Amid talk of a special session of Parliament on the Food Security Bill, government said all options are open on the issue.
The government on Friday said it was not averse to a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe on the Italian VVIP helicopter deal, a move seen as an attempt to ensure a smooth budget session of Parliament commencing next week.
Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath was on Wednesday sworn-in as the Protem Speaker of the newly constituted Lok Sabha by President Pranab Mukherjee.
With many of his close associates leaving his side, it is virtually a lone battle for Congress stalwart Kamal Nath to help his parliamentarian son Nakul Nath win from Chhindwara for a second time amid the Bharatiya Janata Party's aggressive push to wrest the seat.
Reflecting escalation of confrontation with the government, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday decided to boycott meetings to be called by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath or Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar as it accused Congress President Sonia Gandhi of not allowing the opposition to air their views in Parliament.
The government on Saturday dismissed suggestions that the Monsoon session will be the last session and that the country was headed for early elections.
After Lok Sabha successfully passed the Telangana bill, the government on Tuesday said it will immediately bring the legislation in Rajya Sabha.
The Bharatiya Janata Party veteran Murli Manohar Joshi's complaint that Parliamentary Affairs Minister was threatening the opposition generated heat in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday but the prompt withdrawal by Kamal Nath of his remarks paved the way for running the House.
The Food Security Bill, which could not be taken up despite being listed in the Lok Sabha'a agenda since Monday, will not be part of business on Saturday.
The government on Monday slammed Congress leader Kamal Nath for his remarks that Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan's decision on the issue of grant of Leader of Opposition status could be "flavoured" by BJP, saying it is "unfortunate" as the Speaker is above party lines.
The Bharatiya Janata Party is confident of giving a tough fight to Union Minister Kamla Nath on his traditional Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat, drawing courage from its performance in 2013 assembly elections in which it bagged four out of seven seats from there.
With no clarity on the Congress getting the Leader of Opposition status in Lok Sabha, senior leader Kamal Nath threatened action against the Speaker.
Strongest possible action will be taken against Members of Parliament involved in the "gassing" of Lok Sabha on Thursday as it was an attempt to "kill" the members, the government said, soon after the House witnessed unprecedented unruly scenes when the controversial Telangana bill was introduced.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's dinner on Thursday for the Bharatiya Janata Party top brass failed to break the impasse over the Foreign Direct Investment in retail issue with the opposition party insisting on a discussion in Parliament on it under provisions which entail voting.
The ministry has been given three months for sending its report to the PMO.
With former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati voicing certain reservations over FDI policy in its present form, the government on Monday sought to keep the Bahujan Samaj Party in good humour by declaring its commitment to a Constitution Amendment Bill providing for promotions for SC/STs in government jobs.
Bowing to opposition pressure, government on Wednesday announced a time-bound inquiry by a retired judge into reports of lobbying by retail giant Walmart to gain entry into India.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday said it will continue to raise in both houses of Parliament the issue of diesel price hike, which is hitting the common man, but not stall proceedings.
With proceedings in Parliament being disrupted, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday discussed ways to resolve the logjam over Walmart lobbying and quota in promotions issues.
The six-day long World Economic Forum annual meet, which will see participation of over 100 Indian business and political honchos as well as global leaders, began here today and fiscal woes in the world economy are expected to dominate discussions.
Another all-party meeting will attempt to resolve political concerns about the Land Reforms Bill.
The government on Tuesday defended Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurien, who has been under attack in connection with the Suryanelli rape issue, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath pointing out that police inquiries and courts have cleared him of all charges.
With the second phase of Parliament's Budget session set to start next week, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Friday held a strategy meeting with senior leaders at a time when the Opposition is expected to raise the coal scam and 2G spectrum issues.
The government on Tuesday sought to downplay the political storm created by Additional Solicitor General Harin Rawal's letter accusing Attorney General G E Vahanvati of trying to interfere in the Central Bureau of Investigation's probe report on coal scam.
The government on Monday achieved a breakthrough in the logjam in Parliament with the opposition agreeing to allow financial business to be taken up on Tuesday.
Government's effort to end impasse in Parliament by reaching out to BJP for early passage of key finance bills on Friday came a cropper as the opposition indicated that it is unlikely to cooperate unless it is assured that JPC chairman P C Chacko's draft report on 2G will be rejected.
Enactment of key legislations like strengthening of anti-rape laws, land acquisition bill and Lokpal bill is likely to be delayed with some Opposition parties objecting to the present form of the proposed measures.
Members of Parliament belonging to the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Monday exposed the chinks in the United Progressive Alliance's armour by getting question hour suspended in the Rajya Sabha with their demand to bring the Coalgate scam into focus
The government on Friday ruled out convening a special session of Parliament to discuss stricter punishment for sexual offences saying the issue would be taken up after receipt of the Justice Verma Committee report.
The controversial Land Acquisition Bill is set for further delay as its consideration was on Tuesday deferred by the Lok Sabha till the next session bowing to the wishes of opposition members.
A decision on the way ahead for the ambitious Food Security Bill is expected to be taken on Wednesday with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi holding deliberations on the matter.
The government on Thursday clinched a "broad consensus" on the contentious Land Acquisition Bill, paving the way for its consideration and passage in Parliament in the Budget Session which resumes on Monday after a month-long recess.
Government agreed to a key demand of the BJP, which had suggested that instead of acquisition, the land could be leased to developers so that its ownership will remain with the farmers and would provide them with regular annual income.
An all-party meet on the anti-rape bill, which seeks to provide stricter punishment for crimes against women, ended inconclusively on Monday.
It is the anti-rape law that poses the biggest challenge.
The government on Sunday said Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde had not apologised for his controversial remarks but only expressed regret, which was accepted by the BJP. "Well, it is regret. That is the word that has been used. I cannot change the language once it is used," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said.
Pained by Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati's critical remarks against him, Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari on Wednesday said it would be difficult for him to work in such circumstances.
Notwithstanding the Samajwadi Party's move to keep it on tenterhooks in Rajya Sabha, the government on Friday expressed confidence that it would have a smooth sailing in the trial of strength in Parliament on the foreign direct investment in retail.
The Congress chief met Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath and Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to chalk out a strategy on the controversial legislation. Vicky Nanjappa reports
The FEMA notification dealing with foreign direct investment in retail has to be passed by only one House of Parliament, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath has claimed belying the Opposition stand that the decision cannot be implemented if it falls in Rajya Sabha, where UPA lacks majority.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances