Parliament Winter Session LIVE: ‘Rejected by people’, says PM in attack at opposition; Faceoff over key issues likely

Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 12 pm. The Parliament Winter Session has begun from today and is scheduled to conclude on December 20. Opposition has planned to corner the Union government on key issues, including businessman Gautam Adan, Manipur violence and Waqf bill.

Opposition members of the Joint Working Committee on the Waqf Amendment Bill have written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, requesting an extension for completing consultations on the proposed changes to the Waqf Act.

The contentious Waqf Amendment Bill is among the 16 bills listed to be taken up for consideration. The Waqf Bill has been listed for consideration and passage after the joint committee of the two Houses submits its report to the Lok Sabha.

As the Winter Session of the Parliament commences, I hope it is productive and filled with constructive debates and discussions, PM Modi reiterated on microblogging platform X, sharing his customary speech he delivered ahead of the commencement of Parliament Winter Session.

INDIA bloc parliamentary floor leaders held meeting at Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge's office in Parliament House ahead of the Winter Session.

Delivering his customary address ahead of the commencement of the Parliament Winter Session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "India gets little such opportunities it has today, and a message should go from the country that the voters and their dedication for democracy, Constitution, and their trust on House proceedings are lived up to by the members.

PM Modi said the time lost should be made up for and healthy discussions are carried out on key issues.

Delivering his customary address ahead of the commencement of the Parliament Winter Session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “The people who have been rejected by the government, they try to control Parliament with ruckus. While they do not succeed and all of their behaviours are being counted by the people of the country… the most distressing thing is that the new MPs, who come with new ideas, their rights are suppressed by some people… they [new MPs] do not get the chance to even speak.”

"Those rejected by the people 80-90 times, they don't let discussions take place in Parliament, do not understand the aspirations of the people and do not live up to the expectations of the people," PM Modi added.

Delivering his customary address ahead of the commencement of the Parliament Winter Session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “This is the last leg of 2024. The country is heading towards the next year with excitement, this session of Parliament is special in many ways, the biggest thing is that it is the 75-year-journey of our Constitution. It is the beginning of the 75th year of our Constitution, it is a very bright event for our democracy and tomorrow, in the House, all of us will celebrate mark the beginning of the 75th year of the Indian Constitution.”

Opposition MPs, who are members of the Joint Committee of Parliament on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, will be meeting the Lok Sabha Speaker at 10.30 am today.

The contentious Waqf Amendment Bill is among the 16 bills listed to be taken up for consideration. The Waqf Bill has been listed for consideration and passage after the joint committee of the two Houses submits its report to the Lok Sabha.

Hyderabad MP and AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi has given an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha to discuss the issue of “killing of three youths in police firing” in Uttar Pradesh's Sambal yesterday.

Three people were killed and several others – including 24 police personnel and administrative officers – were injured in the violence in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district on Sunday. The clashes took place during a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque. Read More

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said on Monday that while there are many issues, such as Delhi pollution, unemployment, the Opposition would take up the Gautam Adani matter on priority in Parliament Winter Session, beginning today.

"There are many issues, such as Delhi's pollution, inflation, unemployment, concerns of labourers and farmers. However, our priority today will be the nation's security, harmony, and the allegations against the Adani group of giving ₹2300 crore in bribes to leaders and officials. We will raise this matter," said Congress MP Pramod Tiwari ahead of Parliament Winter Session.

Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh has given a suspension of Business Notice in Rajya Sabha under rule 267 and demanded a discussion on the issue of the indictment of Gautam Adani.

Lok Sabha members attending the Winter Session of Parliament will have the option of marking their attendance using a digital pen on an electronic tabs, which will be kept at four counters in the lobby of the chamber of the House.

This is being done as part of Speaker Om Birla's initiative to make Parliament paperless.

"Physical attendance registers will continue to be kept at the counters. However, members are advised to use the tab as a preferred choice and help make Parliament paperless," the Lok Sabha Secretariat said.

Officials said the MPs would have to first select their names from the drop down menu on the tab, affix their signatures with the help of the digital pen, and press the 'submit' button to register their attendance.

Congress Lok Sabha MPs will be holding a meeting at the Congress Parliamentary Party office at 10.30 am today to chalk out the strategy for the Floor of the House.

Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan has written a letter to the Secretary-General of the Rajya Sabha over the rising 'air pollution' in Delhi and demanded a short-duration discussion on the issue in Parliament, where Winter Session is starting today.

"Under Rule 176 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Rajya Sabha, I hereby give notice of my intention to raise a discussion for Short duration on the following matter of urgent public importance," the letter dated November 22 reads.

Speaking on Constitution Day, which is observed on November 26 eavery year, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said, “We adopted our Constitution on 26 November and it is a day to remember the sacrifice and dedication of Babasaheb Ambedkar and the people who made our Constitution. In the 75-year journey of democracy, India's democracy has also strengthened and that democracy has come to us from the basic spirit of the Constitution”.

Constitution Day is being celebrated on November 26 under the leadership of the President and the President will recite the Preamble of the Constitution so that we can express our gratitude towards the Constitution and the basic spirit and power of the Constitution can reach the people, Om Birla said.

He hoped that this Constitution Day becomes a “mass movement”.

"By carrying forward the basic duties and responsibilities of the Constitution, we will also realise our dream of Viksit Bharat," Om Birla said.

The contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill has been listed for consideration and passage in the Lok Sabha, with the Opposition alleging that the move is aimed at targeting Muslims.

What is the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024

The Union government has proposed amendment to the Waqf Boards Act 1995. The proposed bill aims to restrict the power of Waqf boards to manage its properties and provides for more government regulation.

The Opposition parties have alleged that the proposals aim to deprive the Muslim community of their land, assets and the “freedom to manage religious affairs” guaranteed under Article 26 of the Indian Constitution. The ruling NDA has in turn argued that the demand to regulate Waqf boards comes from the Muslim community itself. Read More

Congress MP Manickam Tagore has given an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha, demanding discussion on the issue of indictment of Gautam Adani.

"The Modi government's silence on this matter undermines India's integrity, economy, and global reputation. Accountability must be ensured. Prime minister must answer the questions on his friendship with Adani & Adani scandal," says the notice.

CPI (M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas has given Zero-hour Notice and demanded Special Financial assistance from the Union Government for Wayanad landslide Victims in Kerala.

As many as eight bills, including the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, are pending in Lok Sabha, and two are pending with the Rajya Sabha.

The Rajya Sabha bulletin said an additional bill The Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, passed by the Lok Sabha is pending with the Upper House.

A set of proposed bills to implement simultaneous elections in the country are not part of the list yet, though some reports suggested that the government is likely to bring the proposed legislation in the coming session.

Amid chances of the Opposition lodging protests over issues of Manipur violence and businessman Gautam Adani's indictment by a US court, the government on Sunday appealed to parties to ensure smooth a Parliament Winter Session.

An all-party meeting took place on Sunday with the ruling party leaders meeting other floor leaders of political parties. Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said the party wants discussion on Adani as well as ethnic strife in Manipur. He said while the chief minister of Jharkhand was arrested, the government still has confidence in the chief minister of Manipur despite bouts of ethnic violence.

The government on Sunday said the business advisory committees of both Houses will decide on matters to be discussed in the Winter session.

The Waqf Amendment Bill is among the 16 bills listed to be taken up for consideration. The Waqf Bill has been listed for consideration and passage after the joint committee of the two Houses submits its report to the Lok Sabha. The panel is mandated to submit its report on the last day of the first week of the Winter Session, according to a news agency PTI report, which mentions that Opposition members on the panel have demanded an extension in the timeline to submit its report.

Opposition leaders have alleged that committee chair Jagdambika Pal, a BJP MP, is bulldozing the committee meetings and has sought the intervention of Speaker Om Birla.

Parliament Winter Session LIVE: The Parliament Winter Session is likely to be stormy with the Opposition planning to raise certain issues, including Manipur ethnic violence and the indictment of businessman Gautam Adani by a US court on charges of bribery.

Several opposition leaders have said they will raise the issue of the indictment of Adani in Parliament with Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi calling for a joint parliamentary committee probe into the allegations.