Feb 9 News Live: DMK MP Tiruchi Siva moves privilege notice against Piyush Goyal

A joint platform of 10 central trade unions on Monday (February 9) said that the call for a nationwide general strike on February 12 is on, and more than 30 crore workers nationwide are expected to participate in the protest.

The group of unions had given a call for a nationwide strike to show their "resistance to anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-national pro-corporate policies of the central government".

All India Trade Union Congress General Secretary Amarjeet Kaur told reporters that this time "not less than 30 crore workers will participate in the strike called on February 12 (Thursday). Last time on July 9, 2025, about 25 crore workers took part in the agitation.

She informed that the strike will see its impact in 600 districts of the country, which is higher than about 550 districts last year.

Their immediate demand include the scrapping of four labour codes and rules; withdrawal of the Draft Seed Bill and Electricity Amendment Bill, the 'Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act'.

The unions are also demanding the restoration of MGNREGA and scrapping the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025.

The joint forum includes INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU LPF and UTUC.

Tamil Nadu Minister S Reghupathy on Monday (February 9) launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the recently concluded Indo-US trade deal, claiming that the agreement signed disproportionately benefits American interests.

Speaking to reporters, the DMK leader used a traditional metaphor to describe the strategic deals as an unfavourable exchange for the country.

"You bring the rice, I will bring the husk; we can both blow and eat together. Today, America has given the husk while blowing away and consuming India's wealth. This is the essence of the agreement between Prime Minister Modi and the US," Reghupathy alleged.

The minister for Natural Resources claimed that the deal was a lopsided arrangement designed to favour American commerce. "They raised the import duty in America from 3 per cent to 50 per cent. Now, after reducing it to 18 per cent, this government is beating its own drums, claiming they have brought it down to 18 per cent to increase Indian trade," he said.

The Prime Minister's decisions ultimately serve corporate interests, he alleged.

DMK Rajya Sabha member P Wilson on Monday (February 9) accused the government of "abject surrender" to the US in striking a "one-sided" trade deal and demanded that it disclose the specifics of the pact.

Participating in a general discussion on the Union Budget 2026-27 in the Upper House, Wilson alleged that "weaponisation of tariff" by the US would have pressured the Indian government and claimed the trade deal would cause irreparable hardships to India's domestic manufacturers and farmers.

"The entire nation is very concerned about this trade deal with the USA that Capitol Hill is rejoicing, but we are yet to hear about this in detail from Raisina Hill," he noted.

Wilson further said, "...we are very unhappy with the abject surrender to the US. India is a proud nation and civilisation. This weaponisation of tariff should (would) have pressurised the government into submission."

Asking how India agreed to buy USD 500 billion of American exports in five years, the DMK MP said, "The total US-India, bilateral goods trade was just USD 132.13 billion in 2025. Now you have committed to purchasing (goods worth) 100 billion dollars every year from America. Who consumes this? Which domestic products do the US goods replace?"

Citing media reports, he said India is eliminating its reducing tariff on US-made industrial goods, foods and agriculture, but the US will continue with 18 per cent tariff on textiles, leather goods, organic chemicals, goods originating from India.

"Is this fair? Why have we agreed to this obviously one-sided trade deal that will cause irreparable hardships to our domestic manufacturers and farmers?" he asked.

The impact of US tariff on the textile industry in India, especially Tamil Nadu, is terrible, he noted.

DMK MP Tiruchi Siva on Monday (February 9) said he had submitted a breach of privilege notice against Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal for sharing details of an interim trade deal between India and the US in a media interview while the Parliament is in session.

Siva raised the issue soon after the Rajya Sabha met at 11 am and papers were tabled. "I have given a notice of breach of privilege against Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. He has given an interview with regards to the policy decision of the government outside the House when the Parliament was in session... It amounts to breach of privilege of this House," Siva said, and was supported in his assertion by Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge.

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar was brought to a private hospital in Pune from his residence in Baramati on Monday (February 9) after complaints of cough and difficulty in breathing.

“A CT scan was performed and there is chest infection,” Ruby Hall Clinic chief cardiologist and managing trustee Dr Parvez Grant said. "After all the tests, we may admit him for a day," he added.

“A team of doctors is examining him and further course of action will be taken accordingly,” he said.

The 85-year-old leader was brought to the hospital in the afternoon. He was accompanied by his daughter and Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule and her husband Sadanand Sule. Immediately after arrival from Baramati, around 100 km from Pune, the former Union minister, who lost his nephew and deputy CM Ajit Pawar in an air crash on January 28, was wheeled inside the hospital.

Pawar, who came in an MPV, came out of the vehicle on his own before being taken inside the facility in a wheelchair.

Pawar, an oral cancer survivor, was suffering from throat infection, persistent cough, and chest congestion, party sources said.

The Rajya Sabha on Monday (February 9) witnessed an uproar and a walkout by the Opposition over the incidents of the Lok Sabha, where Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi could not finish his speech, and later Prime Minister Narendra Modi stayed away amid allegations that women MPs could have attacked him.

Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, raised the issue as soon as the Question Hour started at 12 noon.

Chairman CP Radhakrishnan allowed Kharge to speak, adding that he should not speak on anything that happened in the other House. "I am only raising issues concerning the Constitution. Parliament consists of our House and Lok Sabha and the Constitution recognises these two Houses. We have to run according to procedures and rules," Kharge said and went ahead to mention the Leader of Opposition in the Lower House is "not being allowed to speak".

Radhakrishnan, however, did not allow him to raise the issue relating to the Lok Sabha and said "nothing that he says will go on record".

The Chairman proceeded with the Question Hour. However, Kharge and other Opposition leaders continued to stand in their seats, demanding to be allowed to speak.

As the Chairman did not relent, Opposition MPs started raising slogans, accusing the ruling BJP of insulting women MPs. MPs of the INDIA bloc were on their feet, except the TMC.

After raising slogans for a while, the Opposition MPs staged a walkout from the House, and the Question Hour continued.

The Opposition on Monday (February 9) decided to move a resolution to remove Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla from office for disallowing Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi from speaking in the House on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address.

Sources said the resolution is being moved under Article 94-C of the Constitution. The notice is being given for moving a resolution against the Speaker for his removal, for disallowing the LoP from speaking in the House on the Motion of Thanks, for not initiating action against BJP MP Nishikand Dubey, for making unsubstantiated charges against women MPs of the Congress and suspension of eight opposition MPs.

The resolution is likely to have signatures of 100 MPs in the Lok Sabha and the resolution is likely to be submitted today itself, top sources in the opposition said.