Water Sports at Dona Paula and Waste Management Facility at Curchorem. He also laid foundation stones for a ropeway project between Panaji and Reis Magos fort and a 100 MLD water treatment plant at Xelpem in South Goa.

7:08 PM

Budget Session of Mizoram Assembly to start from Feb 19

The first budget session of the Mizoram Assembly under the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) government headed by Chief Minister Lalduhoma will commence on February 19, a senior official said.

 

Assembly Commissioner and Secretary Vanlalthantlingi said a detailed programme will be chalked out in the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) to be held this week.

 

Lalduhoma, who also holds the finance portfolio, will present the first budget of the new government, she said.

7:07 PM

Pakistan to consider shutting down internet if requested by any district or province on polling day

The caretaker government in Pakistan will consider shutting down the internet connections on the polling day on Thursday only if there is a request from a district or a province, interim Interior Minister Dr Gohar Ejaz said on Tuesday.

 

So far, there has been no decision made regarding the suspension of internet services at any place. The caretaker government will consider shutting down the internet connections only if there is a request, The News International newspaper reported, quoting him as saying.

 

Ejaz was addressing a press conference along with the caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi.

 

Ejaz's announcement is important as just a day earlier, Solangi had turned down the possibility of an internet shutdown on February 8.

 

Local administrations have the authority to decide on an internet shutdown in light of the law and order situation, however, no such situation has so far been reported, Solangi had said on Monday.

6:49 PM

Lok Sabha passes Bill to check use of unfair means in govt recruitment exams

The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed a Bill which seeks to deal sternly with malpractices and irregularities in government recruitment examinations, with provisions for a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine up to Rs 1 crore.

 

Piloting the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, Union minister Jitendra Singh said the proposed law is meant to safeguard the interest of meritorious students and candidates.

 

The Lok Sabha passed the Bill after rejecting some amendments proposed by opposition members.

6:40 PM

Setting up 22 AIIMS across country approved till date: Mandaviya tells Rajya Sabha

Setting up 22 All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) across the country under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana have been approved till date, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

 

Out of the 22 AIIMS, teaching and learning, research, and patient care services are being provided in 16 AIIMS at Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur, Rishikesh, Nagpur, Bilaspur, Gorakhpur, Rae Bareli, Deoghar, Bathinda, Guwahati, Kalyani, Mangalagiri and Bibinagar, Mandaviya said while responding to a question.

 

Of the 16 AIIMS, six are fully functional at Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur and Rishikesh, he said.

 

Besides 16 functional AIIMS, six AIIMS at Rajkot (Gujarat), Vijaypur (Jammu), Madurai (Tamil Nadu), Awantipora (Kashmir), Rewari (Haryana), and Darbhanga (Bihar) are at various stages of operationalisation, he informed the Upper House.

 

In the Northeast region, AIIMS at Guwahati has already been established and is functional, Mandaviya said, adding "no proposal for establishment of new AIIMS has been approved by the government during 2022-23".

4:47 PM

Rajya Sabha passes Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill 2024

Noting the points raised by the parliamentarians during the debate over the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, 2024, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav assures that the bill does not completely decriminalise any serious offence which violates the water pollution norms. 

 

He adds that the Centre is just cutting down on the bureaucratic delays faced by industries in seeking environmental clearance. Assuring that India will fulfill its Paris climate agreement promises while keeping India’s progress in its mind. 

 

“Environment and progress must go hand and hand. Only via progress will poverty be eradicated, allowing them to live life with dignity,” says Mr. Yadav while moving the while for passage. 

 

The Bill is passed via voice vote. The Upper House continues its discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address

4:32 PM

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi resumes his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Simdega, Jharkhand

3:55 PM

Rajya Sabha passes two bills modifying list of SC, ST in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha

The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed two bills which seek to modify the list of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

 

The Upper House cleared the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 by voice vote.

 

The first bill seeks to modify the list of Scheduled Tribes in Andhra Pradesh, while the second one seeks to modify the list of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Odisha.

 

Both the bills were piloted by Minister of Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda in the upper house.

3:48 PM

Tribal land being snatched in name of development: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday claimed that land parcels of tribals are being "snatched" in the name of development in the country.

 

Gandhi whose 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' resumed from Jharkhand's Khunti district this morning alleged that the previous BJP government in the state had acquired acres of land of tribals but such resources remained "unutilised".

 

Addressing a gathering during a roadshow as part of the yatra at Kamdara Chowk in Gumla district, the Congress MP said, I talked to several tribal women here in Jharkhand and they told me that their land was snatched in the name of development and finally given to corporate houses or NGOs. This is the big issue for tribals.

 

He said the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre had introduced a land acquisition law, under which it was provisioned that no tribal land would be taken without the consent of Gram Sabha.

3:00 PM

Centre impartial in distribution of funds to state govts: Nityanand Rai

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai on Tuesday denied allegations that the central government was discriminating against non-BJP-ruled while disbursing funds for disaster relief.

 

2:42 PM

K'taka govt to agitate in Delhi against Centre, to protest at Jantar Mantar

Attacking the BJP-led central government, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said that Congress will stage protests in New Delhi on Wednesday. He said that BJP is doing injustice to Karnataka in terms of tax devolution.