Home Minister Amit Shah asserted in the Lok Sabha on Saturday that the Modi government has done more for Jammu and Kashmir since Article 370 was scrapped in August 2019 than those who ruled it for generations, as he reeled out statistics to assert that its development has been the government's top priority.
Replying to a discussion on the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, he also slammed some opposition members for their claim that the proposed law negates the hopes of the region getting back its erstwhile statehood, PTI reported.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today said that the ongoing Covid pandemic did not deter the Central government from taking measures for reforms that are necessary for sustaining long term growth for this country.
"I would like to highlight - stimulus plus reforms. The pandemic did not deter us from taking up reforms that would sustain long term growth. We have taken not just one-off reforms, not just now and then, but reforms rivetted in a policy which will give a neat background, a layout spread before the Parliament for people to know that this is a reform that will lay a path for India to be one of the top economies of the world in the coming decade and further," the Finance Minister said while replying to the discussion on the Union Budget in Lok Sabha.
Ms Sitharaman said that these reforms will lay a path for India to be one of the top economies of the world in the coming decade and further.
Ms Sitaraman, while replying to the discussion on the Union Budget in Rajya Sabha on Friday, slammed the Opposition and accused them of constantly alleging a false narrative that the government only worked for cronies and said several of the Centre''s schemes were for the poor.
She reminded members of the Upper House of several schemes that have been implemented for the poorer sections of the country, like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and the Pradhan Mantri Saubhagya Yojana.
She also said the Union Budget 2021-22 is the instrument through which Aatmanirbhar Bharat is to be attained and asserted that the government is also looking at "long term sustainable growth".
Finance Minister had presented the Union Budget 2021-22 in the Parliament on February 1.
Here are the Live Updates on Parliament Budget Session 2021:
The Lok Sabha clocked 99.5 per cent productivity during the first phase of the two-part Budget session of Parliament, Lok Sabha Secretariat said on Saturday, reported news agency ANI. The Budget Session of Parliament, which commenced with the address of President Ram Nath Kovind on January 29, concluded today. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, while interacting with the media in Parliament said that the Budget Session of Parliament ran smoothly and transacted important business even beyond midnight.
Congress MP Prathapan gave a notice for privilege motion in Lok Sabha against Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for her "Doomsday man of India" remark against Rahul Gandhi during her response to the budget debate on Saturday in Lok Sabha, reported news agency ANI. Speaking on the matter, Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, said Ms Sitharaman should not indulge in such unparliamentary activity inside the House.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday lauded Home Minister Amit Shah's address in Lok Sabha while piloting a bill related to Jammu and Kashmir and said his "wonderful speech" was extensive in detail and highlighted the government's efforts for Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, reported news agency PTI. In tweets, PM Modi also praised Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's "comprehensive" reply in Lok Sabha to a discussion on the Union Budget, saying she talks about how it benefits every section of society as well as giving an impetus to the "Aatmanibhar Bharat" movement.
A bill to abolish some tribunals where public at large is not a litigant was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Finance Anurag Singh Thakur on Wednesday, reported news agency PTI. The government proposed to wind up five tribunals, including Airport Appellate Tribunal, Authority for Advance Rulings and Intellectual Property Appellate Board. Besides, Appellate Tribunal under the Cinematograph Act and Plant Varieties Protection Appellate Tribunal will be abolished. The proposed Bill seeks to amend the Cinematograph Act, 1952, the Customs Act, 1962, the Airports Authority of India Act, 1994, the Trade Marks Act, 1999 and the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001 and certain other Acts.
Congress leader Manish Tewari and BJP's Tapir Gao on Saturday pitched for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar, reported news agency PTI. The two members were speaking in the Lok Sabha during the Zero Hour. Mr Tewari said India is the largest democracy and it stands for certain values and ideals. Tapir Gao said Government of India should lead to restore democracy in Myanmar because India has a 1000 km-long border with Myanmar.
A bill to merge the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) cadre of all-India services officers with the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre was passed by Lok Sabha on Saturday by a voice vote.
- This Budget draws from the experience of the PM when he was CM - on the ground in Gujarat, seen so many revivals happening at a time when the license quota raj was going away post-1991 and then based on that experience, commitment to reform was blended into this Budget.
- Stimulus plus reforms - an opportunity has been taken out of pandemic situation. A challenging situation like pandemic didn't deter Govt from taking up reforms that are going to be necessary for sustaining long term growth for this country.
- Respecting Indian entrepreneurial skills, Indian managerial skills, Indian trade skills, Indian business skills, Indian youth, Jana Sangh onwards, BJP has consistently believed in India. We didn't borrow something from somewhere and gave a hybrid.
