New Delhi:

With Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi giving a breach of privilege notice against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sharing the speech of Anurag Thakur made in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, PTI sources said that the BJP MP’s remarks are part of the parliamentary record and the breach of privilege notice does not hold ground.

After the opposition members, including Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, objected to some of his remarks made during his speech on the union budget, Anurag Thakur said he had not named any member.

Sources said Anurag Thakur’s remarks are part of parliamentary records and his remarks have not been expunged.

Slamming Congress over its protests, Union Ministers and BJP leaders said Anurag Thakur did not name anyone.

Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi said Congress is resorting to excuses.

“He (Anurag Thakur) did not ask the caste. Those who don’t know caste are speaking about Caste Census. He did not name anyone, so why are you taking it upon yourself? Anurag Thakur clarified it on the floor of the House. They need an excuse. The intention is to divert the issue. From Pandit Nehru to Indira Gandhi, to Rajiv Gandhi – everybody has opposed reservation for OBC…,” he said.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the Congress of hatching a conspiracy to divide the country based on caste.

“I condemn what Congress has done, they keep talking about castes all the time…they ask the castes of media people and army personnel…Congress has hatched a conspiracy to divide the country based on castes…they keep asking about everyone’s castes, but Rahul Gandhi’s caste can’t be asked…are they above the country and Parliament?…they want to weaken democracy and country’s economy, they want to spread anarchy and violence,” he said.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge also spoke on Anurag Thakur’s remarks and said PM Modi should not have lauded the speech.

“Taunting in the House, this doesn’t happen in Parliament. Nobody’s caste is asked in the Parliament…He (Anurag Thakur) said this purposely to insult him (Rahul Gandhi). This is not right. Several of their (BJP) senior leaders have had intercaste marriages. They should look at themselves in the mirror and then speak…He (Anurag Thakur) is immature but was there a need for the Prime Minister to tweet?” Kharge asked.

“Several of their leaders are in an intercaste or interfaith marriage. Will they ask about everyone’s caste? This is wrong, I condemn this. I also condemn the tweet of the Prime Minister. PM Modi should know where to speak and who to defend. Leaving that aside, he is talking about inflaming sentiments. This should not be allowed in Parliament, it should be expunged,” he said.

Channi, a former Punjab Chief Minister who is MP from Jalandhar, wrote to Speaker Om Birla giving notice of a breach of privilege against PM Modi.

“I have moved a privilege motion against the PM. I have written to the Lok Sabha Speaker that it was contempt of the House when the PM tweeted and promoted the certain objectionable remarks made by Anurag Thakur after they were expunged from House records,” Channi said.

He said PM Modi’s “tweeting of remarks which had been expunged from the proceedings of Lok Sabha clearly amounts to a breach of privilege and contempt of the House” and urged the Speaker to admit his motion.

Former Karnataka CM and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai said he is shocked over the Congress protest.

“How can the caste census be without asking the caste?… If they think they were insulted (by Anurag Thakur), they are insulting the whole country by asking for a caste census. They are talking about caste census,… then why is it an insult when someone asks them their caste?” he asked.

BJP MP Sambit Patra asked when Anurag Thakur “did not name anyone why only one person felt bad”.

“The number of 99 (Congress strength in Lok Sabha) and the game of arrogance of Congress party… When Anurag Thakur yesterday spoke without naming anyone, why did only one person feel bad, and on his direction, all members of Congress stood up? This is the kind of behaviour that will be shown on asking about one’s caste?…The caste of media personnel, administrative officers, judges and also army soldiers can be asked but if someone asks you your caste you start talking,” he said.

The Congress has said several times that it is committed to conducting a caste census in the country.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The debate on Budget 2024 in Lok Sabha today saw an explosive exchange between Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and BJP MP Anurag Thakur over the Agnipath scheme.

Mr Yadav, MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Kannauj, said this is a “budget of despair” but people in the government are praising it. He said there was nothing in the budget for the unemployed, youngsters and villages. “Those with family know how difficult it is to run the household, provide education to children and take care of the treatment of the elderly,” Mr Yadav said.

Shifting focus to Uttar Pradesh, the former Chief Minister said, “You showed the Make in India dream, but Uttar Pradesh did not get any big project even though we got a Prime Minister. Did we get an IIM or an IIT? Which central institution was set up? The Samajwadi Party government gave land for two AIIMS in Raebareli and Gorakhpur, but are people getting adequate treatment there?”

Taking a swipe at the BJP for its lack-lustre show in Uttar Pradesh in this general election, he said, “Results in UP showed how much you worked, would results be like this if you did everything right?”

He then quoted shayari by Wasim Barelvi. “Woh jhoot bol raha tha bade salike se, main aitbaar na karta toh kya karta? (He lied with such finesse, I had no option but to believe)” he said, to cheers from the Opposition benches.

Referring to the train derailment in Jharkhand, Mr Yadav said, “Ever since the government has taken over, there is a competition between rail accidents and paper leaks.”

The Samajwadi Party chief questioned if the ruling party has fulfilled its promise of doubling farmers’ income. “You say you are giving MSP (Minimum Support Price), then why are you denying a legal guarantee.”

Moving to the Agnipath scheme for short-term recruitment in the armed forces, Mr Yadav said, “No youngster preparing to join the forces can accept it. When this scheme came, prominent industrialists were asked to tweet that there is no better job and they will rehire them (Agniveers) once their four-year stint ended.”

“But the government knows it is not a good scheme, that’s why it is asking BJP-led state governments to give job quota to Agniveers,” he added.

When BJP MP and former Union minister Anurag Thakur opposed his remarks, Mr Yadav dared him to say that Agnipath is a good scheme and sat down.

“I come from Himachal Pradesh, which gave the country its first Param Vir Chakra awardee, the late Major Somnath Sharma. Most martyrs in Kargil were from Himachal. It is the Narendra Modi government that fulfilled the long-pending demand of One Rank One Pension. I am saying this, Agniveer has 100 per cent employment guarantee,” Mr Thakur responded.

Mr Yadav then asked, “Then what is the need for state governments giving quota (for Agniveers). I went to a military school, we can also count Param Vir Chakras.”

The former Union Minister stood up again and said, “He has just gone to a military school, I am serving as Territorial Army captain. Akhilesh ji, don’t give gyan.”

Hitting back, Mr Yadav took a swipe at Mr Thakur not getting a ministerial berth this time. “Maybe he is agitated because he is no longer a minister. I read pain on your face,” he said.

Before he ended his address, Mr Yadav took a parting shot at the Narendra Modi government. “This government is not one that would run, it is a government that will topple.”

Hamirpur:

Targeting Congress for “misleading” the country’s youth by spreading false propaganda on the Agnipath scheme, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Youth and Sports Anurag Thakur said on Sunday that the game-changing initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government guarantees 100 per cent employment.

“Every Congress leader is misleading the youth by lying about the scheme which guarantees 100 per cent employment,” Anurag Thakur said while campaigning in the Hamirpur constituency which goes to polls on June 1.

Asserting that the scheme allows India’s youth to serve the country by joining the Armed Forces, Mr Thakur mentioned that it is a win-win situation for all as youngsters exiting after four years will not only get a service fund package but also jobs in various Public Sector Undertakings.

“All BJP-ruled state governments have provided 10-20 per cent reservation in the state police for these young comrades. Reservations have also been made in the Central government’s paramilitary forces. Not only that, they have been given many concessions in selection. Congress should stop misleading the youth and should not play with their future,” the Union Minister said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has claimed that the Agnipath scheme has been brought against the will of armed forces and if the INDIA bloc is voted to power, the party will discard it immediately.

“Rahul Gandhi will go to Italy or Bangkok but the Agniveers will continue to serve the country. It is PM Modi who named islands after 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees, cleared the One Rank-One Pension scheme, gave the latest arms and ammunition to our forces, got Rafale fighters, built INS Vikrant and Brahmos missiles… What did the Congress do for 40 years except for encouraging corruption and getting kickbacks in defence deals?” the BJP leader questioned.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Hamirpur:

Citing a new report on India’s demographic transition, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur wondered how Muslims can feel insecure in the country, especially when their population has reportedly increased by 45 per cent and they have been equal recipients of government welfare programmes.

A working paper on population trends released recently by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister said the population of majority Hindus declined by 7.82 per cent between 1950 and 2015 while that of Muslims increased by 43.15 per cent, suggesting that there is a conducive environment to foster diversity. It, however, did not give absolute numbers.

In an interview to PTI late Friday, senior BJP leader Thakur said the minorities are clearly thriving and need not worry.

He also rubbished the opposition’s charge that the BJP would change the Constitution. “On the contrary, the BJP will ensure that reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs is not diluted or altered by anyone.” 

The four-time MP from Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh, who is defending his seat against Congress’ Satpal Raizada, accused the party of seeking to take away the reservation meant for SCs/STs/OBCs and provide it to Muslims.

He also alleged that the Congress is aiming to grab the wealth of people and provide the same to Muslims to further its appeasement and vote bank politics.

The Congress has denied these claims, also made by other BJP leaders, as lies and distortion of their manifesto.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also said that he will never allow reservation based on religion by taking away quotas meant for SCs, STs and OBCs, Thakur said.

Asked if there was a need for policy change on population control or a legislation on the issue in the wake of changing demography, Thakur said the new government will discuss the issue and then take a call after discussion as population figures have just come out in public domain.

He said the figures show that the population of Muslims in India has increased by almost 45-47 per cent over 65 years.

“What do these figures indicate. On one side the population of Hindus declined by 7.8 per cent and on the other hand the population of Muslims increased by 45-47 per cent. One has to ponder over the reasons behind this.

In Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, the population of Hindus was 23 per cent in 1947, now they are only 2 per cent left. And still, some people in India say Muslims are insecure. Their population has increased by 45 per cent, still they say they are insecure,” he said.

“How are they insecure? We never said vote for us out of compulsions, we have not indulged in any vote bank politics. We freed Muslim women of the scourge of triple talaq, we have also provided Muslims women with pukka houses, toilets and free (cooking gas) cylinders, besides free medical treatment even if they have eight children. They have also benefited from our schemes,” the minister said.

On the Constitution, he told PTI, “There will be no change of Constitution.” He said the BJP has been in power for the last 10 years while wielding absolute majority in Parliament. Still, it has not made any Constitutional amendment, Thakur said.

“It is the Congress which has amended the Constitution all the time. Besides, the Congress insulted Babasaheb Ambedkar, who gave us this Constitution, and even worked to send him out of politics. The Congress also did not give him honour,” he alleged.

Instead, he said, it was Narendra Modi who made ‘paanch teerth’ at Nagpur, Mhow, Mumbai, Delhi and England in honour of Babasaheb Ambedkar and began marking Constitution Day on November 26, besides declaring a holiday on Ambedkar Jayanti on April 14.

“I want to tell this country and the youth that it was Indira Gandhi who murdered democracy and if anyone has tried to crush the Constitution, it is Arvind Kejriwal,” Thakur said.

“Even the creators of the Constitution would have never thought that a chief minister and deputy chief minister would be in jail for corruption and still are reluctant to resign from their posts,” Thakur added.

Thakur also reeled out government statistics to support his view that the BJP government has consistently worked during the last 10 years for the poor, especially the backward class and castes.

Out of four crore houses made under the PM Awas Yojna by PM Modi, as many as 58 per cent houses were made for SC/STs, he said.

He also cited the Rs 6,000 annual dole given to farmers, of which a majority of the beneficiaries are SC/ST and OBC category people.

Thakur noted that four crore houses, 12 crore toilets, 13 crore water connections and 10 crore free cooking gas cylinders were provided to people, as well as free medical treatment to 60 crore people and free ration to 80 crore people.

“These people (opposition) are spreading fear, misconceptions and rumours that SC/ST reservation will go, but the truth is that wherever the Congress governments came, in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, they took away SC/ST quota and gave to Muslims and are creating fear among SC/STs,” Thakur said.

The senior BJP MP said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wants a survey that will lead to wealth redistribution. “This is appeasement politics which the Congress started, not us,” he said.

“We have done ‘Sabka Vikas’ and did not do Hindu-Muslim, and we will carry on doing work like this in future. But when these people say such things for votes that they will give to Muslims, then we raise questions that they try to insult Hindus and talk of crushing Sanatan and talk of giving resources to Muslims,” Thakur said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Hyderabad:

Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi both are trained in “Aurangzeb school of thought” with democracy on their lips but “Shariah in their hearts and minds”.

Addressing a press conference here, he slammed Rahul Gandhi for fielding a candidate against Owaisi in the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency.

“Is Rahul Gandhi the ‘B’ team of Owaisi or Owaisi the ‘B’ team of Rahul Gandhi? Is Rahul Gandhi a peddler of Owaisi’s communal agenda? This is what appears from the Congress manifesto,” he said.

Union Minister Thakur further said that just like Rahul Gandhi was defeated by a woman in Amethi, Mr Owaisi will be defeated by a woman in Hyderabad.

“Owaisi has been missing in action ever since Madhavi Latha (BJP candidate) entered the fray. The time to cut the kite’s string has come,” said the Union Minister, who earlier participated in the nomination rally of the BJP candidate.

He also claimed that the people of Hyderabad want to defeat Mr Owaisi. “I have seen people’s enthusiasm, support and blessings on Hyderabad roads for our party candidate,” said the Union Minister.

He also alleged that Mr Owaisi won many times on the basis of fake votes. “The genie of fake votes has been capped in a bottle. It’s time for him to pack up,” he said.

Union Minister Thakur accused Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi of being silent on the demand of their party councillor in Karnataka for a CBI probe into the murder of his daughter due to ‘Love Jihad’. “How many more daughters will be sacrificed in the name of ‘Love Jihad’,” he asked, reading out names of victims and accused.

“Hundreds of Hindu daughters were killed by infiltrators and people of a particular community. Why do you have sympathy for them,” he asked and accused Congress leaders of doing vote bank politics.

“Did they not shout ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ in the Karnataka Assembly? There were bomb blasts in Bangalore and the accused were sheltered in Bengal under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Can our daughters be safe or our borders be safe with appeasement politics?” he said.

The Union Minister alleged that the Congress party is bent on destroying ‘Sanatana Dharma’. “They opposed the construction of Ram Temple, rejected the invitation for its inauguration and called Ram Setu fictional. The EVM beeps will give an answer to such beef-eating people,” he remarked.

Union Minister Thakur claimed that Congress will snatch away property and hard-earned money of citizens for distribution among those who are its vote bank and with whom it does politics of appeasement.

Referring to Sam Pitroda’s statement, he said Congress’ hidden agenda had come out. “It clearly shows, even after your death, they will keep on looting you in the name of inheritance tax. I call it vasooli tax,” he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

The drones can be rented out to farmers for nano fertilizer and pesticide applications. Special arrangement photo for representation.

The Union Government will provide 15,000 progressive women self-help groups (SHG) with drones to be rented out to farmers for agricultural purposes. The drone services are envisaged to be used by the farmers for Nano fertilizer and pesticide applications.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur told the media on November 29.

It might be recalled that Mr. Modi had in his Independence Day speech announced a scheme for empowering women’s Self Help Groups with drone technology. The scheme would have a financial outlay of ₹1,261 crore for two years beginning 2024-25.

The self help groups would be identified from the total 89 lakh SHGs formed under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana, Mr. Thakur said adding that appropriate clusters where usage of drones is economically feasible will be identified following which the SHGs will be selected for providing drones.

The women’s groups would get a Central financial assistance at 80% of the cost of drone. The total expense of a drone and its accessories is about ₹10 lakh. About 80% of the cost or up to ₹8 lakh, will be provided by the Centre, the Minister said.

“Around 500 drones will be provided by fertilizer companies. The rest 14,500 drones will be made available through the Central assistance in the next two years,” he said. The drone pilot will get an honorarium of ₹15,000 and a co-pilot about ₹10,000.

A well qualified member of the SHG, aged 18 and above, will be elected for a 15-day training, comprising five-day mandatory drone pilot training and additional 10-day training for agriculture purpose of nutrient and pesticide application, while another member of the group will be selected for training as technician or assistant.

The scheme will help in infusing advance technology in agriculture for improved efficiency, enhance crop yield and reduced cost of operation for the benefit of farmers.

The approved initiatives under the scheme is expected to provide sustainable business and livelihood support to 15,000 SHGs and help them earn an additional income of at least ₹1 lakh per annum.

Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh:

Union Minister Anurag Thakur has targeted TMC MP Mahua Moitra over ‘Cash-for-Query’ saying, “Even if she does not accept her mistakes, then too, the truth cannot be hidden.”

“If the Parliamentary Committee has summoned someone, then they should go and make their point. Even if she does not accept her mistakes, then too, the truth cannot be hidden,” he said.

His statement comes after Mahua Moitra’s response to the summons by the Parliament Ethics Committee.

Ms Moitra has been summoned by Ethics Committee of Parliament on November 2.

However, the TMC MP took to her X account on Friday and said, “I look forward to deposing (before the Ethics Committee of Parliament) immediately after my pre-scheduled constituency programmes end on November 4.”

In her letter to the Ehics Committee the TMC MP asked for permission to cross question Darshan Hiranandani.

Meanwhile Union Minister Anurag Thakur said this is a matter of “national security” and added that “an inquiry and appropriate action should be taken quickly”.

“The country wants to know how the Member of Parliament was sold… This is a matter of concern. It is a matter of national security and corruption… There should be an inquiry and appropriate action should be taken quickly,” he said.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey on Saturday alleged that attempts are being made to influence the witness amid the ‘Cash-for-Query’ row and urged the Lok Sabha speaker to take action.

“According to the information, Darshan Hiranandani and Dubai Didi (MP Mahua Moitra) are in touch. An attempt is being made to influence the witness @loksabhaspeaker to take action,” Nishikant Dubey said in a post on X.

Further, comparing TMC MP Mahua Moitra with former Congress MP Raja Ram Pal amid the ‘Cash-for-Query ‘row, the BJP MP said that the former was poor while Moitra was “friends with the rich”.

“There is a similarity between Mahua ji and Raja Ram Pal ji, who asked questions about money and was expelled from Parliament during the Congress rule in 2005. Pal ji was fighting against corruption of Reliance, hence he was expelled, Mahua ji Adani. Is this why you are fighting?” the BJP MP said in a post in Hindi on X.

Sharing a link that includes a letter dated back to December 2005, which was written by Raja Ram Pal to the Prime Minister’s Office about the corrupt practices of the then Power Ministry officials, Nishikant Dubey, who initially levelled the cash-for-query allegation against the TMC MP, urged everyone to read the letter to “know the nature of Mahua” “.

“Read Raja Ram Pal ji’s letter and compare that with Mahua’s nature and signature. The BSP Member of Parliament Raja Ram Pal was regularly writing to the Prime Minister….Raja Ram Pal ji speaks Hindi, is poor. She is a thief, Mahua ji speaks English, she is friends with the rich, is she honest?” he added.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Union Minister Anurag Thakur addresses the media during cabinet briefing, in New Delhi, on October 25, 2023.
| Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a ₹22,303 crore subsidy on P&K fertilisers for the current Rabi season to ensure farmers continue to get soil nutrients at reasonable rates despite high global prices.

The decision was informed by Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur after the Cabinet meeting.

The Union Cabinet has approved nutrient-based subsidy rates (NBS) for various nutrients, like nitrogen, phosphorous, potash and sulphur for the Rabi crop season (October 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024).

Mr. Thakur said di-ammonium phosphate will continue to be sold at the old rate of ₹1,350 per bag, while for Muriate of Potash (MoP) the rate will go down.

Union Minister Anurag Thakur addresses the media during cabinet briefing, in New Delhi, on Oct. 18, 2023.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Ahead of assembly polls in key wheat growing states, the government on Wednesday announced an increase in the minimum support price (MSP) of wheat by ₹150 to ₹2,275 per quintal for the 2024-25 marketing season.

This is the highest increase by the Narendra Modi-led government since it came to power in 2014.

Also read: Explained | Will a hike in MSP help farmers?

A decision in this regard was taken in the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Modi.

Currently, the MSP on wheat stands at ₹2,125 per quintal for the 2023-24 marketing season (April-March).

Briefing media, I&B minister Anurag Thakur said the CCEA has approved the increase in the MSP for all mandated rabi crops for 2024-25 marketing season.

“Based on the CACP recommendation, we have increased the MSP of six rabi crops. Wheat MSP has been increased by ₹150 per quintal,” he said.

Also read: Explained | What will a legal guarantee of MSP involve?

The support price of wheat has been increased to ₹2,275 per quintal for 2024-25 marketing season, from ₹2,125 per quintal in 2023-24, he added.

Wheat is the main rabi (winter) crop, sowing of which begins in October, while harvesting in April.

MSP is the minimum rate ensured to protect the interest of farmers and below this rate the grain is not purchased by the government procurement agencies.

New Delhi:

Union minister Anurag Thakur has hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, alleging that his model of giving “false” promises to assume power and then not fulfilling the guarantees has failed in the states ruled by the grand old party.

His criticism comes in the wake of Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, during their recent visits to poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, giving several guarantees if their party is voted to power in the state.

The Congress has announced free and subsidised power, implementation of the old pension scheme, farm loan waiver, Rs 1,500 per month to women and some other guarantees.

“These guarantees failed in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, they (Congress leaders) are not able to show their face there. There was an outcry in Madhya Pradesh when their government was in power,” Thakur told reporters on Friday night here in response to a question.

He alleged that the Congress government in these states failed to waive farm loans and provide unemployment allowance as announced by the party earlier.

“They only come to give a lollipop and false guarantees during elections. In Himachal Pradesh, they gave a guarantee of transferring Rs 1,500 per month into every woman’s bank account, but not a single rupee was given even after 10 months,” Thakur said while citing other promises like purchase of cow-dung and giving employment.

The Congress governments in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka have stopped spending money on development, he said.

“I want to ask Rahul Gandhi – what model is this? Give false guarantees and get power, then don’t fulfil the guarantees and also stop development. This model of Rahul Gandhi has failed,” the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting said.

Thakur, who is also the Youth Affairs and Sports Minister, congratulated the Indian men’s hockey team for winning a gold medal in the Asian Games, and said this is the highest number of medals won by the country in these games.

The Indian contingent claimed the unprecedented 100th medal at the Asian Games as the women’s kabaddi team beat the Chinese Taipei 26-25 in a thrilling encounter, an achievement hailed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)