Rajya Sabha pays tributes to victims of Pahalgam terror attack and Air India crash, five new MPs sworn in
When proceedings began, Birendra Prasad Vaishya of the Assam Gana Parishad was the first to take the oath as a Rajya Sabha member. Later, Kanad Purkayastha from the BJP (Assam) was also sworn in as a member of the Upper House.
Three newly nominated members -- Meenakshi Jain, C. Sadanandan Master, and Harshvardhan Shringla -- also took their oaths during the session.
The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha paid tribute to the extraordinary life of C. Sadanandan Master, describing him as a symbol of courage and a steadfast opponent of injustice. He praised Master's unwavering commitment to education and his significant contribution as a teacher and social worker, noting his passionate advocacy for youth empowerment. Sadanandan Master lost both of his legs in a political attack in 1994.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also commended Sadanandan Master, calling his life a beacon of resilience in the face of adversity. PM Modi lauded Master's dedication to national development, despite the hardships he endured, and his continued efforts in education and social work.
Harsh Vardhan Shringla, who took his oath as a nominated MP, was recognised for his distinguished career as a diplomat and strategic thinker. Shringla, who has served as India's Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to countries including the United States, Bangladesh, and Thailand, has played a significant role in shaping India's foreign policy. He has also contributed to the G20 presidency.
Dr Meenakshi Jain, a renowned scholar, historian, and researcher, was also praised for her exceptional contributions to education, literature, history, and political science. The Rajya Sabha Chairman highlighted her significant impact on academic discourse and her distinguished work in these fields.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
Parliament set to run smoothly as govt, opposition reach deal on Operation Sindoor
New Delhi: The Parliament is expected to run smoothly next week starting Monday as the ruling and Opposition sides reached an agreement over taking up a special discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor on Monday in the Lok Sabha and the next day in Rajya Sabha. Defence minister Rajnath Singh is likely to initiate the discussion in the lower house and home minister Amit Shah and external affairs minister S Jaishankar are expected to speak. Within NDA circles, it is being expected that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may speak on this issue of national security and turn up the heat on the Opposition, which looks to corner the government over alleged intelligence failures and US President Donald Trump's claims of mediating a "ceasefire" between India and Pakistan. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Digital Marketing Product Management Cybersecurity CXO PGDM Others MCA Operations Management Degree Leadership Data Analytics Management Project Management MBA Data Science Technology Artificial Intelligence Finance others Data Science Design Thinking Public Policy healthcare Healthcare Skills you'll gain: Digital Marketing Strategy Search Engine Optimization (SEO) & Content Marketing Social Media Marketing & Advertising Data Analytics & Measurement Duration: 24 Weeks Indian School of Business Professional Certificate Programme in Digital Marketing Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Digital Marketing Strategies Customer Journey Mapping Paid Advertising Campaign Management Emerging Technologies in Digital Marketing Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Digital Marketing and Analytics Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Sixteen hours have been allocated in both Houses for a debate on this issue and it is expected that Rajnath and Jaishankar might speak in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. On Friday, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla chaired an all-party meeting in his chamber where it was decided in the presence of both ruling and Opposition sides to take up a special discussion on Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor on Monday in the lower house. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo In Lok Sabha, TDP's Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu and GM Harish Balayogi are also expected to take part in this discussion in Lok Sabha. From the Opposition side, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and MP Rajiv Rai are also likely to take part in the debate. There are indications that leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi may also speak. In the Rajya Sabha, leader of House JP Nadda is likely to speak while several other NDA leaders, including JDU chief Sanjay Jha might also speak. Live Events Similarly, leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, Trinamool leader Derek O'Brien may also participate in the debate in the Upper House. Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday blamed the Opposition for the washout of the first week of the Monsoon session , accusing it of not allowing Parliament to function despite the government agreeing to its demand for a discussion on these issues right from the session's start. Asked about the Opposition's demand that Parliament discuss the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, he said all issues cannot be taken up at once and the government will take a call on other matters gradually. One has to follow the rules guiding discussion in Parliament, he said, when asked about the Opposition's insistence. With the electoral rolls revision exercise being seen in the government circles as the Election Commission carrying out its mandate, the possibility of a discussion on the contentious issue is slim, sources said.
Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
Manipur Cong criticises Prez Rule extension plan, raps BJP for crisis
Imphal: Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president K Meghachandra has slammed the NDA-led central govt's plan for the six-month extension of President's Rule in Manipur. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He called the move "a serious blow to democratic values and the federal spirit enshrined in the Constitution". He was speaking to reporters after attending a free medical camp in the Uripok Assembly Constituency. Meghachandra said the extension bypasses the will of the people and blamed BJP MLAs in the state for the political vacuum that led to the extension. "President's Rule has been imposed and extended because the BJP, despite having the numbers, failed to elect a capable leader to steer the govt," he said. He added that President's Rule is meant to be a temporary measure to restore peace and order. However, its extension due to alleged law and order failures sets a "dangerous and unprecedented" trend "that undermines democratic institutions and constitutional governance", he added. He also criticised both the NDA govt at the Centre and the former BJP-led state govt for their lack of serious initiative in resolving the ongoing crisis. He alleged that neither took concrete steps to draft a roadmap for peace and reconciliation. He also pointed out the BJP's failure to convene an all-party meeting since the crisis erupted in 2023. "How could Prime Minister Narendra Modi remain silent on the Manipur crisis for over two years? His silence is deeply disappointing and reflects BJP's intent to allow President's Rule to linger," Meghachandra said. "The current political and administrative uncertainty could have been avoided if the BJP had demonstrated responsible leadership and democratic will," he added.
Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
Centre set to extend Prez Rule in Manipur for another 6 months
New Delhi: The Centre is set to extend President's Rule in Manipur for another six months, starting from August 13, and a notice for bringing a statutory resolution on it has been given to the Rajya Sabha, which has been admitted by the chair. The House is yet to take up the notice, which will be listed next week after time for discussing the same is allocated by the business advisory committee of the upper house. The Rajya Sabha secretariat said, " Amit Shah , minister of home affairs and minister of cooperation has given a notice of the following resolution which has been admitted: 'That this House approves the continuance in force of the Proclamation dated the 13 February, 2025, in respect of Manipur, issued under Article 356 of the Constitution by the President, for a further period of six months, with effect from 13 August, 2025'." While BJP has been making efforts to form a new govt, the Meitei and Naga MLAs have been conducting a month-long campaign to push for a govt in the violence-hit state. President's Rule had been imposed in Manipur on February 13, 2025 after N Biren Singh resigned as CM. The state has been witnessing violence with at least 260 people killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May 2023. PTI
