logo
Pahalgam, Trump claims, Bihar list: INDIA bloc sets Parliament session strategies

Pahalgam, Trump claims, Bihar list: INDIA bloc sets Parliament session strategies

India Today6 days ago
The INDIA bloc, comprising 24 opposition parties, has resolved to raise several critical issues in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning July 21. These include the lack of justice for the Pahalgam terror attack, US President Donald Trump's repeated claims of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan and the opposition's strong concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, which they allege undermines voting rights.advertisementIn a virtual meeting held ahead of the session, senior leaders from across the bloc deliberated on eight major issues. These included what they termed failures in foreign policy, the ongoing Gaza crisis, the delimitation process and growing atrocities against Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, women and minorities.Speaking to the media after the meeting, Congress' deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, Pramod Tiwari, said that the opposition expects the Prime Minister to be present during the Parliament session and directly address the critical issues being raised, adding that "Parliament is more important than travelling abroad."
Furthermore, Congress general secretary K C Venugopal stated that restoring full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir remains a top priority for the opposition. He also announced plans for an in-person INDIA bloc meeting in August to continue strategising.Notably, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is one of the founding members of the alliance, did not attend the meeting and has announced its withdrawal from the grouping. Several key opposition figures, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, were absent from the session.However, the meeting saw participation from leaders like Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress parliamentary party chief Sonia Gandhi, former party chief Rahul Gandhi, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, NCP (SP)'s Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray (SS-UBT), Abhishek Banerjee (TMC), Tejashwi Yadav (RJD), Ram Gopal Yadav (SP), Tiruchi Siva (DMK) M A Baby of CPI-M, D Raja (CPI), CPI(ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, among others.The bloc also expressed serious concern over the government's "inaction" following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and accused it of failing to bring the perpetrators to justice. Pramod Tiwari described this as an intelligence failure and a matter of national honour.The bloc also plans to raise "Operation Sindoor" and Trump's claims of intervening in Indo-Pak tensions through trade pressure.Serious concern was also voiced over the Special Intensive Revision in Bihar, which opposition leaders allege is a veiled attempt at disenfranchising voters. They linked it to an "undeclared Emergency" and likened the move to "vote-bandi" following demonetisation.advertisementAbhishek Banerjee reportedly likened the use of the Election Commission and ED (Enforcement Directorate) to "E-square" tools being used against voters and opposition leaders: "ED for opposition leaders and EC for voters".Additionally, the bloc is set to raise issues such as the Ahmedabad plane crash and failures in foreign policy, alongside pressing concerns like farmers' struggles, unemployment and rising prices.The group discussed the need to hold the government accountable while ensuring that Parliament functions and allows debate. The alliance aims to portray a united front and reinforce their collective commitment to democratic values and constitutional integrity.Impeachment issues were also discussed, including the controversy surrounding Justice Yashwant Varma after the discovery of burnt currency at his residence. The bloc plans to push for parallel action against Justice Shekhar Yadav, against whom a motion has been pending since December 2024 for allegedly delivering a hate speech.Lastly, during the meeting, the issue of Rahul Gandhi's recent remarks in Kerala, where he compared the Left to the RSS, was discussed. CPI leader D Raja, though not directly naming Gandhi, expressed concerns that such statements could demoralize the Left's supporters across the country and should be avoided.- EndsTune InMust Watch
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

US Praises Pakistan's 'Anti-Terror' Efforts After Banning TRF Over Pahalgam Attack, Dar Thanks Rubio
US Praises Pakistan's 'Anti-Terror' Efforts After Banning TRF Over Pahalgam Attack, Dar Thanks Rubio

Time of India

time17 minutes ago

  • Time of India

US Praises Pakistan's 'Anti-Terror' Efforts After Banning TRF Over Pahalgam Attack, Dar Thanks Rubio

In a move that could spark outrage in India, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio thanked Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar for "partnership in countering terrorism" three months after the US designated TRF, a Lashkar-e-Taiba front, as a terror group responsible for the April 22 Pahalgam massacre that killed 26 civilians in Jammu & Kashmir. India has long accused Pakistan of sponsoring such groups. Islamabad, meanwhile, is seeking a trade deal with the US and claimed the Kashmir issue was also on the agenda. The irony is glaring: even as Pakistan faces global scrutiny for sheltering LeT-linked networks, Washington seems eager to deepen ties. Pak Deputy PM Dar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington. Dar pitched 'trade not aid,' during an event while thanking US for its praise.#india #pakistan #unitedstates #marcorubio #ishaqdar #uspakistanrelations #trf #lashkaretaiba #pahalgamattack #indiaus #islamabadwashington #counterterrorism #ishaqdar #marcorubio #kashmirkillings #toi #toibharat #bharat #trending #breakingnews #indianews Read More

UP Minister protests false FIR against BJP workers in Kanpur
UP Minister protests false FIR against BJP workers in Kanpur

Hans India

time17 minutes ago

  • Hans India

UP Minister protests false FIR against BJP workers in Kanpur

Kanpur: Uttar Pradesh Minister Pratibha Shukla staged a dharna at a police station in Kanpur Dehat , demanding action against an SHO for allegedly filing a false case under the SC/ST Act against BJP workers. The protest, which lasted five hours, prompted the removal of the local police outpost in-charge and a departmental inquiry against the SHO, officials said. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav attacked the Yogi Adityanath government over police actions in the state. He also took potshots at Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak as he shared a video on X of the minister's purported video call with Shukla's husband, who expressed displeasure over the situation. Shukla, the Minister of State for Women's Welfare and Child Development, accused SHO Satish Singh of lodging a fabricated case under the SC/ST Act against BJP workers, calling it a 'deliberate attempt' to target them. 'This is not a previous Samajwadi regime. This is Yogi's government, and false and fabricated cases against BJP workers will not be tolerated,' Shukla told officials and media at the spot. Despite repeated efforts by Circle Officer (Sikandara) Priya Singh to persuade the minister to end the dharna, including a request to walk inside the SHO's chamber to speak to Superintendent of Police (Kanpur Dehat) Arvind Mishra, Shukla remained firm. 'Let the SP come out and speak in front of everyone,' she said, insisting that the matter be addressed publicly. 'I have never filed a police complaint in the last 25 years. But today, it's a matter of respect. I want to know under whose pressure this case was filed,' she asked the SP and DM. The protest was called off only after SP Arvind Mishra announced the removal of the local police outpost in-charge and ordered an inquiry against SHO Satish Singh, District Magistrate (Kanpur Dehat) Alok Singh told PTI. Additional SP Rajesh Pandey has been tasked with conducting a detailed inquiry and submitting a fact-finding report to the SP at the earliest. The ASP will examine the circumstances under which the cross FIR was lodged under the SC/ST Act and ensure that the investigation proceeds based strictly on facts, the DM added. During the protest, Shukla was joined by her husband and former MP Anil Shukla Warsi, who was purportedly seen talking to a senior Cabinet minister in the government, expressing displeasure over the situation. In a purported video which went viral, he was seen having an intense conversation with the senior Cabinet minister and he was heard saying: 'Were not you made the deputy CM to protect Brahmins? And now fake cases are being registered against them - they (BJP workers) are being abused and are just supposed to keep voting for you? This won't go on,' before the call ended abruptly. Yadav took a jibe on the BJP over the matter. In a post on X, he, without naming Pathak, said, 'DCM sir, first focus on your own people, then give advice to others. Earlier, there was only one DCM (Keshav Maurya) who was reprimanded, now both are reprimanded.' In another post, he took potshots at the Adityanath dispensation, saying, 'The ruling state minister herself is staging protest against her own police's actions, does the chief minister want anymore evidence?' According to officials, the controversy began after a road construction project was halted by local municipal councillor Shamshad Khan, prompting the minister's intervention. On Tuesday, an FIR was filed against Khan (corporator, Kanshiram Nagar) by contractor Zahoor Ahmad, alleging extortion, criminal intimidation, and intentional insult. On Thursday, Baburam Gautam filed a counter FIR against Abrar, Younus, Aslam, Yasir, and Shiva Pandey under various charges, including criminal intimidation, intentional insult, and relevant sections of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Most of trade deals with countries finished by August 1: Trump
Most of trade deals with countries finished by August 1: Trump

Hans India

time17 minutes ago

  • Hans India

Most of trade deals with countries finished by August 1: Trump

Washington: US President Donald Trump has said that his administration will have most of its trade deals with countries finished by August 1, as South Korea and other trading partners are striving to reach agreements to lower its "reciprocal" tariff rates by the negotiation deadline. During a press availability at the White House, Trump also said his administration might send close to 200 countries a letter on their tariff rate, which he said means, "They have a deal. It's done." South Korea has been cranking up its efforts to reach a deal with the United States to avoid or reduce the threatened 25 percent reciprocal tariffs, as well as sector-specific duties on automobiles and steel, as those levies would weigh heavily on the country's export-driven economy, said Yonhap news agency. "Aug. 1 is going to come, and we will have most of our deals finished, if not all," Trump told reporters before embarking on a trip to Scotland. "When those letters go out ... the page and a half ... That means they have a deal. It's done," he said. "They pay that tariff and that is the contract essentially." US President Donald Trump's administration continues to have "productive" negotiations with South Korea to reduce "unfair" trade barriers and enhance market access for U.S. businesses, a White House official said. South Korea has been making concerted efforts to reach a trade deal with Washington to reduce the threatened 25 percent "reciprocal" tariffs and sector-specific tariffs on steel and automobiles before August 1, when the reciprocal tariffs are set to take effect. "We continue to have productive negotiations with South Korea to reduce unfair trade barriers and improve market access for American firms," the official told Yonhap News Agency via email. The official's characterisation of the negotiations as "productive" raised cautious hope for headway in the trade talks, as Seoul has made proposals for bilateral cooperation in key strategic industry sectors, including shipbuilding, semiconductors and batteries. On Thursday, South Korea's Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo met jointly with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington as part of their efforts to reach a trade deal with the Trump administration. Seoul's Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol and Yeo had planned to have a "two-plus-two" meeting with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in the U.S. capital on Friday, but the meeting was postponed due to a scheduling conflict on Bessent's part. Earlier in the day, Trump said that his administration will have most of its trade deals with countries finished by Aug. 1. The president also said his administration might send close to 200 countries a letter on their tariff rate, which he said means, "They have a deal. It's done."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store