Congress leader Jairam Ramesh. File
| Photo Credit: ANI

This year’s Union Budget will be judged by what it does to revive and rejuvenate India’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the Congress said on July 16.

Also Read: Union Budget 2024: NBFC sector seeks more funds to improve liquidity, regulatory reforms from Budget

In a statement, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that through a “combination of deliberate policy and wilful neglect”, the Narendra Modi-led government has systematically bludgeoned the MSME sector that accounts for 30% of India’s GDP, about 45% of its exports, and employs 12 crore people. Demonetisation, the “botched” implementation of GST, the COVID-19 lockdown, “rampant oligopolisation”, and cheap Chinese imports have all contributed to the near destruction of the sector, he said.

“Consequently, MSMEs are faced with high tax rates, severe credit crunch, high input prices, and widespread closures. Unsurprisingly, their contribution to GDP today is the lowest it has been in decades,” Mr. Ramesh said. 

GST 2.0 needed

The party’s wishlist of measures to revive the sector includes the extension of the non-performing assets (NPA) classification period for loans to MSMEs from 90 days to 180 days. The Congress called for GST 2.0 with a single, moderate rate, and relief for small taxpayers like MSMEs. The party also wants dedicated funds to create MSME export capacity, and enhanced funding for start-ups.

“The self-anointed non-biological Prime Minister and his government must revisit their economic agenda, shed their cronyism, and end their whimsical policymaking. This Budget will be judged by what it does to revive and rejuvenate India’s MSMEs,” Mr. Ramesh said.

New Delhi:
INDIA bloc candidate and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s wife Kamlesh Thakur won the Dehra assembly bypoll in Himachal Pradesh today, making a successful debut in electoral politics.

5 Facts About Kamlesh Thakur:

Mumbai:

In a worrying sign for the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra, which was riding high after winning 30 of 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state, at least seven Congress MLAs cross-voted for candidates from the ruling Mahayuti alliance in the Legislative Council polls on Friday, sources said. 

The polls, which are generally a straightforward affair, were seen as the semi-finals ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections – expected to be held around November – because 12 candidates were vying for 11 seats. 

The opposition alliance had forced the election by fielding one more candidate than it had the numbers to elect, possibly hoping to benefit from cross-voting by MLAs from the ruling coalition, but seems to have ended up losing votes instead.

The Maharashtra Assembly has a strength of 288 MLAs but currently has 274 sitting legislators. This meant that each MLC candidate needed 23 first-preference votes to win.

The Mahayuti – part of the larger NDA alliance – which consists of the BJP, the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar wing of the NCP, fielded nine candidates and had 201 MLAs, including Independents and smaller parties, backing it. 

The Maha Vikas Aghadi, which is under the INDIA umbrella, has the Congress, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) as its key constituents and had put up three candidates despite having the support of only 67 MLAs. 

Six MLAs, including an independent, were neutral. 

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was hoping that it would get some votes from the Mahayuti, especially amid the buzz of some leaders from the Ajit Pawar NCP group being in touch with the Sharad Pawar faction.

The candidate backed by the Sharad Pawar faction, Jayant Patil of the Peasants and Workers Party, however, lost because he did not get enough votes. The Congress candidate and the Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate sailed through, as did five from the BJP and two each from the Shinde Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP.

Sources said the Congress, which has 37 MLAs, had fixed a quota of 30 first-preference votes for its candidate Pradyna Satav, and seven remaining votes were to go to Milind Narvekar of the Shiv Sena UBT. 

Mr Satav got 25 first preference votes and Mr Narvekar got 22, which means at least seven Congress MLAs cross-voted, they added.

In the wake of the arrest of an alleged terrorist affiliated with the Indian Mujahideen in Madhya Pradesh’s Khandwa, BJP MLA Usha Thakur has reignited the debate over the role and regulation of madrasas in the state. Ms Thakur has alleged that madrasas have historically been centres of terrorist connections and has called for their closure. Adding to this discourse, BJP MLA Abhilash Pandey has introduced a non-official resolution in the state assembly demanding the abolition of Article 30 of the Constitution, which grants minorities the right to establish and manage educational institutions based on religious or linguistic lines.

The term ‘madrasa’ originates from the Arabic word for ‘place of study,’ similar to the Hindi term ‘Pathshala’ and the English term ‘school.’ Historically, madrasas have been significant centres of learning. Notable Indian figures like Munshi Premchand and the first President of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad, received education from madrasas. Despite this rich educational heritage, certain BJP MLAs in Madhya Pradesh are pushing for their closure, linking them to terrorist activities.

Former Protem Speaker and BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma commented that all educational institutions, including madrasas, should align with the national educational standards stipulated by the Constitution. He said that if institutions like madrasas are fostering anti-national sentiments, they should be dismantled.

Ms Thakur claimed that the recently apprehended terrorist in Khandwa had ties to such institutions. Ms Thakur urged the government to scrutinise and regulate madrasas more stringently.

Echoing similar sentiments, BJP MLA Abhilash Pandey highlighted that many madrasas operate without proper authorisation and are involved in suspicious activities. Mr Pandey advocated for the closure of madrasas not recognised by the Madrasa Board or the Education Department, aligning with recommendations from the Child Commission’s report last year.

When NDTV questioned Mr Pandey, he said, “I read it in your newspaper,” to which the journalist clarified that NDTV does not have a newspaper. Mr Pandey continued, “I have proof of it too, I can give it to you right now.”

When asked about the constitutional implications of his proposal, considering Articles 29 and 30 of the Constitution provide minorities with the right to establish and protect their educational institutions, Mr Pandey responded, “You see this, this is the news.”

NDTV then inquired whether actions would be taken against other illegally running schools and if any intelligence or police reports supported such claims, to which Mr Pandey replied, “Running illegally is a different issue… we will present the proof in the House.”

In contrast, Congress representatives criticised these proposals. Congress MLA Dinesh Gurjar argued that targeting madrasas is a direct assault on the Indian Constitution, which guarantees fundamental rights to all citizens, including the right to education. Congress MLA Atif Aqeel added that many madrasas provide quality education to innocent children and should not be stigmatized based on isolated incidents.

Madhya Pradesh hosts 1,505 government-recognised madrasas, educating a significant number of non-Muslim children as well. These madrasas operate similarly to government schools, offering education primarily in Urdu. Independent madrasas following the Dars-e-Nizami system are often affiliated with higher Islamic institutions and adhere to government-approved curricula.

Ahmedabad:

Police on Thursday registered a First Information Report (FIR) against BJP workers over a clash outside the Congress’ office in the Paldi area here.

The offence was registered hours after the opposition party threatened to launch a stir if no action was taken over Tuesday’s incidents.

The BJP had protested outside the Congress office on Tuesday over the alleged anti-Hindu remarks of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.

“We have taken a complaint from Congress and registered an FIR. No one has been arrested yet,” said Inspector B D Jhilaria of Ellisbridge police station.

Earlier in the day, Gujarat Congress president Shaktisinh Gohil threatened to launch a protest claiming that police were not registering an FIR against BJP workers even after various pieces of evidence established that they were involved in the attack.

Rahul Gandhi may visit Ahmedabad on July 6 and meet the Congress workers who stood their ground when stones were hurled at them, he said.

The state unit of the party has already extended an invitation to Gandhi and was confident that he will accept, Mr Gohil added.

A clash broke out between BJP and Congress workers outside Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan, Congress’s state headquarters, on Tuesday after BJP youth wing members reached there to protest against Rahul Gandhi’s remarks in his maiden speech as Leader of Opposition.

According to police, both sides engaged in stone pelting in which five policemen including an Assistant Commissioner of Police were injured.

On Wednesday, Ellisbridge police registered two FIRs, and arrested five Congress workers under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for offences including unlawful assembly, rioting, endangering life or personal safety of others and causing hurt to an on-duty public servant.

While the first FIR was registered against nearly 450 workers of both Congress and BJP on the basis of a complaint given by injured police constable Karmraj Bhagvatsinh, the other was based on a complaint filed by the youth wing of the BJP’s Ahmedabad unit.

On Thursday, hours after Gohil threatened to launch a stir, police registered another FIR against 15 BJP workers and a mob of 100 to 150 persons.

It was based on a complaint filed by working president of the Gujarat Congress, Himmatsinh Patel.

BJP’s youth wing workers threw stones at Congress workers, injuring a few, the complaint alleged.

The FIR registered on the basis of the complaint given by constable Karmraj Bhagvatsinh named local Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Shehzad Khan Pathan and fellow party workers Pragati Ahir and Hetaben Parikh as accused besides a mob of some 250 Congress workers and 200 BJP workers.

It was Congress workers who first charged at BJP activists after being incited by some Congress leaders, and when police tried to stop them, the mob started throwing stones and thick wooden sticks towards BJP activists, it claimed.

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

The Lok Sabha witnessed heated exchanges between the treasury benches and the opposition during the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address. The claims, counterclaims, and interjections all point towards a confrontational atmosphere in the 18th Lok Sabha, perhaps shaped by changes in its composition.

From 2019 to 2024, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and friendly parties held a significant lead of around 300 MPs over the INDIA bloc and opposition. However, this session saw the margin narrowing to just 60 MPs. The verbal sparring between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi turned acrimonious and personal, reflecting the recently concluded election campaign dynamics and entrenched positions.

Both Congress And BJP Remain Steadfast

While the Congress aims to sustain momentum, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remains resolute not to concede further ground. The shift in strength, allocation of time for parties, and the calibre of speakers on both sides will significantly influence proceedings over the next five years. During the recent Motion of Thanks debate, Rahul Gandhi, as Leader of the Opposition, spoke for nearly an hour and 40 minutes out of the allotted 16 hours – roughly 15% of the total time allotted to the opposition.

Time allocations are based on Lok Sabha strength. During the No Confidence Motion of August 2023, the BJP received around 45% of the time, while the Congress’ share was just 18% With the BJP’s friendly parties (the Biju Janata Dal, the YSR Congress Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party) losing ground in recent elections, their allocation has shifted notably to opposition parties.

Also Read | ‘Hug, Wink In Parliament’: PM Modi’s Dig At Rahul Gandhi

Some prominent speakers from the treasury benches, such as Smriti Irani, were notably absent. Conversely, the presence of parties like the Samajwadi Party (SP) has bolstered the opposition, particularly with effective speakers in fluent Hindi. Akhilesh Yadav’s speech, noted for its sarcasm without overt anger, followed Rahul’s assertive tone.

Rahul’s Performance As LoP

During Monday’s session, Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Modi government, highlighting issues including inflation, unemployment, NEET, Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, the Agniveer scheme, and Hindutva, aiming to put the government on the defensive. Top ministers, including the Prime Minister, intervened during Rahul’s speech.

While Rahul addressed critical issues, some noted the absence of specific data and figures in his speech. There is already an ongoing debate over Rahul’s performance in his role as Leader of the Opposition, with supporters arguing his assertiveness marks a significant political presence that cannot be ignored.

Not new to controversy, Rahul made a reference to the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), stating, that those who called themselves Hindu only talked about violence, hatred, and untruth. PM Modi rebutted instantly.

Also Read | “Every MP’s Right”: Rahul Gandhi Questions Expunging Of Parts Of Speech

References in Rahul’s speech to to Hinduism and violence, two prominent industrialists, the Agnipath scheme, and NEET, were expunged. The LoP subsequently wrote to the Speaker questioning the decision and demanding the restoration of his remarks in parliamentary records.

Modi’s Address

On Tuesday, PM Modi delivered the concluding remarks on the Motion of Thanks in the Lok Sabha. His speech, lasting around 2.5 hours, was a scathing attack on the Congress and Rahul. Throughout his address, the opposition shouted slogans, prompting Modi to use headphones to counter the noise. Despite the interruptions, Modi’s speech, though not entirely audible, gave enough hints of the things to come in the next five years.

Modi criticised the opposition’s maturity level, noting that while the treasury benches listened to Rahul’s speech with interjections rather than shouting slogans, the opposition did not afford the same respect to the Prime Minister. Expressing displeasure at the sloganeering, Modi referred to Rahul as “balak buddhi” (childish) and mocked how a party celebrating 99 out of 543 seats was acting as if it had won 99 out of 100. He criticised the Congress party’s promise of transferring Rs. 1 lakh to women’s bank accounts, highlighting the public’s scepticism about similar promises made earlier.

Modi accused Rahul of resorting to drama to garner sympathy, pointing out his bail status in alleged financial misconduct.

Overall, the debate was disappointing for both the opposition and the ruling party. BJP leaders neglected discussion around their agenda for the next five years, while the opposition failed to engage in constructive criticism and effectively address issues like NEET. Both sides instead resorted to mudslinging, seemingly forgetting that the elections were over.

The session’s outcome suggests the potential for more disruptions and chaos in Parliament. Both sides must reconcile with the electoral mandate and strive for a fresh start in the upcoming Budget session.

(Amitabh Tiwari is a political strategist and commentator. In his earlier avatar, he was a corporate and investment banker.)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author

New Delhi:
After Rahul Gandhi’s fiery speech in Parliament yesterday, in which he launched a scathing attack on BJP – large portions of which have been expunged from official records – the stage is set for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s anticipated response

Here are 10 points on this big story:

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver his reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address in the lower house of Parliament today.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda will also make a statement regarding the status of implementation of the recommendations or observations contained in the 143rd & 154th reports of the Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare on Demands for Grants pertaining to MoHFW.

On Monday Rahul Gandhi  delivered his first speech as the LoP with a copy of the Constitution and photos of religious figures, including Lord Shiva – launched a fierce attack on the BJP and its ideological mentor, the RSS.

Here are the live updates on Parliament Session 2024:
 

Just In| Discussion on Motion of Thanks on President’s Address begins in Lok Sabha

Just In| Discussion on Motion of Thanks on President’s Address begins in Lok Sabha

Several portions of Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi’s speech in the House yesterday have been expunged. 

The portions expunged include his comments on Hindus, and PM Narendra Modi-BJP-RSS among others.