Feb 12 News Live: BJP MP Dubey moves substantive motion against Rahul Gandhi

Lok Sabha proceedings resume affer adjourmemt

Lok Sabha proceedings resume after being adjourned till 12 noon due to Opposition ruckus. 

CPI(M)'s John Brittas backs Bharat bandh, targets labour codes

CPI(M) MP John Brittas on Thursday voiced support for the nationwide strike called by trade unions, saying workers across sectors had come together to press for the rollback of the four labour codes and the restoration of the MGNREGA scheme.

Speaking on the protest, Brittas said, “All the centre unions except BMS have joined the strike,” describing it as a broad mobilisation against what he termed anti-worker measures. He alleged that labour rights were being diluted under the new codes and cautioned against holding workers responsible for the slowdown in industry. “You should not be blaming the workers for the stagnation in the industrial sector, because of the haphazard policies of this government,” he said as quoted by The Hindu.

According to Brittas, the strike slogans also reflect concerns beyond labour issues, including national sovereignty and farmers’ interests. He claimed the Indo-U.S. agreement had triggered widespread anger.

Referring to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Brittas said he is “keeping mum” on questions of energy security despite often speaking about strategic autonomy.

Jagdambika Pal says Rahul’s remarks mislead, defends govt record

BJP MP Jagdambika Pal on Thursday criticised Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his recent remarks in the House, saying the Congress leader should exercise restraint in his language.

Pal, who was presiding when Gandhi delivered his speech, said the LoP must remain mindful of parliamentary conventions. “He is the Leader of the Opposition, and he should be aware of the limits of his words and language. Is it right to make it in this parliamentary democracy?” he asked.

Referring to the debate on trade and economic policy, Pal cited Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s response, noting her reference to the 2013 WTO agreement. “In 2017, PM Modi reversed that decision. Did the Congress government mortgage its identity, surrender, or sell the country? Or the decision taken by the Congress-UPA government in Sharm El Sheikh...” he told ANI.

While asserting that criticism of the government is legitimate, Pal objected to what he called misleading allegations. “He can criticise the government as much as he wants, but the kind of accusation he's making, the way he's making it, is misleading the country... The world knows the details of the country's achievements: how India, despite COVID, has grown its economy from 11th to 4th in the world...”

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi Calls Rahul 'part-time politician'

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Thursday took aim at Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, questioning his conduct and remarks made in the House a day earlier.

Speaking to reporters, Joshi dismissed Rahul's intervention in the debate, saying, “He is an immature part-time politician. He has not presented any evidence for what he said yesterday...” The minister suggested that the Congress leader’s claims lacked substantiation.

On reports that the BJP may move a privilege motion against Rahul, Joshi said a decision had yet to be taken. “The Parliamentary Affairs Ministry will decide this (on BJP moving a privilege motion against Rahul),” he said, indicating that the matter rests with the ministry.

His comments come amid an escalating confrontation between the Treasury benches and the Opposition over Gandhi’s recent speech and the broader debate surrounding the India-US trade agreement.

Venugopal backs strike, targets BJP over trade deal

Congress MP K.C. Venugopal on Thursday backed the nationwide strike called by trade unions, accusing the Centre of pursuing policies that he said were hostile to workers, farmers and young people.

“Trade Unions all over India are holding a strike today because this govt is anti-labourers, anti-farmers and anti-youth. Under the India-US trade deal, farmers' interests will be sacrificed. I think this is one of the biggest weapons used against the farmers by the government,” Venugopal said, arguing that the proposed agreement would deepen rural distress.

He also hit out at the BJP over reports that it may move a privilege motion against Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. “I am challenging them (BJP) to reply to Rahul Gandhi's speech. LoP Rahul Gandhi raised the most pertinent issues during the speech yesterday. Nirmala Sitharaman did not answer his questions,” he said.

Questioning Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Venugopal added, “Kiren Rijiju tweeted a video after the House was adjourned. How did he access the video of Parliament? The Parliamentary Affairs Minister has now become unparliamentary.”

Priyanka Gandhi alleges trade deal will hurt farmers

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday criticised the Centre over the India–US trade agreement, alleging that it would hurt farmers and workers, and accused the government of targeting Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi.

Speaking to reporters during a protest by Opposition MPs, she said the agreement would come at a cost to the agricultural sector. “The trade deal (India-US) that they have signed is going to incur heavy losses to the farmers. The entire labour union is on strike today, and we are supporting them...” she said, linking the pact to broader discontent among workers.

Her remarks came amid demonstrations by labour groups and Opposition parties against the proposed arrangement.

Responding to reports of possible action against Rahul Gandhi, she dismissed the impact of any legal or political steps. “They will do FIR, cases and whatnot against Rahul Gandhi, but nothing is going to affect him...” she said, asserting that such moves would not deter him.

Kharge flags Dalit discrimination at Odisha Anganwadi centre in Rajya Sabha

Rajya Sabha Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge flagged the case of a Dalit woman in Odisha employed as a helper-cum-cook at an Anganwadi centre, alleging that she has been prevented from serving meals to children.

Kharge told the Upper House that the centre has effectively faced a boycott for the past three months. He stressed that Anganwadis are meant to support children’s physical and mental development, warning that continued disruption would harm their well-being.

He criticised what he described as discriminatory behaviour by some parents toward the woman and said children are entitled to proper nutrition regardless of caste considerations.

Kharge also referred to two other alleged instances of caste-based discrimination, one each in Gujarat and Chandigarh.

Nishikant Dubey moves a substantive motion against Rahul Gandhi

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Thursday said he has submitted a notice to move a substantive motion against Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, seeking cancellation of his Lok Sabha membership and a lifetime bar on contesting elections.

Speaking in the Parliament House complex, Dubey clarified that his proposal is not a privilege motion. “No privilege motion notice. I have given a substantive motion notice where I have mentioned how he visits Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia with Soros Foundation, Ford Foundation and USAID, and colludes with anti-India forces,” he alleged.

Dubey claimed in his notice that Gandhi’s alleged associations during foreign visits raise serious concerns. He demanded that “the Lok Sabha membership of Gandhi be cancelled, and he be debarred from contesting elections for life”.

A substantive motion is an independent proposal brought before a legislative body to seek a formal decision or express the sense of the House.

Opposition protests India-US trade deal in Parliament complex

Opposition parties intensified their attack on the Centre over the proposed India–US interim trade agreement, staging a demonstration inside the Parliament complex on Thursday and accusing the government of yielding national interests.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge joined senior leaders, including K.C. Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh, along with MPs from the DMK, Samajwadi Party and CPI-ML, near Makar Dwar. Holding banners describing the pact as a “trap deal” and placards reading “Narender Surrender,” they raised slogans condemning the agreement and alleging it compromised the country’s position.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra later joined party MPs, including those recently suspended, on the steps of Makar Dwar to continue the protest.

A day earlier, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi had sharply criticised the deal during the Lok Sabha debate on the Union Budget, calling it a capitulation that weakened India’s energy security and farmers’ interests. He accused the government of sidelining workers and cultivators and questioned whether the Prime Minister would heed their concerns.

Congress MP Mallu Ravi slams move for privilege motion against Rahul

Congress MP Mallu Ravi criticised the government’s reported plan to bring a privilege motion against the Leader of the Opposition, calling it regrettable.

He said that rather than responding to the issues raised, the BJP was seeking to target the speaker. Legislatures, he added, exist to allow members to speak freely under parliamentary immunity.