The number of crimes against minorities has declined to 170 up to October of this year in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Gujarat, Home Minister P Chidambaram told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. "It is not true that crimes against Christians and other minorities are rising in the country, particularly in the states of Karnataka, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat," the minister said during Question Hour
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar has blamed Afghan refugees living in Pakistan for the assassination of former Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani and said they are responsible for various other problems.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday refuted reports about China planning to attack India and maintained that the policy of both the countries is to engage in dialogue on the border issues though there has not been much progress in recent times.
The government plans to screen the nation's entire population in the next five years for cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and strokes for early detection and treatment of the ailments, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said on Tuesday. He said during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha that a pilot project has been launched in 100 districts of 21 states for prevention and early detection of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and strokes.
Under attack from Members of the Parliament, Surface Transport Minister Kamal Nath on Tuesday sought to blame the excess rains this year for bad condition of roads in some parts of the country.
Principal opposition Congress too staged a walk out saying its members should have been the first ones to speak but were being denied a chance.
Unlike previous days, the House even saw Communist Party of India-Marxist-led Left Democratic Front members standing up from their seats and locking horns with opposition members, prompting the Speaker to warn both sides.
The stalemate in Parliament over Foreign Direct Investment in retail and other issues led to adjournment of the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha for the eighth consecutive day on Thursday.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday tabled a notice for an adjournment motion on black money issue in Lok Sabha and demanded suspension of Question Hour in Rajya Sabha while deciding to continue its boycott of Home Minister P Chidambaram in Parliament.
The opposition on Friday created ruckus in Parliament over the issue of regional language aspirants having disadvantage in Civil Services examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission.
The government on Friday said that India is the fifth most indebted country among the 20 developing nations but its debt is within manageable limits.
In yet another faux pas, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on Thursday got confused about an octogenerian Pakistani doctor lodged in Ajmer jail, saying that the 'Government of Pakistan' must consider his release on humanitarian grounds.
Parliament was adjourned during Question Hour on Wednesday as the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena and Samajwadi Party members protested against "police brutality" on its workers in New Delhi and farmers in Pune, and demanded dismissal of the Maharashtra government.
The Commonwealth Games mess rocked Parliament for the second day on Tuesday as opposition National Democratic Alliance stalled the Question Hour in both the Houses and demanded resignation of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in the wake Comptroller and Auditor General observations against her.
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit was in the eye of a storm in Parliament on Monday with an agitated Opposition paralysing both the Houses demanding her immediate resignation over alleged irregularities in Commonwealth Games projects.
Khar made the remarks while speaking during question hour in the National Assembly or lower house of parliament.
Pandemonium broke out on Monday in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly over an adjournment motion moved by the Opposition People's Democratic Party to discuss the death of a National Conference worker allegedly in police custody.
The external affairs minister said that the government was aware of each and every death of Indians abroad and had all the figures.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned on Thursday following a uproar over the National Democratic Alliance's demand for the resignation of Home Minister P Chidambaram for his alleged role in the 2G scam, and some other issues. As soon as Speaker Meira Kumar called for the Question Hour, NDA members were on their feet demanding the resignation of Chidambaram. They cited a Delhi court order allowing Subramanian Swamy's re-examination as witness in his complaint against the home minister.
The Congress on Wednesday accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Madhya Pradesh of indulging in large-scale corruption in organising the state's foundation day function on November 1, and alleged that it had paid more than the sanctioned amount to playback singer Asha Bhosle and actress Hema Malini for their performances in Bhopal. The matter was raised during Question Hour by Arif Aqueel of Congress, who alleged that Hema and Asha were paid Rs 64 lakh and Rs 16.70 lakh
"Horse trading band karo (Stop horse trading of MLAs)," Congress members shouted from the well.
Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday forced adjournment of Rajya Sabha till noon when it created uproar over alleged shift in government stand on anti-graft activist Anna Hazare's Jan Lokpal Bill.
Social activist Anna Hazare's fast on the issue of Lokpal cast its shadow on Parliament on Tuesday, with both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha witnessing opposition uproar over widespread corruption as revealed by several scams.
A visibly upset Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House till noon. It was not immediately clear whether the paper torn was picked from the table of the Secretary General.
The Question hour in the Lok Sabha was also washed out for the second consecutive day as an aggressive opposition stalled the proceedings over the same controversy.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday said the agreement signed with Switzerland for sharing banking information on demand is likely to come into force by September.
The member said ground staff of private airlines do not recognise the MPs
The government objected to the demand throwing the Lok Sabha into turmoil, while the Rajya Sabha witnessed ruling party members opposing permission by the Chair to Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley to raise the matter.
The India Meteorological Department introduced the present LRF models during 2007 following review of the old forecasting system.
Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday sharpened its attack against Sports Minister Ajay Maken for allegedly misleading the Lok Sabha on appointment of Suresh Kalmadi as Commonwealth Games organising Committee head, saying the Comptroller and Auditor General report makes it clear that prime minister's office responsible for it.
A webportal has been launched with information concerning toll plazas on national highways and expressways
Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour in Rajya Sabha, Chidambaram said his ministry, in consultation with the Law Ministry, is examining directions to the central government in the apex court ruling on Salwa Judum.
The Bahujan Samaj Party and Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party forced adjournment of the Rajya Sabha on the opening day of the monsoon session of Parliament, protesting delay in introduction of new law on land acquisition and scams, including 2G spectrum.
India said on Wednesday that it has conveyed its concerns to the United States over the hike in fees for H1B and L category visas and hopes for an 'early resolution' of the issue as the move was affecting Indian companies.
Congress, NCP, RJD members staged walkout in the Lok Sabha.
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Wednesday told the Lok Sabha that his government has fulfilled its commitment on the job generation front partially by creating as many as 70 lakh (7 million) jobs.
The External Affairs Minister said the Wuhan informal summit was held without any agenda and without having any objective to discuss any specific issue.
The government on Tuesday said it may consider the suggestion of reducing the age of juveniles and also request Ministry of Women and Child Welfare to look into it.
Opposition parties disrupted the proceedings of the Parliament for the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday over the demonetisation issue.
After black umbrellas, it was black shawls that Trinamool Congress members used in Lok Sabha on Thursday to rake up the issue of black money.
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