Latest news with #Ulaka
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Business Standard
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
BJP MPs protest parliament panel calling Medha Patkar, meeting cut short
A parliamentary committee meeting ended abruptly on Tuesday as BJP MPs protested against the panel's decision to hear activist Medha Patkar, who has long been accused by the ruling party of working against the country's development interests in the name of public and environmental causes. Former Union minister and BJP MP Parshottam Rupala was joined by other lawmakers from his party as they walked out of the meeting, with some dubbing Patkar as "anti-national". A BJP MP wondered if leaders from Pakistan could also be called at such a meeting. The Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, headed by Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, had called Patkar to hear her views on the implementation and effectiveness of the land acquisition law enacted by Parliament when the Congress-led UPA government was in power in 2013. Ulaka defended the decision, telling PTI that it is a standard practice for a parliamentary committee to hear civil society members and other stakeholders on various issues. He added, "We wanted to hear their views on the land acquisition law. We wanted an opinion from everyone, but they (BJP) didn't allow it." A BJP member said their primary objection was to calling Patkar, who was the face of the 'Narmada Bachao Andolan' protest against a determined push by the Gujarat government, headed then by Narendra Modi as chief minister, to raise the height of Sardar Sarovar Dam. The state government's views finally prevailed and Modi, who took over as prime minister in 2014, has often spoken about the efforts to stall the project since its foundation was laid in the 1960s. As the BJP MPs walked out, Ulaka said he decided to end the meeting due to a lack of quorum. He said, "As per rule, a quorum of 10 members is required. When the BJP MPs walked out, there was no quorum, and the meeting ended." According to a source, those invited before the panel included officials from the Environment and Forest Ministry. Activists, including Patkar and Prakash Raj, were also asked to appear before the committee. The source said BJP MPs objected to Patkar appearing before the panel, and called her "anti-national". Another source said a miffed MP also wondered if the prime minister of Pakistan could be called for questioning by the panel. When the meeting started, opposition MPs were of the opinion that Patkar should be heard, to which the BJP MPs did not agree. Asked about the incident, Patkar said she was invited to appear before the panel, and while she and others were waiting, they saw some MPs leave. Later, they were informed that the meeting had ended, she added. Patkar said she has appeared before parliamentary committees earlier as well. "I have never experienced anything like this before. It is important to talk about the land acquisition law," she said.
The Hindu
10 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
NDA MPs walk out protesting Medha Patkar's presence at meet of House panel on rural development
A meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development, headed by Congress leader Saptagiri Ulaka, reviewing the implementation of law on land acquisition on Tuesday (July 1, 2025), was abruptly ended owing to 'lack of quorum' after BJP MPs walked out objecting to summoning activist Medha Patkar to appear before it. The committee was meeting officials from Rural Development, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, along with 10 other experts from civil society, including actor Prakash Raj. It was reviewing the implementation of 'Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013'. The protests began soon after Mr. Ulaka read out the list of witnesses. The NDA MPs described the activist, who led the Narmada Bachao Andolan in Gujarat and elsewhere, as 'anti-national and anti-development' and should not be allowed to present her views. A ruling party MP, according to sources, even asked whether the panel will next be calling the Pakistan Prime Minister. There were eight NDA MPs and seven opposition MPs. When Mr. Ulaka and other opposition members were of the view that the meeting should be continued, and since witnesses are already here, they must be heard. At this point, the NDA MPs staged a walkout. Even as the remaining members were deliberating on what to do next, the Speaker's office sent a message that since the panel does not have a quorum the meeting should be ended. Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Ulaka said due procedure was followed and the list of witnesses was circulated in advance to all the members. If they had objections, they should have raised it before the meeting. The Speaker's office too was informed about the witnesses as part of the usual procedure. 'It is unfortunate that NDA members did not want to even listen to them. The standing committee reports are not binding on the government. And neither can the chairman force a report. The standing committees provide a platform to hear everyone. Stalling such interactions can be grievous to democracy,' he said.
Hindustan Times
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
BJP MPs protest parliament panel calling Medha Patkar, meeting cut short
A parliamentary committee meeting ended abruptly on Tuesday as BJP MPs protested against the panel's decision to hear activist Medha Patkar, who has long been accused by the ruling party of working against the country's development interests in the name of public and environmental causes. Environment activist Medha Patkar.(PTI File Photo) Former Union minister and BJP MP Parshottam Rupala was joined by other lawmakers from his party as they walked out of the meeting, with some dubbing Patkar as "anti-national". A BJP MP wondered if leaders from Pakistan could also be called at such a meeting. The Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, headed by Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, had called Patkar to hear her views on the implementation and effectiveness of the land acquisition law enacted by Parliament when the Congress-led UPA government was in power in 2013. Ulaka defended the decision, telling PTI that it is a standard practice for a parliamentary committee to hear civil society members and other stakeholders on various issues. He added, "We wanted to hear their views on the land acquisition law. We wanted an opinion from everyone, but they (BJP) didn't allow it." A BJP member said their primary objection was to calling Patkar, who was the face of the 'Narmada Bachao Andolan' protest against a determined push by the Gujarat government, headed then by Narendra Modi as chief minister, to raise the height of Sardar Sarovar Dam. The state government's views finally prevailed and Modi, who took over as prime minister in 2014, has often spoken about the efforts to stall the project since its foundation was laid in the 1960s. As the BJP MPs walked out, Ulaka said he decided to end the meeting due to a lack of quorum. He said, "As per rule, a quorum of 10 members is required. When the BJP MPs walked out, there was no quorum, and the meeting ended." According to a source, those invited before the panel included officials from the Environment and Forest Ministry. Activists, including Patkar and Prakash Raj, were also asked to appear before the committee. The source said BJP MPs objected to Patkar appearing before the panel, and called her "anti-national". Another source said a miffed MP also wondered if the prime minister of Pakistan could be called for questioning by the panel. When the meeting started, opposition MPs were of the opinion that Patkar should be heard, to which the BJP MPs did not agree. Asked about the incident, Patkar said she was invited to appear before the panel, and while she and others were waiting, they saw some MPs leave. Later, they were informed that the meeting had ended, she added. Patkar said she has appeared before parliamentary committees earlier as well. "I have never experienced anything like this before. It is important to talk about the land acquisition law," she said.
Indian Express
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
BJP MPs object to Medha Patkar, Prakash Raj at parliamentary panel meeting, walk out
A political row erupted between the BJP and the Opposition on Tuesday after the ruling party's MPs on the parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj boycotted its meeting in protest against the presence of activist Medha Patkar and actor-turned-activist Prakash Raj who had been invited to depose before the panel. The meeting, which was eventually cancelled, had been convened to discuss the implementation and effectiveness of the 'Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013'. While the BJP MPs alleged that the committee's chairman Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, a Congress MP from Odisha, had kept the members in the dark about the witnesses summoned for deposition and had summoned 'anti-nationals' and 'urban Naxals', Ulaka said the Lok Sabha Speaker's office had cleared the names but the BJP leaders were 'not ready to listen'. Of the 29 members of the parliamentary panel, 14 were present on Tuesday, and with eight MPs of the BJP-led NDA boycotting, Ulaka had to cancel the meeting as there was no quorum. BJP sources said apart from their party's MPs, ally Janata Dal (Secular)'s leader and former PM H D Deve Gowda followed them. However, Congress sources claimed that Deve Gowda did not boycott the meeting. Sources said the BJP MPs felt 'agitated' when they saw Patkar and Raj, and refused to enter the meeting hall unless Patkar, a founding member of the Narmada Bachao Andolan, was sent back. As a member of the Narmada Bachao Andolan, Patkar has earned the ire of BJP leaders and workers for her campaign against the Sardar Sarovar Dam project in Gujarat. Raj, a popular actor, is known for his anti-BJP views. The BJP MPs are learnt to have questioned Ulaka for inviting 'anti-nationals'. One BJP MP is learnt to have said that if people such as Patkar and Raj were being invited to depose before a parliamentary panel, next time they might as well invite the Pakistan PM. Another BJP MP is said to have complained about 'urban Naxals' being invited to Parliament. 'We boycotted the meeting because we were kept in the dark about who was coming as witnesses. We entered and saw Medha Patkar sitting there. We should have been given the list of these people and which NGO they belong to. How could the chairman keep such information from us?' BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal told The Indian Express. The ruling party's members said Ulaka rejected their suggestion to hear senior officials from the Department of Land Resources, and the ministries of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Tribal Affairs who too had been invited on Tuesday. 'We were very clear that we would not allow the activists to depose first,' said Jaiswal. 'It was not decided in any of the meetings who would come to the parliamentary committee. Prakash Raj's name was not in the list. Why should we listen to someone whose background we don't know?' said BJP MP Raju Bista. Responding to the BJP leaders, Ulaka told The Indian Express, 'We had such meetings several times. It is a normal procedure; the agenda was set, officers from the ministries concerned and the stakeholders, including those who are working in NGOs and other civil society representatives, were invited. The Speaker's office was informed and the list was approved. However, when they (BJP MPs) saw Medha Patkar, they, in a synchronised way, started shouting, 'She should not be allowed.' I told them just listen to her as she is someone who has been fighting for the landless people and their rehabilitation.' 'What's wrong with listening to her?' the Congress MP asked. 'The committee together prepares the report, and we submit our recommendations to the government. It's the government that takes the decisions, we do not.' His party colleague and fellow panel member Imran Masood labelled the BJP members' behaviour as 'anarchy'. 'If you have called someone, you should listen to them, irrespective of whether you agree with them or not. They walked out. We called them … This is anarchy. You are not following parliamentary procedure. Why can't you listen? The BJP people didn't want to hear about issues related to land acquisition of marginalised people,' he said. Apart from Patkar and Raj, the committee had invited 10 more civil society representatives. Although Standing Committee reports carry significant influence, they are not legally binding on the government. The meeting on Tuesday would have been the 29th meeting of the committee. Till now, it has discussed matters such as 'Rural Employment through Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)', the 'Status of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA)', and reviewed the progress made under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Oppn attacks govt over tragedy; Committed to taking action against those responsible: Min
1 2 Bhubaneswar: Congress MP Saptagiri Ulaka on Monday called for the resignation of chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi as the political blame game intensified over the stampede in Puri on Sunday, which killed three persons. Senior BJD MLA Prasanna Acharya criticised the govt for its casual approach to the sacred event. Law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan countered the opposition by pointing out the govt promptly responded to the tragedy and is committed to taking stringent action against whomever is found guilty. Addressing a news conference at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi, Ulaka described the Puri stampede as a 'man-made disaster' and accused the govt of prioritising VIP movements over the safety of devotees and deities. "Transfer and suspension of some officials is not enough. The CM must resign," Ulaka said. Ulaka and Congress member Arabinda Das said the BJP govt in Odisha reduced the Rath Yatra of Mahaprabhu Jagannath into a stage-managed political event. They alleged political workers took over the arrangements, pushing the administration to the backseat. Congress members raised suspicion over the exact number of deaths and reiterated their demand for a judicial probe. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo BJD's Acharya, who is deputy leader of opposition in the state assembly, said the lack of sincerity on the part of the govt was glaring. "There was a clear lack of coordination among govt agencies and poor supervision by the political leadership. It was an utter and complete failure," Acharya told media persons, asking the govt to take urgent corrective action. "The govt must conduct a fair probe, make the inquiry report public, and put in place mechanisms to ensure such lapses don't recur," he said. Harichandan asked the opposition to refrain from politicising the tragedy. "It was an unfortunate incident. The CM has already apologised before the devotees. Whoever is responsible for the incident will face stringent action," he said. Pointing out that an administrative inquiry by development commissioner Anu Garg has already been ordered, the minister said the report will come in 30 days. "Steps will be taken to prevent such incidents," he said.
