opposition leaders | Business Upturn

Prashant Kishor meets Sharad Pawar for 3rd time in fortnight; Here’s why

Govindraj Muttepawar — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 14:36:53 +0000

Prashant Kishor a political strategist met the Nationalist Congress party supreme Mr. Sharad Pawar on Wednesday in New Delhi. This was a day after the leaders of opposition parties had gathered at Sharad Pawar’s residence wherein they discussed various issues facing India.

This was a closed door discussion between Sharad Pawar and Prashant Kishor which was again held at Pawar’s residence in Delhi and had lasted for couple of hours. Within a fortnight, these two have met for the third time.

Kishor was the instrumental in the victory of Trinamool Congress during the West Bengal assembly elections, also had met Sharad Pawar for lunch at his residence in Mumbai on 11th June.

Some speculation state that there is a possibility of 2 opposition parties coming together to form a third candidate against BJP. After talking to several leader, all of them asserted that the meeting discussion were on “non-political” matters.

Former Congress leader Mr Sanjay Jha was also a part of this meeting. Besides political leader various other personalities were present such as, Javed Akhtar and Justice AP Shah. The opposition party leaders meet was also attended by Nationalist Congress leader Omar Abdullah, Suhail Gupta from AAP, Nilotpal Basu from CPI-M, TMC vice president, and also RLD president Jayant Chaudhary.

Opposition parties deem the budget as “only for the rich”: FM Sitharaman replies

Sanah Shah — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 10:08:31 +0000

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2021 on the 1st of February that assured a major boost in health and capital expenditure, and various reforms including the privatization of two state-owned banks and a general insurance company. It suggested that there would be valuable government spending over the next five years. No significant new taxes or levies were announced.

On Thursday 11th February in the Rajya Sabha, opposition parties expressed that the Union Budget for 2021-22 was “for the rich and by the rich” that indicated a “painful story” of the country and bankruptcy of its economy.

Several parties namely the Congress, All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), Samajwadi Party and Left parties addressed the government about the state of the economy and its future.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman provided the following replies –

“We have overseen the highest ever utilisation at ₹90.469 crore of the rural employment scheme” said Sitharaman.
Budget provided an immediate post-COVID-19 package
A required post-COVID-19 relief was clearly provided in the Union budget 2021 and this was immediate.
“Loans sanctioned under Mudra Yojana – more than ₹27,000 crores. Who takes Mudra Yojana? Damads?” said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Rajya Sabha.
“Over 1.67 crore houses completed under PM Awas Yojana. Is it for rich? Over 2.67 crore households electrified under PM Saubhagya Yojana since 17th October. The total value of orders placed on Govt e-market is ₹8,22,077 crore. Are they being given to big companies? They’re being given to MSMEs”
“We have not “hurried” towards any fiscal deficit number. Will be careful in how we bring down fiscal deficit without creating hurdles for growth”
“Is this govrnment facilitating digital transaction to facilitate some cronies, some ‘damads’? Not at all, it is helping only the poor,” FM said in in Rajya Sabha
“Number of digital transactions via UPI from Aug 2016 till Jan 2020 have been over 3.6 lakh crore. UPI is used by who? The rich? No. Middle class, smaller traders. Who are these people then? Is Govt creating UPI, facilitating digital transactions to benefit rich cronies? Some damads? No,” said the Finance Minister.
“Attempt is to provide a strong stimulus in the Budget which can bring multiplier effect, instead of quick, short-term solutions”
She added that there is “credible proof” for who the government is working for.
“It is worth mentioning that 800 million people were provided free foodgrains, free cooking gas provided for 80 million people & cash directly was given to 400 million people, farmers, women, divyang & also the poor and needy,” said FM Nirmala Sitharaman in Rajya Sabha
“It has now become a sort of habit for some in the Opposition to constantly allege, in spite of what we are doing for the poor & the steps taken for helping the poor & needy of this country, a false narrative is created to accuse – saying that this Govt works only for cronies,” Sitharaman said.

Opposition meets at the chambers of Leader Ghulam Nabi Azad to discuss further strategy on Agriculture Bills

Anjana Krishna — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 07:10:13 +0000

MPs of the opposition parties who boycotted the ongoing Rajya Sabha session meet at the chambers of the Leader of Opposition in the House, Ghulam Nabi Azad. In order to discuss further strategy on the Agriculture Bills passed in the Parliament on Wednesday.

Yesterday all the 8 MPs who were suspended for ‘unruly behaviour’ in Rajya Sabha were observing a sit-in protest in the Parliament premises and the opposition parties including Congress, AAP, TMC, CPI(M), NCP, SP, Shiv Sena and RJD walked out of the Parliament demanding their reinstatement. “All the opposition parties have boycotted the rest of the session, nobody is attending the session. They appealed to us to withdraw the dharma and since nobody is attending the session till the suspension is revoked, there is no point in continuing with the dharna,” suspended Congress MP Nasir Hussain said.

Opposition now plans to come out on the streets along with the farmers to protest if their demands are not met by the Rajya Sabha Ruling Committee and Chairman.

“You are trying to Strangulate the Democracy” says Congress MP Adhir Ranjan on suspension of Question Hour in the Parliament

Nivedya P T — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 05:46:44 +0000

In the light of the Modi government’s decision to not hold the Question hour, Congress MP in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan on Monday said, “Question hour is the golden hour but you cannot say that it cant be held due to circumstances. You conduct the proceedings but single out Question hour. You are trying to strangulate the democracy,” according to ANI.

He had also written to the Lok Sabha speaker last wee, urging him to reconsider the decision.

The government had earlier decided to do away with Question hour for the monsoon session of the Parliament, beginning today, Septemeber 14 stating COVID-19 pandemic as the reason.

This step has received backlash from opposition MPs and other quarters and had said that it is an attempt to throttle the Opposition’s voice and amounted it to “murder of democracy.”

Question hour is said to be a crucial part of the proceedings of a parliamentary democracy wherein the elected representatives can make the voice of the people and states heard.