Latest news with #UpperHouse
The Print
6 hours ago
- Politics
- The Print
Congress MP's private member's bill on rehabilitation of Kashmir Pandits cleared for consideration by RS
Two days ago, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat wrote to Tankha that the President has recommended the consideration of the bill, clearing the decks for a discussion on it, before it is passed. To be sure, only 14 private members' bills have been passed and enacted into law so far, the last one being in 1970. Tankha, elected to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh, said the bill, introduced in the Upper House in February 2024, needed a recommendation from the President of India—under Article 117(3) of the Constitution—to be taken up for consideration as it carries financial implications. New Delhi: Congress MP Vivek Tankha's private member's bill, which among other things seeks the restoration of temples connected with Kashmiri Pandits who were driven out of the Valley in 1990, can now be taken up for consideration in the Rajya Sabha with it having cleared a Constitutional requirement. 'For the first time in Parliament, a private member bill titled 'Kashmiri Pandits (Recourse, Restitution, Rehabilitation and Resettlement) Bill, 2022' has been recommended by the Hon'ble President for consideration in the house, subject to time constraint. 'If discussed and approved, this can be a turning point in the fight for justice for Kashmiri Pandits. It's a big achievement as very few bills with financial implications get recommended by the Hon'ble President under clause (3) of Article 117 of the Constitution,' Tankha wrote on X Wednesday, attaching a screenshot of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat communique. The Kashmiri Pandits (Recourse, Restitution, Rehabilitation and Resettlement) Act, 2022 also envisages grant of minority status to Kashmiri Pandits and declaration of members of the community as victims of genocide. When contacted, Tankha told ThePrint that he had first introduced the Bill in 2022. 'With my term ending in 2022, the Bill also lapsed. I introduced a fresh Bill again in my second term,' he said. Upon its enactment into a law, the Bill also proposes the release of a white paper 'documenting all events in the Kashmir valley pertaining to the atrocities and plight of the Kashmiri Pandits starting from the year 1988 till the enactment of this Act.' For the first time in Parliament, a private member bill titled "Kashmiri Pandits (Recourse, Restitution, Rehabilitation and Resettlement) Bill, 2022" has been recommeded by the Hon'ble President for consideration in the house, subject to time constraint. .1/2 — Vivek Tankha (@VTankha) July 23, 2025 The bill has a separate section dealing with the restoration of temples and other heritage sites in the Valley. It says a committee comprising archaeologists, historians among others shall be authorised to appoint a Special Officer who will be armed with the power to seek documents from the government for 'conducting the survey of the religious sites' and 'shall have the same powers as are vested in a Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1973.' Under clause 3 of Article 11 of the Constitution, a proposed legislation that entails 'expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India shall not be passed by either House of Parliament unless the President has recommended to that House the consideration of the Bill.' 'In case the President withholds recommendation for introduction, the Bill cannot be introduced and if the recommendation is withheld under article 117(3) for consideration, the House cannot consider the Bill,' state the rules. A former Parliament official said that just because the bill now meets the Article 117(3) requirement does not guarantee that it will be taken up for discussion anytime soon as there is a draw of lots for that purpose. According to Parliament records, of over 2,000 private member's bills introduced since 1952, only 14 have become laws. These 14 bills include the Muslim Wakf Bill, 1952; The Hindu Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 1956; The Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Bill 1970. (Edited by Ajeet Tiwari) Also Read: Kashmiri Pandits are reviving old hometown temples. 'It's how we will return'
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Justice Yashwant Varma impeachment: Speaker Om Birla to announce inquiry panel to probe charges, says report
High court judge Yashwant Varma (File Photo) NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is expected to announce the formation of a high-level inquiry committee to examine charges against Allahabad high court Judge Yashwant Varma, news agency PTI reported on Thursday quoting official sources. The move follows the submission of a notice signed by 152 Members of Parliament on July 21, calling for a probe into the grounds for Justice Varma's potential removal. The notice, now deemed the "property of the House," has triggered formal consultations to establish a three-member inquiry panel. According to the Judges (Inquiry) Act, such a committee must include either the Chief Justice of India or a Supreme Court judge, a Chief Justice of a high court, and a distinguished jurist. Sources confirmed that consultations are already underway, with Speaker Birla expected to write to the Chief Justice of India to recommend two of the committee members. The choice of the jurist, however, will rest solely with the Speaker. The Rajya Sabha is also involved in the process, as a similar notice signed by 63 opposition MPs was submitted to the Upper House on the same day. Consequently, coordination between both Houses has become crucial to the next steps. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Canada is Open for Professionals Seeking Relocation PR Canadiense Sign Up Undo Since the submission of the notices, senior leaders including home minister Amit Shah, Rajya Sabha leader of the house JP Nadda, Speaker Birla, and deputy Chairman Harivansh, who is currently presiding over the Upper House following Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation, have been in intense deliberations over the path ahead. Dhankhar, who had invoked the Judges (Inquiry) Act in the Rajya Sabha on Monday to clarify procedure, later resigned in a surprise move, citing health concerns. However, political observers believe his resignation followed discontent within the government over his decision to acknowledge the opposition-backed notice despite a bipartisan one already before the Lok Sabha. With Harivansh now temporarily in charge, the fate of the Rajya Sabha notice remains uncertain. 'We have not been told anything so far,' said an opposition MP who signed the notice. As per the Act, the three-member committee will examine the grounds for seeking the judge's removal and determine whether the charges warrant further action.
NHK
11 hours ago
- Politics
- NHK
Nearly 900 alarming social media posts found over Japan's Upper House race
Japan's police agency says it identified nearly 900 disturbing social media posts targeting lawmakers and election candidates over the recent Upper House election. The National Police Agency says a total of 889 threatening posts related to the election were confirmed between June 16 and July 19. The agency says it identified users who shared highly troubling comments, warned them, and had them delete their posts. It also says most of the contents were threats to harm politicians and election contenders, such as, "I will shoot you if I find you" or "Watch your back." The agency adds that many of the posts were replying to social media comments by lawmakers and used slang to avoid direct expressions. It says it found no cases where someone actually plotted to commit a harmful act. It also says some people made posts while intoxicated, driven by dissatisfaction with politics. The police agency says the number of alarming posts tends to increase during election campaigns. It adds that it will review the police response and take further steps against radicalized individuals or groups.
Asahi Shimbun
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
Governors slam xenophobia, call for open society where all equal
AOMORI--Alarmed at xenophobic sentiment expressed in the lead-up to the July 20 Upper House election, the nation's governors called for measures to nurture multicultural coexistence. The National Governors' Association met in Aomori on July 23 to discuss the challenges stemming from the rapid increase in foreign resident numbers. Discriminatory rhetoric was a hallmark of the election campaign fueled by upstart political party Sanseito which railed against foreigners under its 'Japanese First' policy. Its warnings about foreigners and crime were credited with helping the party to significantly increase its seat showing in the chamber. The National Governors' Association meeting wound up emphasizing that Tokyo and the other 46 prefectural governments view foreigners as residents and community members, unlike the central government, which regards them primarily as a labor force. The association called on the central government to accept foreigners in a wider variety of jobs under the Employment for Skill Development program, which will replace the problem-fraught Technical Intern Training Program. It also sought central government funding so prefectural governments can offer Japanese language education. The governors said basic laws were needed to form the foundation for a multicultural society. Shizuoka Governor Yasutomo Suzuki, who spearheaded the drafting of the proposal, noted that responsibility for accommodating the daily lives of foreign residents has so far been left to local governments. 'We call on the central government to take responsibility and implement policies,' he added. Nara Governor Makoto Yamashita referred to 'baseless criticisms targeting foreign residents that are spreading online,' which he said smacked of discrimination and xenophobia. 'Japanese people, mainly young generations, have a vague anxiety, so we need to implement policies that eliminate it,' he said. 'Otherwise, it will lead to huge political and social problems.' Aomori Governor Soichiro Miyashita said the association 'is united in its stance of rejecting xenophobia.' He added that the association would cite its opposition to xenophobia in its statement to be released on July 24, the final day of the meeting.
Asia News Network
15 hours ago
- Business
- Asia News Network
Japan PM Ishiba refutes reports of imminent resignation after surprise US trade deal
July 24, 2025 TOKYO – apan's embattled Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba denied on July 23 that he was about to quit, saying there was 'not a single grain of truth' in source-based reports that said he would step down within weeks. News of a looming resignation, likely after key political events in August, had threatened to eclipse a surprise trade deal struck with the US just hours earlier, which shaved 'reciprocal' tariffs from 25 per cent down to 15 per cent. Despite Mr Ishiba's denials, the reality is that his position is increasingly precarious after his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) suffered a historic defeat in the Upper House election on July 20 , following a decisive trouncing in Lower House polls in October 2024. The crushing outcome has stirred the hornet's nest and might prove to be a career-ending blow, as the LDP and coalition partner Komeito now lack a majority in both Houses of Japan's bicameral Parliament. It remains uncertain whether the US trade deal, which was universally cheered by investors and economists, will quell the brewing civil war within the LDP and offer Mr Ishiba some breathing room. The Nikkei 225 index rallied, briefly soaring more than 1,500 points to a one-year high before paring some gains to close 1,396 points, or 3.5 per cent, higher at 41,171.32. The trade deal not only provided significant relief – the 15 per cent rate is the lowest so far among countries with a trade surplus with the US – but also spared Japan from making substantial concessions in its two 'sacred cow' industries: cars and rice. However, it does not erase the precedent of Japanese leaders resigning in disgrace after electoral setbacks, a fate Mr Ishiba is resisting .At a half-hour news conference on July 21, Mr Ishiba used the word 'responsibility' 10 times as he tried to justify his leadership. He held his ground when confronted about apparent double standards, having been vocal for then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's resignation in 2007 after the coalition lost its Upper House majority in that year's election. Mr Ishiba countered that all he wanted was for Mr Abe to 'offer his sincere explanations as to why he should remain' – something he said he was now doing. He added that the LDP remained the largest party in the Diet, and cited the 'national crisis' of US trade tariffs as a reason why a political vacuum must be avoided. Now that this 'national crisis' has been averted, two schools of thought appear to have emerged within the LDP. One suggests that the surprisingly favourable agreement terms, after a battle that Mr Ishiba said was fought on ' national interests', could give him the tailwind to stay on, especially if future polls reflect improved public sentiment. Yet the prevailing opinion is that Mr Ishiba should depart – on a high note, with the trade victory – after a turbulent nine months in power. The movement to force him out if he does not quit of his own accord has been gaining traction. Younger and mid-ranking lawmakers, including political scions Yasutaka Nakasone and Takako Suzuki, are leading a petition for Mr Ishiba to resign. Local prefectural chapters from Hokkaido and Ibaraki, to Ehime and Kochi, have submitted formal letters requesting his resignation. According to LDP by-laws, members can force a party presidential election if a majority of lawmakers and prefectural delegates demand one. The party's election strategy chief Seiji Kihara even said that a hard reset was necessary to win back trust, suggesting that the LDP should cede power to the opposition. Two separate polls by Kyodo News and Yomiuri Shimbun this week, conducted before the trade deal was concluded, indicate that public opinion is divided over whether Mr Ishiba should quit, although a slight majority is in favour of his resignation. The Mainichi newspaper had cited unnamed sources as saying that Mr Ishiba 'will resign by the end of August', a timeframe chosen with the political calendar in mind. Mr Ishiba is slated to preside over war memorial services marking 80 years since the end of World War II, before welcoming top African leaders for a triennial summit on Japan-Africa cooperation. In the same month, the LDP will complete its post-mortem into the Upper House election results, which Mr Ishiba is expected to use as a basis for his future decisions. On July 23, Mr Ishiba sought a rare meeting with former prime ministers Taro Aso (2008-2009), Yoshihide Suga (2020-2021), and Fumio Kishida (2021-2024). He told reporters that the subject of his future was never raised during the 80-minute talks. 'Neither have I ever made statements that I will resign. There is absolutely no truth to the media reports,' he averred, adding: 'We shared a strong sense of crisis, that a split within the LDP must never occur.' He added that his immediate priority was to familiarise himself with the trade agreement, given that Japan exports more than 4,000 items to the US, and to ensure affected businesses receive the necessary support. The 15 per cent tariff rate has been broadly viewed in a positive light, with Ms Asuka Tatebayashi, a senior analyst at Mizuho Bank's global strategic advisory department, telling The Straits Times that the impact would be 'much lower and minimised' than the mooted 25 per cent. She added that no quota was set on Japanese car exports to the US, as was feared, while the deal puts an end to months of uncertainty for businesses. Tariffs on Japanese cars and car parts would be cut from 27.5 per cent to 15 per cent. And as Japan promised to buy more American rice, this would be done by increasing the ratio of US imports under an existing 'minimum access' framework that allows 770,000 tonnes of rice to be imported tariff-free per year, above which a duty of 341 yen (S$3) per kilogram is charged. Meanwhile, Japan would also inject US$550 billion (S$703 billion) of investments into various US sectors, including semiconductors, ships and steel. Chief trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa, on his eighth trip to Washington, admitted that he did not expect to be able to conclude the deal on this visit. Former Japanese trade negotiator Sota Kato told ST that it was unclear what brought the deal across the finishing line now, adding that the LDP's Upper House defeat could have been a catalyst. 'The most plausible theory is that the US was in a hurry to seal the deal before the Ishiba administration is brought down and things have to start over,' said Dr Kato, who is now a research director at the Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research think-tank. He believed the deal's conclusion would hasten Mr Ishiba's departure, but wondered if Japan's next leader will come from the LDP, given that the ruling coalition does not hold a majority in the Diet. Regardless, political scientist Toru Yoshida of Doshisha University felt that behind-the-scenes horse-trading with the opposition will be inevitable, whether Mr Ishiba stays or goes. Or, he added: 'The LDP may try to secure a comeback through a snap election under a new prime minister.'
