Indian Parliament session: Amit Shah takes dig at Rahul Gandhi

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took to X, formerly known as Twitter to allege that Rahul Gandhi's speech in the parliament was cut short by the broadcaster. 

"In his first speech after coming back from the unjustified disqualification, @RahulGandhi spoke from 12:09pm to 12:46pm i.e. 37 minutes during the No-Confidence Motion. Out of which the Sansad TV camera showed him for ONLY 14 mins 37 seconds. That’s less than 40% screen time! What is Mr. Modi afraid of?" wrote Ramesh. 

According to reports Union home Minister Amit Shah will address the Lok Sabha on the no-trust motion at around 5 pm IST. 

BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad targeted Rahul Gandhi for his flying-kiss act and said, "He gives a flying kiss. What has happened to Rahul Gandhi? So many women are seated there (in the House). He has no manners. It is very painful."

After Rahul Gandhi abruptly left the House after his speech while giving away a kiss, Smriti Irani called him a misogynistic man.

"I object to something. The one who was given the chance to speak before me displayed indecency before leaving. It is only a misogynistic man who can give a flying kiss to a Parliament which seats female members of Parliament. Such undignified conduct was never before seen in the Parliament of the country," said Irani. 

Union Minister Smriti Irani criticised the Opposition alliance 'I.N.D.I.A' on Wednesday, contending that the name is inappropriate as it doesn't reflect India's integrity. Speaking during the Lok Sabha session commemorating the 81st anniversary of the Quit India movement, Irani emphasised that India stands for honesty and meritocracy, rather than corruption and dynasty politics. She urged the opposition to recall the spirit of the Quit India movement and apply it to eradicate corruption and dynasty politics.

Highlighting the dark chapters in Congress's history, Irani referred to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and the suffering endured by Kashmiri Pandits during Congress's tenure. In a strong retort, she asserted that Manipur remains an integral and united part of India. Irani invoked the horrors of the Emergency era and condemned the Congress's rule, emphasising the party's history stained with bloodshed.

BJP Member of Parliament Smriti Irani brought up Article 370, the Sikh riots, and the Bhilwara rape case as she pointed out Congress' historical actions.

She accused the UPA government of neglecting women's interests and cited examples like the brutal gang-rape and murder of Kashmiri Pandit Girija Tikku.

She criticised some Congress leaders for labelling such incidents as propaganda when depicted in a movie, and highlighted the irony of those same leaders now discussing Manipur.

Union Minister Irani told the Lok Sabha that the Modi government wanted a discussion on the Manipur situation but the opposition ran away. 

Sharpening his attack, Rahul Gandhi told the Lok Sabha that the Narendra Modi-led central government has killed India inside Manipur. 

Gandhi's remark got a response from Union Minister Kiren Rijiju who said the Congress leader should apologise for his remarks. 

"India is a voice, you have killed that voice in Manipur, this means you have killed Bharata Mata in Manipur. This is why the prime minister cannot visit the state," Gandhi later said. 

Rahul Gandhi slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the ethnic violence in Manipur by saying that for Modi, Manipur is not a part of India. 

"Today's reality is that you (Modi) have divided Manipur," Gandhi told the Lok Sabha, and pointed out that the prime minister never visited the state. 

Beginning his address, Rahul Gandhi said that he would not be addressing the Adani issue, which led to uproar from leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). 

"When I spoke the last time, perhaps I caused you trouble because I focussed on Adani - maybe your senior leader was pained...That pain might have had an impact on you as well. I apologise to you for that. But I spoke the truth. Today, my friends in BJP need not be scared because my speech today is not on Adani..." Gandhi said. 

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is addressing the Lok Sabha amid chants of "Bharat Jodo" by leaders of the party. 

Union Minister and BJP MP Smriti Irani is all set to speak on the no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha, media reports said citing sources. 

Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 2 pm. Meanwhile the war of words over no-trust motion continues. BJP MP Sukanta Majumdar says, "Congress leader Rahul Gandhi did not have the confidence to speak in the no-confidence motion yesterday...Perhaps today he will speak what his teacher has taught him..."

Lok Sabha members observed a moment of silence to honor the memory of freedom fighters and mark the significance of the 1942 Quit India Movement. Additionally, they paid homage to the victims of the devastating atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, as these tragic events reached their 78th anniversary.
 

On the 78th anniversary of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Indian Parliament to honor the victims with a tribute. A delegation from Japan, headed by Hiroshi Suzuki, the Japanese Ambassador to India, will be present in Parliament for this solemn occasion.
 

Rahul Gandhi will speak in Lok Sabha today at 12 noon, confirmed Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in a statement to ANI.

India's key opposition leader Rahul Gandhi is expected to speak today in the Indian Parliament over the ongoing no-trust motion against PM Modi's government. He was supposed to initiate the discussions yesterday; instead, was replaced by Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi. 

From the government's side, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will speak against the motion.

BJP-led NDA alliance appears to be in high spirits after the first day of debates on the no-confidence motion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured his fellow MPs that the no-trust motion was not a test of 'trust' in his government, albeit, on the confidence opposition parties in the INDIA bloc had in each other. 

According to media reports, PM Modi made the statement during an address at a parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday (August 8). The BJP leader added that the ruling party will "hit a sixer in the last ball", presumably referring to his reply to the motion, scheduled on August 10.  

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BJD MP Pinaki Misra said that her party will oppose the motion backed by the 'INDIA' alliance on the floor of the Parliament. "I cannot support a no-confidence motion against the Central govt even thought BJD is against the BJP politically but I am grateful for many things that Central government has done for Odisha," she said.

As the Lok Sabha enters the second day of the discussions over the no-trust vote against Narendra Modi's government, Congress MPs will hold a key meet today at 10 AM IST at Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) office in Parliament.

Before the proceedings in the Parliament begins today, leaders of the so-called opposition alliance INDIA will meet at 10 AM IST in the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) chamber in Rajya Sabha to form strategy for the day.