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Nasheman News : The Rajya Sabha was adjourned till afternoon following protests by opposition members amidst a demand that the Constitution bill providing for upper castes reservation be sent to a Select Committee for detailed consideration even as the government sought to push ahead with its passage on the last day of the winter session on Wednesday.

With Lok Sabha having passed the Constitution (124th Amendment) bill providing for 10 per cent reservation for the economically weaker sections among the general category in government service and higher educational institutions, Social Justice Minister Thawarchand Gehlot moved it for consideration in the upper House.

CPI member D. Raja, who objected to the consideration of the bill, demanded that it be sent to a Select Committee and the House should first take a decision on it.

Madhusudhan Mistry of Congress said the Bill was not complete and told the government that it cannot have both introduction and voting on the same day. He asked what was the urgency in the passage of the Bill.

Members were also protesting against the “unilateral” extension of the session till Wednesday saying it was done without consulting the opposition. They said the Chair did not announce a day’s extension in the working days of the House nor did it seek the members’ consent.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel said the Congress was raising technical issues to stall the Bill. “If you openly oppose the Bill, it is different. Otherwise, let’s have a discussion on it as it has already been introduced,” he said.

Moving the Bill, Gehlot said the Constitution does not allow reservation on economic basis and due to that poor people in general category miss out on opportunities.

“There was a complaint by poor of the general category that they could not avail of government benefits. The decision has been taken after much consideration. This bill will uplift the poor,” he said.

He appealed to the members to pass the bill unanimously. This was followed by the start of the debate by BJP member Prabhat Jha. But as shouting and uproar continued, Deputy Chairman Harivansh adjourned the House till 2 p.m.

The Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill was passed after a division with 323 members voting in its favour and three against in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day too, the House was adjourned once up to noon after protests by members on the “unilateral” extension.

Nasheman News :  After free rice, free consumer durables like cycle, laptop mixer-grinder, fans, livestocks and others, it is now free food in Tamil Nadu.

The state government will soon provide free food for registered construction workers at subsidised Amma Canteens, said Chief Minister K. Palaniswami.

Speaking in the Assembly during the debate on the motion of thanks for Governor Banwarilal Purohit’s address to the House, Palaniswami said the government will soon implement a scheme to provide free food to registered construction workers here at Amma Canteens.

The Amma Canteen is a highly subsidised outlets where a plate of sambar rice is sold at Rs 5, plate of curd rice at Rs 3 and one idli at Re 1.

Nasheman News :  Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday expressed his happiness over the Supreme Court reinstating Alok Verma as CBI Director, who he claimed was to start a probe into the Rafale deal, and asserted that “nothing can save Prime Minister Narendra Modi form Rafale”.

“CBI chief (Verma) was removed because he wanted to start a probe into the Rafale (deal). Now we have some justice, let’s see what happens,” Gandhi told the media after the reinstatement of Verma, who was divested of all his powers as the CBI chief by the government in October.

Gandhi, who has been seeking answers from Modi and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over the Rafale deal, reiterated his questions. 

“Nothing is going to save the Prime Minister from Rafale…nothing. 

“It is pretty clear that the Prime Minister has personally helped his crony get Rs 30,000 crore. I have a simple question. When Modi bypassed the Rafale deal, did the Indian Air Force, did the Defence Ministry raise an objection? I am expecting and ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. The Defence Minister is not able to give it, neither the Prime Minister,” said Gandhi. 

The Congress President also said the country will surely get to know about how Modi helped his friend get Rs 30,000 crore of people’s money.

“The nation is going to 100 per cent know that Modi had taken Rs 30,000 crore of people’s money and given to his friend. Without a shadow of doubt, the nation will get to know this,” added Gandhi, who has called the Rafale deal the country’s “biggest defence scam”.

Nasheman News : Kanpur authorities have ordered the “immediate shutdown” of 91 leather tanneries in the city that were offloading their waste in the Ganga river, causing widespread water pollution, an official said on Tuesday.

The crackdown comes days before the start of the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj from January 14.

“The idea is to ensure that the Ganga remains non-polluted and that devotees who go to the biggest religious congregation get pure and clear water,” the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) official told IANS. 

Closure orders for the remaining 28 tanneries in the Chabilapurwa locality are likely to be issued later on Tuesday, sources said.

More than 15 tanneries functional in the neighbouring Unnao have already been closed for the period of Kumbh. 

Some tanneries have been let off as they had treatment plants for their hazardous waste and are not passing off any water in the river. 

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered officials to ensure that waters of the Ganga was pur

Nasheman News : The Congress on Tuesday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Supreme Court reinstated Alok Verma as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director, saying he has been exposed for “destroying” the premier investigating agency.

“Modi adds another first to his list. After being the first Prime Minister to be exposed destroying the CBI before the Supreme Court, after having ruined the CVC’s (Central Vigilance Commission) credibility (requiring supervision by former SC judge), Modi has now become first Prime Minister to have his illegal orders set aside by the Supreme Court,” Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said in a series of tweets.

His remarks came soon after the Supreme Court judgment pronounced on a plea by Verma and NGO Common Cause challenging the government’s decision on the intervening night of October 23-24 to divest Verma of his charge as head of the investigating agency.

Reminding Modi that the government comes and goes but the integrity of the institutions survive, Surjewala hoped that the judgement would be a “lesson” to the Prime Minister about the strength of country’s democracy and the Constitution.

“Modiji please remember, governments have come and gone. Integrity of our institutions have survived. Let this be a lesson to you about the strength of our democracy and the Constitution. Let this be a lesson that howsoever despotic you may be, law catches up in the end,” he said.

Firing salvo at Prime Minister, the Congress leader said: “After making CBI Chief suffer the consequences of your illegal decision for three months, will you show the courage to return three months of lost tenure? Unless you are afraid of investigation into Rafale scam.

“Modi equals to ‘Muzzling of Democratic Institutions’. First, you lose four economic advisors in a row including two RBI Governors. Second, four Supreme Court judges go public on Judge (B.H.) Loya, then you destroy credibility and competence of the CBI and CVC. This is your model of ‘minimum governance, maximum government’,” he added.

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi questioned the Supreme Court verdict asking what has changed now.

“Before the Supreme Court verdict; Alok Verma didn’t have powers of CBI Chief, couldn’t take any decision on policy or investigation. After Supreme Court verdict: Ditto,” Singhvi tweeted.

MUnion minister for surface transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari, instructed L&T Company which has been given contract to execute widening of national highway (NH) 75 between B C Road and Addahole, to settle legal disputes fast and continue with road widening work at a brisk pace. MP Nalin Kumar, who gave this information, stated that the minister asked L&T Company and National Highways Authority of India to see that the work is executed at the earliest.

A special meeting presided over by Nitin Gadkari to discuss problems associated with national highways passing through Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha constituency was held at New Delhi on Monday. Union minister, D V Sadananda Gowda, and MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, who were present, explained the problems encountered in executing national highway work in Dakshina Kannada district. After learning that the pace of work on national highways in this district has been moving at a sluggish pace, the minister ordered the same to be executed speedily.

The minister instructed Navayuga Company to complete remaining works under Talapady – Kundapur highway widening work and flyovers at Pumpwell and Thokkottu at the earliest, and facilitate traffic on them by February end.

NHAI chief general manager, Alok Deepanker, NHAI Bengaluru regional office executive, R C Sooryavamshi, secretary of the minister, Vaibhav Dange and high level officials were present.

The minster also asked state level officials to speed up land acquisition process on Kulshekar – Karkala, B C Road – Kateel, Melkar – Konaje – Thokkottu stretches. He promised to take part in the inaugural of Talapady – Kundapur highway and laying of foundation stone for the proposed highway before February end.

Agencies