Mahua Moitra fainted during Opposition march, claims Derek O'Brien
The Opposition MPs, led by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, began their march from Parliament's Makar Dwar to Nirvachan Sadan, accusing the poll body of ignoring 'voter theft' during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and raising slogans of 'vote chor.' The demonstration also targeted the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar, which leaders alleged was being used to manipulate the voter list.
Delhi Police stopped the MPs, saying no permission had been sought for the protest. Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi countered that such permission was 'never' granted, accusing the police of acting on government directions.
Samajwadi Party's Dimple Yadav alleged booth capturing in recent Uttar Pradesh bypolls, while RJD's Manoj Jha called the SIR a 'fraud' and accused the EC of withholding data despite Supreme Court orders. Congress MP Pramod Tiwari likened the march to Mahatma Gandhi's Dandi March, saying it was aimed at 'saving democracy.'
Despite police barricades, Opposition leaders vowed to press ahead with their demand for electoral accountability.
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Indian Express
27 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Minutes from now, Delhi's hottest contest – between two BJP leaders
A stone's throw from Parliament, Delhi's Constitution Club was unusually crowded on Tuesday, as MPs and ex-MPs queued up to cast their vote for what has become the hottest contest this season in the steaming Capital. Generally considered a routine affair, the polls to the administration of the club are the cynosure of all eyes this time, away from the brouhaha over the Election Commission — the reason being the two leaders, both belonging to the BJP, at the heart of it. Former Union ministers Rajiv Pratap Singh Rudy and Sanjeev Balyan are fighting it out for the post of Secretary (Administration), considered the club's most powerful post. Rudy has been holding the post for over two decades now, which makes him both entrenched and vulnerable. Officially, the BJP has kept out of the election, but there is buzz among MPs across parties that challenger Balyan has the tacit blessings of the party's top leaders. Those supporting Rudy cite the vast improvements at the club, saying the sea change from how it was run earlier has happened under the Bihar leader. However, there are many MPs and ex-MPs who feel that the long time Rudy has occupied the post is precisely the reason that change is due. The electorate that lined up to vote Tuesday, numbering about 1,200, included Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president and Union minister J P Nadda, Union minister Piyush Goyal, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge. Speaking to reporters, Balyan said that whatever the result, the dignity of the club must remain intact and that, as a platform for MPs and ex-MPs from across party lines to engage with one another, it was a good thing the club was in the news again. One common complaint of those backing Balyan is that MPs no longer get the same importance as they once did. BJP Lok Sabha MP from Jharkhand Nishikant Dubey told reporters Tuesday: 'Dr Balyan will win because this club has gone into the hands of IAS, IPS, IFS and pilots. It has to be retrieved for the MPs and should be back in the hands of MPs and ex-MPs. That is why we will make Dr Balyan win.' Rudy is no longer an MP. Some other MPs and ex-MPs also talk of officials 'frequenting the place' and non-MPs being found using the gym and other facilities. 'Will IAS officers or defence officers allow MPs in their clubs? If not, why is it that officials are seen to be controlling the Constitution Club?' a former Congress MP said. 'Wives of MPs have also complained. There are also complaints that the prices are too high.' A former BJP MP claimed that many MPs and former parliamentarians may rally against Balyan, given the charges against him in the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots. 'Rudy may also get significant support from MPs who are fellow Thakurs like him,' said a former BJP MP. Therefore, many believe that Congress MPs would play a major role in determining the outcome. A former Congress MP, however, said the votes of the party members could go both ways, with Rudy seen as favourite of the Lutyens Delhi crowd. A former BJP MP agreed with Balyan that the best part of the election was that a largely 'passive' club had come alive – and that many parliamentarians have woken up to its importance. Elections are typically held for Secretary (Administration), Secretary (Sports), Secretary (Culture) and Treasurer and 11 posts of Executive Members in the club. Congress MP Rajiv Shukla earlier won the post of Secretary (Sports) uncontested after BJP Rajya Sabha MP Pradip Kumar Varma withdrew his candidature. Similarly, DMK MP Tiruchi Siva won the Secretary (Culture) post after former BJP MP Pradeep Gandhi withdrew his candidature. The post of the treasurer, too, saw no contest after former Bharat Rashtra Samithi MP AP Jithender Reddy withdrew his candidature, with DMK MP P Wilson winning. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is the outgoing treasurer. Standing for elections for the 11 executive member posts are 14 MPs, including former BJP Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Agarwal, former BJP Lok Sabha MP Pradeep Gandhi, former Congress Lok Sabha MP Jasbir Singh Gill, BJP Lok Sabha MP Naveen Jindal, former Congress MP Aslam Sher Khan, TDP Lok Sabha MP Krishna Prasad Tenetti, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Pradip Kumar Varma, Samajwadi Party Lok Sabha MP Akshay Yadav, TMC Lok Sabha MP Prasun Banerjee, former Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MP Shrirang Appa Barne, former BJD Lok Sabha MP Kalikesh Singh Deo, the RSP's N K Premachandran as and former MP Anoop Singh. Formed in the 1940s for parliamentarians, the club has conference rooms, coffee clubs and an outdoor cafe. Along with lounges for MPs, there is also a billiards room, a gym, a unisex salon, and a swimming pool.
Hans India
30 minutes ago
- Hans India
Parliament clears twin bills to reform sports administration, doping oversight; move paves way to win 2036 Olympic
New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, and the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025, marking a watershed moment in India's legislative efforts to overhaul its sports administration and enhancing chances to win the bid for the Olympic 2036. The Bills, already cleared by the Lok Sabha, were moved by Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who described them as transformative instruments aimed at promoting ethical governance, athlete welfare, and institutional accountability across the country's sporting landscape. The debate in the House was briefly disrupted when Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge attempted to raise concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar's electoral rolls. Sasmit Patra, who was in the Chair, expunged Kharge's remarks following an intervention by Leader of the House J.P. Nadda, ruling them unrelated to the legislative business at hand. Subsequently, members of the Opposition staged a walkout. Among the most poignant interventions came from Olympian P.T. Usha, nominated member and President of the Indian Olympic Association, who recalled her near-podium finish at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. 'I missed the bronze by one-hundredth of a second. My heart broke not for myself, but for an entire generation of Indian athletes who had the strength and courage, but not the system,' she said. 'This Bill is not just about governance - it is about justice and fair play.' Prafull Patel of the NCP (Maharashtra) said, 'Every athlete's voice will now be heard,' adding that the proposed tribunal would ensure speedy resolution of disputes. He noted that the reforms in the Bill would help India realise its Olympic ambitions, including the bid for the 2036 Games. 'Every single sports federation is mired in legal cases. Courts take their own time. This tribunal will change that,' he said, also highlighting the Bill's mandate for women's representation in sports federations. Ayodhya Rama Reddy Alla of the YSR Congress Party welcomed the Bill's clarity and its promise of a unified framework for national and regional sports federations. Other members who spoke in support included Dr. Parmar Janswantsinh Salamsinh Jhala of the BJP (Gujarat), Sana Satish Babu of the TDP - who also serves as Secretary of the Andhra Cricket Association - Ravi Chandra Vaddiraju of the BRS (Telangana), Dhananjay Bhimrao Mahadik of the BJP (Maharashtra), Narhari Amin of the BJP (Gujarat), who delivered his remarks in Gujarati, Bhubneshwar Kalita of the BJP (Assam), Seema Dwivedi of the BJP (Uttar Pradesh), and Maya Naroliya of the BJP (Madhya Pradesh). The House also passed the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to align India's anti-doping framework with global standards set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The amendment ensures operational independence for the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), addressing earlier concerns over government interference. It removes oversight powers previously granted to the National Anti-Doping Board, reinforcing NADA's autonomy in investigations, enforcement, and adjudication. The Sports Governance Bill seeks to establish a unified legal framework for the development and promotion of sports, rooted in the principles of fair play, transparency, and international best practices. It aligns with the Olympic and Paralympic Charters and introduces a National Sports Board to regulate and recognise sports federations. The Board will have powers to de-recognise federations for election irregularities, financial opacity, or failure to publish audited accounts. Crucially, the Bill also provides for the creation of a specialised National Sports Tribunal, chaired by a sitting or former Supreme Court judge, to adjudicate disputes related to athlete selection, governance, and federation elections. Tribunal decisions will be appealable only in the Supreme Court, offering athletes a faster and more specialised route to justice. With both Bills now cleared by Parliament, India moves decisively toward building a transparent, accountable, and globally competitive sports ecosystem - one that promises not only medals but dignity, fairness, and institutional support for every athlete. After Minister Mandaviya's motion to pass the Bill, Surendra Singh Nagar considered the proposal, and the Bill was passed without any protest from the Opposition, through a voice vote.
Hans India
30 minutes ago
- Hans India
LS clears Mines Amendment Bill; House adjourned till August 18
New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025 by voice vote, even as Opposition members continued to protest over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Bihar. The Bill, moved by Union Minister for Mines G. Kishan Reddy, seeks to overhaul India's mining framework to promote transparency, boost domestic production, and secure critical mineral supply chains. As the House reassembled at 4:30 p.m., the protests resumed with Opposition MPs shouting slogans from the Well, demanding a debate on the SIR exercise. Presiding over the session, Jagdambika Pal repeatedly urged members to return to their seats, reminding them that the Supreme Court had "upheld the Election Commission's stand" and that the matter was sub judice. "Why are you coming to the Well before the House Well?" he asked, as papers were flung toward the Chair. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju criticised the Opposition for tossing pieces of paper at the Chair and said he had never witnessed such behaviour in his life. The Chair also reprimanded Opposition members, naming Gaurav Gogoi and alleging, "You are encouraging your fellow members to toss pieces of paper." Despite the chaos, the Bill was taken up for consideration. Minister Reddy said the legislation would ensure royalty benefits for states, incentivise exploration of deep-seated minerals, and modernise the sector through technology-driven reforms. He emphasised that the Bill aligns with India's National Critical Mineral Mission and aims to reduce dependence on imports of strategic resources like lithium, cobalt, and rare earths. A key provision of the Bill is the establishment of mineral and metal trading exchanges - electronic platforms that will allow real-time trading of minerals and processed metals. These exchanges are expected to bring transparency, curb cartelisation, and attract investment in mining infrastructure. The Bill also proposes to rename and expand the scope of the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET), now to be called the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust (NMEDT), with powers to invest in overseas acquisitions of critical mineral blocks. During the debate, several MPs spoke in support of the Bill. Malvika Devi (BJP, Kalahandi), G. Laxminarayan (TDP, Anantapuram), Gurumoorthy Maddila (YSRCP, Tirupati), Brijmohan Agrawal (BJP, Raipur), and Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo (BJP, Bolangir) highlighted the Bill's potential to boost employment, enhance state revenues, and strengthen India's strategic autonomy in mineral sourcing. Jagdambika Pal, responding to the disruptions, asked pointedly, "Do you oppose financial gain for the states? What are you opposing?" His appeals, however, were drowned out by continued sloganeering and paper-throwing from the Opposition benches. The Bill marks a significant update to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act of 1957, with previous amendments in 2015 and 2021. It introduces simplified licensing, expanded territorial scope for exploration, and adjudicatory mechanisms for dispute resolution. Also, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moved for leave to introduce a Bill further to amend the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. She also moved that the Bill be referred to a Select Committee of the House. To which the chair told protesting members of the Opposition, "Did you hear what the finance minister said? Will you oppose the Bill to be referred to the select committee?" However, the members of the Opposition kept on shouting slogans. The Speaker will decide the members of the committee and the terms and conditions regarding the panel. The Committee shall submit its report by the first day of the next session. Following the passage of the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill, the Chair adjourned the House till Monday, August 18, as the Monsoon Session continued to be marred by repeated disruptions over electoral transparency and procedural demands.
