
LS adjourned for day amid protests over Bihar SIR; Opposition stages walkout in RS
In the Lok Sabha, disruptions began soon after the House met, as Congress and other Opposition MPs shouted slogans and held placards. Similar scenes unfolded in the Rajya Sabha, where protests forced adjournment soon after official papers were tabled.
Deputy Chairman Harivansh rejected 29 Rule 267 notices, urging MPs to take up Zero Hour instead. Slogans of 'vote chori' (electoral theft) echoed through the chamber as protests continued.
The unrest extended outside Parliament, where the INDIA bloc marched to the Election Commission. With no police permission for the rally, leaders were stopped near Parliament. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were detained, while Akhilesh Yadav was seen jumping over a barricade.
Amid the din, the Lok Sabha passed the Income-Tax (No 2) Bill and the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill without debate.
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Hindustan Times
17 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Rahul Gandhi's lawyer raised 'threat to his life' issue without his consent: Congress
The Congress on Wednesday said Rahul Gandhi's lawyer raised the issue of threat to his life without his consent and will take back the statement in court on Thursday. Rahul Gandhi's lawyer said that he will "file a formal application tomorrow for withdrawal of the said Pursis" before the Pune court. (PTI File) An application, filed before Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Amol Shinde in Pune by Gandhi's lawyer Milind Pawar, said that Gandhi could face harm from the followers of the ideology of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and Nathuram Godse, and providing "preventive protection" is the state's constitutional obligation. Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said Gandhi's lawyer raised the issue of threat to his life in the court without his consent. "Mr Gandhi has strong objection to this and tomorrow his lawyer will take back this statement in court," Khera said in a post on X. He also shared a press release by the lawyer which said "the Pursis dated 13.08.2025 was filed by me in the Court without Instructions from the client". "The contents of the Pursis were drafted by me without consulting my client Shri. Rahul Gandhi. My client has taken strong exception to filing of this Pursis dated 13.08.2025 and has expressed his disagreement with the contents of the Pursis," Pawar said. "I shall file a formal application tomorrow for withdrawal of the said Pursis before the Hon'ble Court," he said. The case, the trial of which is yet to start, pertains to certain comments allegedly made by Gandhi against V D Savarkar, freedom fighter and Hindutva ideologue. The application said that complainant Satyaki Savarkar had admitted that he is also a direct descendant, through maternal lineage, of Nathuram Godse and Gopal Godse, principal accused in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi is the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and recently held a press conference in New Delhi, placing before the nation evidence of "electoral fraud" by the Election Commission, the application said. Gandhi also staged a protest in the Parliament complex, raising slogans such as "vote chor sarkar". "In light of the documented history of violent and anti-constitutional tendencies linked to the complainant's lineage, and considering the prevailing political climate, there exists a clear, reasonable, and substantial apprehension that Rahul Gandhi may face harm, wrongful implication, or other forms of targeting by persons subscribing to the ideology of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar," the application stated. "In such circumstances, preventive protection is not only prudent but is a constitutional obligation upon the state," it added. Advocate Pawar had said earlier this 'Pursis' or application was submitted as a precautionary measure with the objective of "legally safeguarding the fairness, integrity, and transparency of the present proceedings".


Hindustan Times
19 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
24-hour debate begins in state assembly, govt asserts Uttar Pradesh will propel Viksit Bharat goal
The Uttar Pradesh assembly began a 24-hour debate on 'Vision 2047' on the third day of the Monsoon session of the state assembly on Wednesday with the government asserting that the state will be the powerhouse that will fuel the achievement of the Viksit Bharat goal as key ministers highlighted the achievements of their departments. The Uttar Pradesh assembly began a debate on Vision 2047 on Wednesday. (Deepak Gupta/HT Photo) Parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Khanna opened the discussion that will continue till Thursday noon. GSDP has crossed ₹29.78 lakh crore: Khanna 'Till 2017, the GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) was only ₹12.71 lakh crore, the per capita income of the state was much below the national income. The state's share in investment was minimal, it was at 14th place in the ease of doing business. The turning point came in 2014 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Centre and Yogi Adityanath in 2017 in UP. Transparency, an investment-friendly environment changed the picture in just eight years,' Khanna said. 'In 2025-26, the state's GSDP has crossed the figure of ₹29.78 lakh crore and now the target is to take it to more than ₹40 lakh present, per capita income has more than doubled after 50 years as compared to 2016-17,' he added. Long-term vision need of the hour: Mahana State assembly speaker Satish Mahana said that there was a need to think and plan keeping in view the future. 'There are short-term schemes that give immediate relief but not in the long term. So it is important to plan long term. The prime minister gave a vision for India after 100 years of independence and expected all states to plan. The UP CM and the state government also decided to conduct a debate in the House on it.' 'After debate in the House, it will be taken to the people and then a final vision document will be tabled in the legislative assembly. What we can achieve for the development of the state, youth, farmers shall be discussed,' Mahana said. Khanna said in consonance with the Central government's vision for 2047, it is necessary for the state government to prepare a vision for the same year. In 1960-61, Uttar Pradesh's contribution to the country's economy was 14.4%, which was the highest in the country. In 2024-25, this contribution decreased to 9%. To make UP the most developed economy of the country again, the contribution of the state to the country's economy will have to be increased to more than 14%. The per capita income of the state in the financial year 2023-24 was 50.8% of the national average, which is targeted to be increased to 13% above the national average by 2047, the minister said. 'Zero poverty campaign has been started in the state to make the entire state completely poverty free by 2047. A network of expressways and airports has been laid in the state and simultaneously defence corridor and industrial corridor are being developed,' Khanna said. 'At present, the state's own tax revenue is about 40% of the revenue receipts, which will have to be increased to more than 60%,' he said. The state government has mapped all the SDG (sustainable development) goals related to Uttar Pradesh in the state budget. The economy is estimated to grow from Rs. 12.71 lakh crore in 2017 to ₹35 lakh crore in 2025, showing a growth of 175% in eight years. The state's own tax revenue was ₹85,966 crore in the financial year 2016-17, while, as per the provisional data for the financial year 2024-25, it has increased to Rs. 2,12,615 crore. Thus, the tax revenue of the state has increased by 147%. The budget size of the state was ₹3,46,935 crore in the financial year 2016-17, which increased to ₹8,08,736 crore in 2025-26, a growth of 133% . Capital outlay was ₹69,789 crore in 2016-17. According to the provisional data for 2024-25, it has increased by 63% to ₹1,14,000 crore, according to the state government. The revenue receipts of the state were ₹2,56,875 crore in 2016-17. As per the provisional figures for the financial year 2024-25, it has grown by 96% to ₹5,03,562 crore. From disarray to development: Pathak Deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak said that before 2017, UP's infrastructure and law and order were in disarray, with serious crimes enjoying political protection. Today, the state boasts of the most expressways in the country, four-lane road links to all 75 districts, and improved power supply across all regions compared to earlier. 'Uttar Pradesh is number one in the country in terms of wheat, milk, and sugar production,' Pathak stated. No longer BIMARU: Swatantra Dev Singh Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh said that before 2017, UP was seen as a BIMARU state, but today it has won the 'Rashtriya Jal Puraskar'. He noted that irrigation now covers 1.04 crore hectares via 76,527 km of canals, the Ken-Betwa link project has begun for Bundelkhand, and flood protection spans 523 embankments. With eight major and 58 minor rivers stretching 15,225 km, plans include dam modernisation, flood forecasting, pollution-free rivers, and large-scale canal-side tree plantations. State now meets peak demand of 32,000 mw: Energy minister Urban development and energy minister A.K. Sharma said UP is swiftly working to realize the PM's vision of a developed India. Citing the poor pre-2017 power situation, he noted that many villages lacked poles and wires and billing was marred by scams, whereas the state now meets a peak demand of 32,000 megawatt (mw), up from 13,000 mw in 2012–17.


The Hindu
19 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Rahul to lead 16-day ‘Vote Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar as Congress intensifies fight against SIR
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, is all set to start a 16-day-long 'Vote Adhikar Yatra' from Sasaram in Bihar on Sunday (August 17, 2025), as the principal Opposition party steps up its campaign against alleged irregularities in the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in the State. On Wednesday (August 13, 2025), Mr. Gandhi put out a video on his X handle in which he is seen interacting with a group of voters, who have been declared dead in the SIR exercise, concluded recently. 'There have been many interesting experiences in life, but I never got the chance to have tea with 'dead people'. For this unique experience, thank you, Election Commission!' Mr. Gandhi said. Taking the fight to ground zero, Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal met the INDIA bloc leaders in Sasaram to assess the preparation for the yatra to be led by Mr. Gandhi. 'The fight to protect our democracy will take place on the streets! Starting August 17th, LOP Sh Rahul Gandhi ji and the INDIA parties will embark on a massive Vote Adhikar Yatra across Bihar — against the dangerous SIR exercise, and to make the battle against Vote Chori a mass movement!' Mr. Venugopal said in a X post on Wednesday (August 13, 2025). Though the Congress is yet to officially announce the exact route, it is tentatively scheduled to pass through 24 districts (of the total 38) and cover nearly 60 of the 243 Assembly seats. The yatra will cross Aurangabad, Gaya, Nalanda, Munger, Purnia, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Katihar, Bhagalpur, Sitamarhi, East and West Champaran, and Gopalganj. Supaul, Siwan, Chhapra and Arrah, among others. Many of these areas have seen a large number of complaints about the deletion of voters in the SIR exercise. The yatra will conclude with a public rally at Patna's Gandhi Maidan on September 1. Video launched On Wednesday (August 13, 2025), the party launched a new video around the alleged theme of vote chori [theft], with the video showing how fake votes were being cast in the name of genuine voters. 'Do not let your right to vote be snatched away. Ask questions, demand answers this time! Raise your voice against vote chori. Free constitutional institutions from the clutches of the BJP,' Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said in a post on X. 'The theft of your vote is the theft of your rights, the theft of your identity!' Mr. Gandhi added. On Tuesday (August 12, 2025), the party announced a series of programmes under the banner of Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod [Vote thief, vacate the seat]. Candlelight vigil on Aug. 14 On August 14, the party will take out a nationwide candlelight march at 8 p.m. in all districts, followed by 'Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod' rallies in all States between August 22 and September 7, and finally a month-long nationwide signature campaign from September 15 to collect five crore signatures. But beyond the opposition to the SIR exercise, the Congress is hoping that Mr. Gandhi's yatra would infuse the much-needed energy into the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) and build a momentum for the party in the run-up to the Assembly election later this year. 'If you see the Lok Sabha seats through which Rahulji's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra passed, the Opposition alliance won several of these seats. We won Sasaram, the Rashtriya Janata Dal won Aurangabad and so on. We are confident that the Congress's fortunes will change with Rahulji's yatra,' veteran Congress leader Kishore Kumar Jha said.