Tag: LS

Categories
-Top News India News Politics

Modi to kick-start LS poll campaign  

PM says NDA will win 400 seats and the BJP will get 370 seats in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Jhabua in Madhya Pradesh on February 11, to kick-start the BJP’s campaign for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

State BJP President, VD Sharma said on Monday that Modi will launch the party’s polls campaign for 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh and the state BJP has begun preparations for the PM’s visit.

BJP leaders Mahendra Singh and Satish Upadhyay, who were recently appointed as incharge and co-incharge respectively for Madhya Pradesh, arrived in Bhopal last week and started the process of meeting state leaders.

The BJP bagged 28 out of 29 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh in 2019. Now, the BJP would be looking to create a record by winning all 29 seats this time.

The Opposition Congress, which till now has not had too much success in the General Elections in the state, said it will win at least 15 Lok Sabha seats this time around.

Former Chief Minister Kamal Nath’s son Nakul Nath, who won from Chhindwara, is the only Congress MP from Madhya Pradesh. However, during a visit to the Gwalior-Chambal region with AICC General Secretary incharge of Madhya Pradesh, Jitendra Singh, state Congress President Jitu Patwari said on Sunday that the grand old party will win more than 15 seats in the General Elections.

‘NDA will get 400 and BJP 370+ in LS polls’

Modi said that the third term of his government is not far and this time the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will win 400 seats and the Bharatiya Janata Party, individually will get 370 seats.

Modi, on Monday, speaking in the Parliament, cited the revocation of Article 370, which was removed during the second term of his government and said that the BJP will win 370 seats in its third term.

“A Ram Temple of Lord Ram was built which will continue to give new energy to the great tradition of India. Now the third term of our government is not far. Maximum 100 days left. The whole country is saying that ‘Abki baar 400 paar’. I don’t go into numbers but I can see the mood of the country. It will make the NDA cross 400 and BJP will get 370 seats,” PM Modi said.

“We all saw the abolition of 370. Article 370 was abolished before the eyes of these many MPs and with the power of their votes. Nari Shakti Adhiniyam became law in the second term. From Space to the Olympics, there is an echo of the power of women’s empowerment. People have seen the projects that were pending for years being completed,” he added.

Further, the Prime Minister emphasized that the third term of his government would be full of big decisions.

“I had announced from the Red Fort that I want to see the country at the pinnacle of prosperity for the next 1000 years. The third term will be the term to lay the foundation for the next 1000 years. I am filled with great faith in the Indians and the country. I have immense confidence in the 140 crore citizens of the country,” the Prime Minister said.

Listing out the achievements of his government, PM Modi said, “25 crore people have come out of poverty in 10 years. If the poor get resources and self-respect, they have the power to defeat poverty. With this thinking, we gave resources and self-respect to the poor. Today 50 crore poor people have bank accounts. Four crore poor have permanent houses. 11 crores are getting pure water from the tap. More than 55 crore poor people have got an ‘Ayushman Bharat’ card. 80 crore people have been provided with the facility of free grains.”

While explaining the governance of his government, he asserted, “Modi asked those who were not asked before.”

PM Modi also mentioned that by introducing the PM-Janman scheme, the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) have developed.

“For the first time in the country, the PVTGs who are very backward people among the backwards and are very small in numbers. We have made a ‘PM-JANMAN’ scheme that has worked for their development. We have changed the direction of development by making those who were the last villages on the border the first villages. When I advocate millets, I am concerned about the welfare of more than three crore millets farmers,” he said. 

ALSO READ-UAE Buzzes with Preparations for PM Modi’s Visit

Categories
-Top News India News

Modi may kick off LS campaign from Bulandshahr

Prime Minister will also launch the fourth line connecting the Mathura- Palwal section and the Chipiyana Buzurg- Dadri section. These new lines will improve the rail connectivity of the national capital to Southern Western and Eastern India...reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is gearing up for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with the first electoral rally scheduled in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr on January 25, sources from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said.

The rally in Bulandshahr will kick off the election campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, following the Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha Samaroh in Ayodhya on Monday. Party workers and BJP leaders are actively involved in the preparations, anticipating a significant turnout in the western Uttar Pradesh city. Notably, the BJP holds eight out of 14 seats in western Uttar Pradesh, with defeats in six constituencies in 2019. The PM is reportedly preparing to turn the tide in these seats in the 2024 elections. PM Modi is set to commence the election campaign from Bulandshahr, aiming to connect with voters and supporters in previously contested areas, sharing the mantra for victory.

The BJP claims that around five lakh people will attend PM Modi’s rally in Bulandshahr. The Prime Minister’s scheduled public meeting in Bulandshahr’s Navada village on January 25 is expected to rally support, featuring a shooting range field in Meerut Commissionerate. Meanwhile, a day after announcing an alliance with Rashtriya Lok Dal for the Lok Sabha polls, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav has said that there will be more meetings with Congress to decide on seat-sharing formula in the state and that “INDIA alliance should be strong”. Akhilesh Yadav held a meeting in Lucknow with party leaders who included former MPs, former MLAs and former MLCs. He said winnability is the criterion in decisions on seats. Yadav urged party workers to ensure registration of voters who are supporters of the party in the new voter list. He accused the BJP government in the state of getting the names of some party workers removed from the list. Congress and the Samajwadi Party have held seat-sharing talks for the Lok Sabha polls expected in April-May this year.

Massive developmental projects

Modi will also inaugurate multiple development projects worth over Rs 19,100 crore at Bulandshahr. According to an official release from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO),” Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Bulandshahr in UP and Jaipur in Rajasthan. He will inaugurate multiple development projects worth over Rs 19,100 crores in Bulandshahr. The projects are related to several important sectors like rail, road, oil and gas and urban development and housing,” it said. The Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation the 173 km long double line electrified section between New Khurja – and New Rewari on Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) by flagging off goods trains from the two stations through video conferencing in Bulanshahr, said the release. This new DFC section is important as it establishes crucial connectivity between the Western and Eastern DFCs. Further, this section is also known for its remarkable feat of engineering.

It has a ‘one-kilometre long double line rail tunnel with high rise electrification’, which is the first of its kind in the world. This tunnel is designed to seamlessly operate double-stack container trains. This new DFC section will help in improving the operation of passenger trains due to the shifting of goods trains on the DFC track. Prime Minister will also launch the fourth line connecting the Mathura- Palwal section and the Chipiyana Buzurg- Dadri section. These new lines will improve the rail connectivity of the national capital to Southern Western and Eastern India.

Prime Minister will inaugurate multiple road development projects to the nation which include Aligarh to Bhadwas four-laning work Package-1 (part of Aligarh-Kanpur Section of NH-34); widening of Meerut to Karnal border via Shamli (NH-709A); and four laning of Shamli-Muzaffarnagar section of NH-709 AD Package-II. These road projects, developed at a cumulative cost of more than Rs 5,000 crore will improve connectivity and help in the economic development in the region. During the programme, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate Indian Oil’s Tundla-Gawaria Pipeline. Built at a cost of about Rs 700 crore, this 255 km long pipeline project has been completed well ahead of the scheduled time. The project will help in the transportation of petroleum products from Tundla to Gawaria T-Point of Barauni-Kanpur Pipeline with pumping facilities at Mathura and Tundla and delivery facilities at Tundla, Lucknow and Kanpur.

Prime Minister will also inaugurate the ‘Integrated Industrial Township at Greater Noida’ (IITGN). It has been developed in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects under PM-GatiShakti. Built at a cost of Rs 1,714 crore, the project is spread over 747 acres and is located near the intersection of Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors with the Eastern Peripheral Expressway to the south and the Delhi-Howrah broad gauge railway line to the east. IITGN’s strategic location ensures unparalleled connectivity as other infrastructures for multi-modal connectivity are present in the vicinity of this project viz. Noida-Greater Noida Expressway (5 km), Yamuna Expressway (10 km), Delhi Airport (60 km), Jewar Airport (40 km), Ajaibpur Railway Station (0.5 km) and New Dadri DFCC Station (10 km). The project marks a significant step towards fostering industrial growth, economic prosperity, and sustainable development in the region. During the programme, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate the renovated Mathura sewerage scheme including the construction of a sewage treatment plant (STP) at a cost of about Rs 460 crore.

ALSO READ-Nepal Minister Thanks Modi for Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha

Categories
India News Politics

Three more Congress MPs suspended from LS

New Delhi, Dec 21 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Kiren Rijiju, Pralhad Joshi, Mansukh Mandaviya along with others stand for National song Vande Mataram as Lok Sabha gets adjourned sine die a day before conclusion of winter session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Thursday. (ANI Photo/Sansad TV)

The three suspensions come after the Lok Sabha on Wednesday suspended two more opposition MPs for showing placards in the House…reports Asian Lite News

Three Congress MPs were suspended from the Lok Sabha on Thursday for the remainder of the Winter session for their “unruly behaviour”.

Three Congress MPs DK Suresh, Deepak Baij and Nakul Nath were suspended from the Lok Sabha taking the total number of members of the Lower House against whom such action has been taken to 100.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi moved a motion for the suspension of DK Suresh, Deepak Baij and Nakul Nath.

“This House having taken serious note of misconduct of Deepak Baij, DK Suresh, Nakul Nath in utter disregard to the House and authority of the Chair through the display of placards, entering into the Well of the House…may be suspended from the House for the remaining session,” Joshi said.

This brings the total number of members suspended from both houses of the Parliament to 146.

The three suspensions come after the Lok Sabha on Wednesday suspended two more opposition MPs for showing placards in the House.

Thomas Chazhikadan of the Kerala Congress (Mani) and AM Ariff of the CPI(M) were suspended for misconduct after a resolution moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi was adopted by the House.

Earlier a total of 143 MPs — 97 from Lok Sabha and 46 from Rajya Sabha were suspended for creating a ruckus and disrupting proceedings in both Houses, while they were demanding a statement from Union Minister Amit Shah about the Parliament security breach incident.

Moreover, the Congress leaders were part of the suspended MPs’ march from the Parliament building to Vijay Chowk to protest against the suspension of opposition lawmakers, who were demanding Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement on the December 13 security breach incident.

The security breach happened on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack. Two people–Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D–jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released yellow gas from canisters and shouted anti-establishment slogans before being overpowered by the MPs.

Outside parliament, in another incident, two protestors — Neelam (42) and Amol (25) — protested outside the Parliament with similar gas canisters. However, all four, facing charges under the anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, were sent to seven-day custody of the Delhi Police Special Cell on December 14, which is set to expire today. Delhi Police is likely to seek further custody of the accused.

Following the Incident, Delhi Police had also arrested two more persons namely Lalit Jha and Mahesh Kumawat in the case. On December 15, a Delhi court sent Lalit Jha to 7-day police custody for his sustained custodial interrogation. (ANI)

LS productivity was 74%, says Birla

The Fourteenth Session of the 17th Lok Sabha, which commenced on December 4, 2023, was adjourned sine die a day ahead of schedule on Thursday, recorded 74 per cent productivity in the Winter Session of Parliament, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said. With regard to the business of the House, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla delivering his valedictory address informed the House that the Session that commenced on December 4, comprising 14 sittings which lasted for about 61 hours and 50 minutes.

RS passes Telecommunications Bill  

The Rajya Sabha on Thursday passed the Telecommunications Bill, 2023 through voice vote to amend and consolidate the law relating to the development, expansion and operation of telecommunication services and telecommunication networks as well as assignment of spectrum. The Telecommunications Bill, 2023 was passed after a short debate as the majority of the opposition members did not attend the House proceedings.

Parliament passes Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill  

Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday said that the Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023, will help get rid of the colonial mindset and criminality. Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023 was passed in the Lok Sabha through a voice vote. The bill was earlier passed in Rajya Sabha. Replying to debate in Lok Sabha, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said, “This bill will get rid of colonial mindset and criminality. This will promote digital India, ease of doing business, and ease of living. In a democracy, the media has an important role to play.”

Lok Sabha adjourned sine die

Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Thursday, a day ahead of the scheduled close of the winter session of Parliament, after the House passed some key bills, including that related to appointment of CEC and election commissioners and a bill to replace Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867. The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 and the Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023 were passed on Thursday.

ALSO READ-BJP MP Jethmalani Affirms India’s Support to Sindhis in Pakistan

Categories
-Top News India News Politics

LS passes bills to replace IPC, CrPC, Evidence Act

New Delhi, Dec 20 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaks in the proceedings of Lok Sabha during the Winter Session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Wednesday. (ANI Photo/Sansad TV)

Members of the Congress, DMK, TMC and other Opposition parties were not present during the debate after 97 of their colleagues were suspended from Lok Sabha…reports Asian Lite News

Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed three key bills that seek to overhaul the criminal justice system, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserting that the focus is on delivering speedy justice rather than handing down punishment.

Replying to the debate, Shah said the three bills – Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill — also have a clear definition of terrorism and scrap sedition as a crime while introducing a new section titled “offences against the State”.

Members of the Congress, DMK, TMC and other Opposition parties were not present during the debate after 97 of their colleagues were suspended from Lok Sabha for “unruly” behaviour in the House.

While many opposition parties have been critical of the bills that seek to replace the IPC, CrPC and the Evidence Act, only a handful of non-NDA members, including Hyderabad MP and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, MPs of the Biju Janata Dal and Bahujan Samaj, were present in the House.

“I am astonished at how some people defend and save the lives of terrorists in the name of ‘human rights’. Remember, this is neither the rule of Britishers nor of Congress. This is Modi’s rule.

“No arguments to save terrorists will be entertained here,” Shah said, adding the Modi government has explicitly brought ‘terrorism’ under the purview of the criminal justice system.

“We have changed the definition of Sedition from ‘Rajdroh’ (offences gainst the government) to ‘Deshdroh’ (offences against the Nation),” he said noting IPC Section 124, or the Sedition Law, has been repealed.

The purpose of the new law is “not to save the government, but to save the country. In a healthy democracy, everyone has the right to criticise the government, but we will not allow anyone to say anything demeaning about India,” Shah said.

“The sedition law made by the British, under which Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel… many of our freedom fighters remained in jail for years and that law continues till date.

“When they were in opposition, they used to protest, but when they came to power, they misused it. For the first time, the Modi government completely abolished the sedition law,” he said.

Shah said the first duty of the state is justice. “Judiciary, Executive and Legislature are the three pillars of democracy. The makers of our Constitution divided the work among these three to give strong administration to the country. Today, for the first time, these three together will give the country a justice-centric criminal system and not a punishment-centric one,” he said, For the first time, laws are going to be made according to the spirit of our Constitution under the leadership of Modi.

“I am proud to have changed these three laws after 150 years. Some people used to say that we do not understand them, I tell them that if you keep your mind as an Indian then you will understand. But if your mind is of Italy, you will never understand,’ Shah said in a swipe at the opposition Congress.

The new laws are framed by keeping in mind the core values of our Constitution- individual freedom, human rights and equal treatment for all, Shah said.

The bills were first introduced during the monsoon session of parliament in August. After the standing committee on home affairs made several recommendations, the government decided to withdraw the bills and introduced their redrafted version last week.

Replying to the debate, which started on Tuesday and continued on Wednesday, Shah said three major amendments have been brought in the bills and these include giving relief to medical professionals who sometimes face intimidation from kin of patients.

Shah said the three proposed laws were drafted after comprehensive consultations. “I personally had 158 meetings. Not only every line, I have read every comma and every full stop of the bills,” he said.

Highlighting achievements of the Narendra Modi government, the home minister said it delivers on every promise it makes. “We had said that we would remove Article 370 and 35-A, we removed it. We had promised that we would end terrorism.. and give a free hand to the security personnel, we delivered.

House passes Provisional Collection of Taxes Bill

Parliament on Wednesday passed the Provisional Collection of Taxes Bill, 2023, that gives statutory backing to the government to collect taxes from midnight as per the announcement made in the Union Budget. The bill comes with provisions to refund taxes collected that have not been incorporated in the Finance Bill as per the budget for fiscal year starting April 1. It repeals The Provisional Collection of Taxes Act, 1931.

LS passes The Telecommunications Bill

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Telecommunications Bill, 2023 by a voice vote without any substantive debate as the Opposition benches remained largely empty with as many as 97 MPs having been suspended from the House.

Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Communications and IT who presented the Bill, said, “The Bill will promote structural reforms in the telecom sector…The bill will usher in the biggest reforms in the sector…Now, there will be one simple authorisation instead of 100 licences.” There is a provision for four-tier dispute resolution which will help in reducing litigation in the sector.

Parliament passes Central GST Bill

The Parliament on Wednesday passed a bill that will raise the cap on the age limit for the president and members of GST Appellate Tribunals. The bill was approved with a voice vote in Rajya Sabha and returned to Lok Sabha, which had passed the bill on Tuesday.

In the post-lunch session, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moved The Central Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the Upper House. The bill seeks to raise the cap on age for the president and members of the GST Appellate Tribunals (GSTAT) to 70 years and 67 years, respectively. Currently, the age limit for the president is 67 years and for members is 65 years. The bill also seeks to align the provisions of the Central GST Act in line with the Tribunal Reforms Act, 2021.

ALSO READ-BNP Declares ‘Non-Cooperation’ Ahead of B’desh Polls

Categories
India News Politics

LS takes up discussion on bills to replace IPC, CrPC, Evidence Act

New Delhi, Dec 18 (ANI): Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla conducts the proceedings of the House during the Winter Session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Monday. (ANI Photo/SansadTV)

The earlier bills were introduced in the lower House of Parliament on August 11 and were referred to the Standing Committee…reports Asian Lite News

Lok Sabha on Tuesday took up the three bills to replace the Indian Penal Code of 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) of 1973 and Indian Evidence Act, of 1872 for consideration and passing.

Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to later in the day give reply to the debate on the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023, The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, 2023 and The Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill, 2023.

Amit Shah introduced the three amended criminal law bills in Lok Sabha last week that will replace the IPC, CrPc and Indian Evidence Act.

The Home Minister withdrew the three bills which were introduced in the Lok Sabha in the monsoon session of parliament.

He said that the bills had been withdrawn and three new bills introduced as a few changes were to be made. He said the bills had been examined by the Standing Committee and instead of coming up with official amendments, it was decided to bring the bills again.

The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill 2023 aim to replace the IPC, CrPC and the Evidence Act respectively.

The earlier bills were introduced in the lower House of Parliament on August 11 and were referred to the Standing Committee.

Participating in the debate, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said wide consultations have been held on the bills. He also lauded the emphasis on the use of modern technology in the bills.

“This is the age of technology and information; various provisions in this bill ensure the promotion of digital records, usage of laptop, trial can happen digitally under new provisions,” the BJP MP said. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Attack Inside Parliament Intended to Affect 2024 Verdict

Categories
India News Politics

FM introduces Provisional Collection of Taxes Bill in LS

The Central Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023 seeks to amend the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017…reports Asian Lite News

A bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha that provides for giving immediate effect for a limited period to provisions in bills relating to the imposition or increase of duties of customs or excise, with or without change in tariff classification.

The Provisional Collection of Taxes Bill, 2023, was introduced in Lok Sabha by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

The Bill also provides for the repeal of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act, 1931.

Sitharaman also introduced a bill to align provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act with the Tribunal Reforms Act to initiate the administrative process for operationalisation of the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunals.

The Central Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023 seeks to amend the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017.

According to the statement of objects and reasons of the Bill, Section 109 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (12 of 2017) provides for Constitution of Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal, which is the second appellate authority within the Goods and Services Tax framework for hearing appeals against the orders passed by the Appellate Authority under the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 and the State Goods and Services Tax Acts. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Sitharaman Applauds G20 for Africa Inclusion

Categories
-Top News India News

LS passes Bills extending tenure of CBI, ED Directors

Citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s high esteem for the CBI and the ED, he said that these should work independently and in tandem…reports Asian Lite News.

The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed, by voice vote, the Bills extending the service tenure of Directors of the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate.

The Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Act, 2021 and the Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2021, seek to amend the present laws to give one-year extension of the heads of both agencies, up to five years.

Responding to the long debate, Minister for Personnel and Training, Jitendra Singh said that there was a detailed discussion on these Bills.

Citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s high esteem for the CBI and the ED, he said that these should work independently and in tandem.

Explaining the process of giving extension of one year each to the CBI Director, the Minister said that the same constitutional body consisting of the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition/largest party in the Lok Sabha, and the Chief Justice of India will take a decision on this.

“We have fixed the tenure of these posts as it was not prescribed in the past. Even during the previous governments, extensions were given for many times. Through this Bill, we have put a cap of five years,” he added.

Responding to questions why the Ordinances were promulgated just two weeks ahead of the Winter Session, he said that with the experience of the last session in which was washed out because of Opposition’s protests, the government was not sure whether the session would be working or not.

Earlier, initiating the discussion on the Bills, RSP member N.K. Premchandran said the Supreme Court has reiterated time and again that the government should avoid giving extension to the officials. The apex court also has made it clear the law making power lies with the Parliament, not with the President or Governor, he added.

Congress member Manish Tewari appealed to the government to approach the SC and ensure that the legality of the CBI is adjudicated.

BJP’s Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said that the long-term effects of the Bills are good, and urged the Opposition to support them.

Opposing the Bill, NCP’s Supriya Sule said: “All your (BJP’s) allies have cases against them. When they were your allies, there were no cases against them but the minute they left you, all the cases started. They have had raids, their colleagues have raids. Please stop this vindictive business.”

She also said that the Enforcement Directorate raided the residence of former Maharashtra minister Anil Deshmukh seven times and asked what was missed in the first six times. She also alleged that the agencies were questioning the family members of those involved in the case and questioned the reason behind it.

BJD’s Bhartruhari Mahtab questioned the move to bring an amendment bill regarding the tenures of the CBI and ED Directors, while Trinamool Congress’ Sougata Ray said that the present ED Director was to retire on November 17 and just three days before his retirement, the government brought the ordinance.

“The ED and CBI have been accused of catering to the political masters,” he said.

AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, while opposing the bill, said that fixed tenure cannot be on the whims and desires of the government and if the extension is given on good behaviour, it creates an inbuilt mechanism of control. Both the directors (CBI and ED) must be subordinate to the present government, he said.

CPI-M’s A. Arif, BSP’s Ritesh Pandey, Trinamool’s Kalyan Banerjee and Shiv Sena’s Vinayak Raut also spoke against the bills.

ALSO READ-Rajya Sabha passes Dam Safety Bill with amendment