Uproar over Lalit Modi issue disrupts RS proceedings

July 21, 2015

New Delhi, Jul 21: Disruptions marred the proceedings in Rajya Sabha on the first day of the Monsoon session today, with Opposition Congress adamant on External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's resignation over Lalit Modi controversy and BJP accusing it of "running away" from a debate on it.

RajyaSabhaLeading the opposition protests, Congress members forced three adjournaments in the pre-lunch session making both Question Hour and Zero Hour a casualty, even as Leader of the House Arun Jaitley offered an immediate discussion and said Swaraj could make a statement on the issue.

"Please start a discussion immediately. You don't want a discussion.... You don't have to press your case for a discussion. I am making an offer and would suggest ... if they want to start a discussion, then start it immediately. If they want a statement from the External Affairs Minister, we are ready for it. Sushma Swaraj will make a statement within five minutes," Jaitley said.

However, his pleadings went unheeded and Congress members continued to create an uproar, as Chairman Hamid Ansari urged the members to allow the Question Hour to function. Amid the uproar, Ansari was forced to adjourn the House till 2 PM.

As soon as the House assembled in the morning, Congress members were on their feet targetting the government on the matter and raising questions over its "probity". They reminded the ruling dispensation of the assurances given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure transparency and accountability in governance.

Raising the matter soon after the obituary references, Anand Sharma (Cong) demanded a reply from the Prime Minister. He asked why the External Affairs Minister requested British government to issue travel documents to Lalit Modi within in two and half months of NDA coming to power.

Sharma also raised the issue of affidavit signed by Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje favouring Lalit Modi.

"The Prime Minister had assured to ensure transparecy, accountability in governance and acting against those indulging in corrupt practices... Where is the probity left? You have violated the dignity," he said.

Amid objections from the treasury benches to his remarks, Congress members trooped into the Well of the House and raising slogans for her removal. Sharma also questioned the "humanitarian grounds" on which Britain was requested to issue the travel documents to Lalit Modi, alleging that the former IPL chief was travelling around the world as if "on a pleasure trip and as a tourist".

CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury also urged the Chair to allow him and others to speak on the issue as Sharma has already been allowed.

Yechury said, "we have given notice. Leaders of Congress party have spoken. We should also be allowed to speak on the issue."

As Congress members continued the uproar during the Question Hour that started at 12 pm, Jaitley asked the members to start the discussion right away.

Naresh Agarwal (SP) also sought time to speak on the issue, saying he has given notice. He was disallowed.

Asking members to allow the Question Hour to function, Chairman Hamid Ansari said, "I will not allow anything else".

However, the uproar continued and the House was adjourned till 2 PM.

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News Network
June 18,2020

New Delhi, Jun 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said he is "deeply grateful" for the overwhelming support shown by the global community for India''s membership of the UN Security Council.

India will work with all member countries to promote global peace, security, resilience and equity, he said.

India garnered 184 votes out of the 192 ballots cast in the General Assembly to win the election for the non-permanent seat in the powerful Security Council.

India''s two year term will begin on January 1, 2021.

This is the eighth time that India will sit at the UN high-table, which comprises five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members.

"Deeply grateful for the overwhelming support shown by the global community for India''s membership of the UN Security Council," the prime minister wrote on Twitter.

India will work with all member countries to promote global peace, security, resilience and equity, he said.

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News Network
March 5,2020

Lucknow, Mar 5: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said last night that the role of teachers would come under the scanner when "anti-India" slogans are raised at universities and institutions of higher education.

"When anti-India slogans are raised at institutions of higher education, we should be prepared to ask why this type of distortion occurrs among our students?" he said at a programme organised by the Basic Shiksha Parishad in Lucknow.

"We begin our work with pledge for the country's unity and integrity and today slogans are raised for the division of the nation. In such a situation, questions are raised over the role of teachers who are considered equal to god in society," he said.

"Who all are involved in this sin and chaos? Governments can provide resources, but the one who has given them basic education, who has given them secondary education and who has led them to that place, all of them should evaluate their actions today," the chief minister said.

Speaking about the condition of education in the state when his government came to power three years ago, he said there was an atmosphere of chaos and anarchy in the state and the condition of basic education was very bad.

"The worst problem was that of proxy teachers. Our government started the process of prohibiting proxy teachers in the first phase," he said.

Adityanath said that a teacher is not just a government servant, but the fate of the nation. He said teachers should learn from Chanakya.

Had Chanakya confined himself to Nalanda University, he would not have been able to make India a superpower of the world during that period. Teachers will have to prepare themselves according to the challenges and need of society, he added.

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News Network
May 21,2020

Srinagar, May 21: Two Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were killed and their weapons snatched by militants in the Pandach area on the outskirts of Srinagar yesterday.

According to IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar, the two BSF jawans, who were on road surveillance deployment, were fired upon by two of the three terrorists on a motorcycle around 5:15 pm on the 90-Ft Road at Pandach, near Soura. 

They were critically injured and later succumbed to injuries. The terrorists escaped after taking away one AK rifle and one INSAS. Efforts were underway to trace the terrorists.

He said that two jawans, Constable Rana Mandol and Constable Ziaul Haque of ‘C’ company of 37th battalion, were injured and they later succumbed.

“The terrorists managed to take away the weapons of the martyrs. Area has been cordoned off and the search for the terrorists is on”, he said.

Residents around the spot said that the two soldiers were buying chicken for Iftar from a mutton dealer, around 300 meters away from their deployment location when three militants on a motorcycle stopped and opened fire on them.

Medical Superintendent SKIMS Dr Farooq Jan said that both the jawans were brought dead to the tertiary care hospital.

Senior Police officials said it was a “clear case of security lapse” as the two jawans had left their spot of deployment on Srinagar-Kargil-Leh road and gone to a shop 500 metres away on a different road.

They said that possibility of terror attacks and subsequently claims by the new outfit TRF had been flashed to all forces earlier this week.

The terror strike in the capital city has occurred a day after an encounter in downtown Srinagar, where two Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including the top wanted Junaid Sehrai, had been killed on Tuesday.

In the last one month, five Army and Police personnel and two militants had got killed in an encounter in Handwara area of Kupwara, a day before three CRPF men were killed in another attack.

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