Parliament highlights: Govt harming HAL to benefit Anil Ambani, says Rahul

BJP and Congress issued three-line whips for party parliamentarians to be present in Lok Sabha today. Here are LIVE updates from the Parliament session

5:02 PM

Soon after the House reconvened, members of Opposition parties stormed the Well shouting slogans alleging misuse of CBI and waving papers in front of Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh. Some Congress members also shouted slogans demanding a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe in Rafale issue. 

5:00 PM

Repeated pleas by Naidu asking members to go back to their places went unheeded, forcing him to adjourn proceedings till 2 pm.

5:00 PM

Naidu asked members to resume their places and allow the House to function. "This is not the parliamentary way of functioning," he said. "You can discuss all the issues under relevant rules." 

4:59 PM

Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said he has received notices from some members under Rule 267 for suspension of business to take up discussions on issues but has not allowed any of the notices.

4:59 PM

The issues that were raised in the RS

 

1) Members of the SP and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) were on their feet as soon as listed official papers were presented, crying "political vendetta" in the CBI initiating a probe into alleged irregularities in the mining of minor minerals during 2012 and 2016 when Yadav held the mining portfolio in the Uttar Pradesh government.

 

2) Left party members, too, got up to raise the issue of violence in Kerala over the entry of women in Sabarimala temple.

 

3) Congress MPs were protesting on the Rafale issue. 

4:59 PM

RS adjourned amid protests over alleged CBI misuse, demand for JPC probe

 

Rajya Sabha was on Monday rocked by protests by parties like the SP, BSP, AAP, RJD and the TMC over alleged misuse of CBI, while the Congress members shouted slogans demanding a JPC probe into the Rafale jet deal, leading to adjournment of the House for the day. (Read more here) 

4:39 PM

This kind of 'dictatorship' will not work: Ghulam Nabi Azad 

 

"Many political quarters formed an alliance against Rajiv Gandhi too, but the Congress never said cases will be filed against them. So why all this against the 'mahagathbandhan'? This kind of dictatorship will not work," he added. (Read more here) 

4:38 PM

Ghulam Nabi Azad also pointed fingers at the government for allegedly putting pressure on the CBI to conduct raids in an illegal sand mining case. "They are now working upon how to summon Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav as he has decided to form an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party in Lok Sabha polls," Azad stated.  

4:38 PM

Govt trying to scuttle Oppn alliances by misusing CBI, ED: Ghulam Nabi Azad

 

Intensifying his attack on the Centre, the Congress leader said that the government is trying to scuttle the Opposition alliances by misusing country's premier institutions like the CBI, ED. "Four-and-a-half-years ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken about employment, farmers' issues and women security, but the government actually worked on how to use the CBI, Enforcement Directorate and I-T Department against the Opposition." (Read more here) 

4:37 PM

Centre 'misleading' public on Rafale, says Ghulam Nabi Azad

 

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre for allegedly misleading the public on the issue of Rafale fighter jets deal. "This is the first government at the Centre who lied inside and outside the Parliament over the Rafale fighter jets issue. The government claimed that they had given a contract to HAL which in reality is not true," he said while addressing media in New Delhi. (Read more here) 

4:19 PM

Won't allow Anil Ambani to take Rs 30,000 cr of people's money: Rahul Gandhi

 

Asserting that the Congress will protect the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), Rahul Gandhi alleged, "We are not going to allow Rs 30,000 crore of people's money to be taken by Anil Ambani because he is Narendra Modi's friend." (Read more here) 

4:19 PM

Govt wants to give 'gift' to Anil Ambani: Rahul Gandhi

 

"The strategy of the government is -- weaken HAL, do not give it money, destroy India's strategic capability and give 'gift' to Anil Ambani," Rahul Gandhi alleged. (Read more here) 

4:18 PM

Govt weakening HAL to benefit Anil Ambani: Rahul

 

Stepping up his attack on the Modi government over the Rafale deal, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused it of weakening state-run aerospace major HAL and destroying India's strategic capability to benefit businessman Anil Ambani. (Read more here) 

3:58 PM

Modi is scared to face Parliament: Rahul Gandhi

 

Gandhi accused Modi of being scared of facing Parliament. "The chowkidar of the country is scared to face Parliament. He cannot stand in a Rafale debate. Give me 15 minutes with Narendra Modi, the whole country will know (the truth)," he said. (Read more here) 

3:57 PM

The Congress chief said when he raised the question in Parliament, Sitharaman started talking about her middle class background which was "also not true".