Parliament Monsoon Session Live: NDA's CP Radhakrishnan files nomination for vice-presidential polls
Both Houses of the Parliament -- the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha -- were adjourned earlier in the day amid uproar over the government's move to introduce three contentious anti-corruption bills. Proceedings were halted shortly after they began, with the Chair announcing that both Houses will reconvene at 12 noon.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday strongly opposed the government's proposed bill that seeks automatic removal of the Prime Minister, chief ministers and ministers if held in custody for 30 days on serious criminal charges.
"I see it as a completely draconian thing, as it goes against everything. To say it as an anti-corruption measure is just to pull a veil across the eyes of the people...Tomorrow, you can put any kind of a case on a CM, have him arrested for 30 days without conviction, and he ceases to be a CM. It is absolutely anti-constitutional, undemocratic and very unfortunate," Priyanka Gandhi said while speaking to news agency ANI.
National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominee CP Radhakrishnan on Wednesday filed his nomination papers for the vice-presidential election in the presence of senior BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Health Minister JP Nadda and others.
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with NDA candidate for Vice President post, C.P. Radhakrishnan after the filing of nomination for the VP election. pic.twitter.com/7cksi406bW
— ANI (@ANI) August 20, 2025
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Centre over its proposed bills allowing automatic removal of the Prime Minister, Union ministers and chief ministers arrested on serious criminal charges.
"Today is one of the darkest days in Indian democracy. Late last night, the BJP introduced a bill which is a constitutional amendment bill, and with this, any opposition minister can be arrested and within 30 days. This is extremely dangerous, we are in a state of super emergency," the Trinamool MP said.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi pay floral tribute to their father, former PM Rajiv Gandhi, on his birth anniversary, in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan.
#WATCH | Delhi: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi pay floral tribute to their father, former PM Rajiv Gandhi, on his birth anniversary, in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan. pic.twitter.com/IyU5Yvo4zm
— ANI (@ANI) August 20, 2025
A stormy session is expected in the Lok Sabha today as the government is set to introduce three bills for the removal of a Prime Minister, a Union Minister, a Chief Minister or a Minister of a State or Union Territory when arrested or detained on serious criminal charges for 30 days in a row.
The Opposition has signalled fierce resistance, vowing to block their introduction. "We cannot allow this to be introduced. We will break the table and tear the bill," an Opposition MP warned.
(With inputs from Piyush Mishra.)
The Congress has accused the BJP-led Centre of plotting to undermine opposition governments by empowering central agencies to arrest their chief ministers and have them removed from office soon after. Senior spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi alleged the ruling party was seeking to push such a law after repeatedly failing to defeat opposition leaders at the ballot box.
"What a vicious circle! No guidelines for arrest followed! Arrests of opposition leaders rampant and disproportionate," Singhvi said on X.
Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will introduce the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill in the Lok Sabha today. The draft law proposes a ban on online money-based gaming and its advertisements, with violations attracting jail terms, fines, or both. It further distinguishes real-money games from eSports and casual online social games.
The government will table three bills in Parliament on Wednesday that seek to provide for the removal of a Prime Minister, Union Minister, Chief Minister, or state minister if they remain under arrest or detention for 30 consecutive days on serious criminal charges.
The proposed legislations are the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025; the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025; and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
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