Parliament Session highlights: Both Houses adjourned for the day

The leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, along with other opposition leaders, met Speaker Om Birla in his chamber in Parliament today. Watch video.

On the President's remarks on the Emergency in her address to Parliament, BJP MP Giriraj Singh tells ANI: "If anyone has hurt the Constitution, it has been the Congress party. The new generation has the right to know about that period."

On the President's remarks on the Emergency in her address to Parliament, BJP MP Arun Govil tells ANI: "We can't simply forget what happened in the past. Congress never mentions what they did with the Constitution but only talks about saving the Constitution now."

Samajwadi Party (SP) MP RK Chaudhary has triggered a controversy by demanding the removal of the sacred 'Sengol' from the Lok Sabha, prompting reactions from the Opposition and BJP leaders.

Claiming it as a 'Raja Ka danda' (the king's stick) or an anachronistic symbol of monarchy in democracy, Chaudhary said that the Sengol should be replaced by a large replica of the Constitution in the Parliament. Read more.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has questioned Sansad TV's coverage of the President's address.

In a post on X, Ramesh claims that Prime Minister Modi was shown' 73 times' in the 51-minute President's address, while Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi was shown only 6 times.

On President Droupadi Murmu's address, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi tells ANI: "In the entire address, there was no mention of minorities or unemployment. US State Secretary Antony Blinken said yesterday that there has been an increase in hate speech in India and religious places of minorities are getting demolished. There was nothing new in the address, it was like an old wine in a new bottle...Re-NEET should have been done. There are paper leaks everywhere. They are playing with the lives of 25 lakh youth and their families..."

On President Droupadi Murmu's address, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tells ANI: "There was no logic of talking about Emergency in the address after 49 years. She should have spoken about today's issues. We did not hear anything about the NEET exam or unemployment...The word Manipur did not come out from President Murmu or PM Modi. Issues like the India-China border should have been taken up in the address..."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday introduced his Council of Ministers in the Rajya Sabha, amid clapping and thumping of desks.

The prime minister had introduced his Council of Ministers in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday after the election of the speaker.

Leader of the House J P Nadda, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi were among those present in the House.

Thursday was the first day of the 264th session of the Rajya Sabha. The House met after President Droupadi Murmu addressed a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday reacted to the President's Address to the joint session of both Houses of Parliament and said that it is a tradition and the speech in reality represents the government's views.

"This is the tradition and it happens every time. We listen to the President. That is actually the speech of the Government," said Akhilesh Yadav.

Speaking on the same, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari lashed out at the centre and called it a tired, defeated and crippled government that lacks willpower, adding to that he said, "There is nothing for the benefit of the nation, how will this government function? There is nothing new they talk about. It seems that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has no regrets over the 2024 Lok Sabha election results."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets "Rashtrapati Droupadi Murmu's address to both Houses of Parliament was comprehensive and presented a roadmap of progress and good governance. It covered the strides India has been making and also the potential that lies ahead. Her address also mentioned some of the major challenges we have to collectively overcome to ensure a qualitative change in the lives of our citizens."

TMC MP Mahua Moitra, on President Droupadi Murmu's address to joint sitting of Parliament, said, "As per the rules, the President reads the speech written by the government. So, the problem of the government is that it is yet understand that it has come down to 240 (seats) from 303 (seats). The speech that they prepared for the President was based on 303 (seats). This is a minority government, but she said that the government has clear majority."

PM Modi introduces Cabinet in Rajya Sabha

Six new MPs take oath as members of Rajya Sabha

“The government claims that we are the world’s fifth largest economy and soon going to be the third largest economy. Then why are farmers facing crisis? Why are the youths unemployed on such a large scale? The country cannot grow with the growth of a few people,” says Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav

Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar informs the House about the appointment of Union Minister and BJP MP Jagat Prakash Nadda as the Leader of the House.

Lok Sabha adjourned for the day

"The people of India have always demonstrated complete trust in democracy and expressed full faith in the electoral institutions. We need to preserve and protect this trust to sustain our robust democracy. We must realise that hurting the faith of people in democratic institutions and the electoral process is like cutting the very branch on which we all are sitting," President Murmu said.

"We should collectively denounce every attempt to undermine the credibility of our democracy," she added.

President Droupadi Murmu addresses a joint session of both Houses of Parliament, she says "How the world's view of India has changed, we have all experienced this in the G7 Summit held in Italy. India has united the world on many issues during its G20 presidency. It is during India's presidency that the African Union has been made the 27th member of G20. This has strengthened the trust of the African continent as well as the entire Global South. Following the Neighbourhood First policy, India has strengthened its relations with the neighbouring countries. Leaders of 7 neighbouring countries participated in the swearing-in ceremony of the Union Council of Ministers on 9th June...Whether it is East Asia or the Middle East and Europe, my government is giving a lot of importance to connectivity. The vision of India has started giving shape to the India-Middle East Economic Corridor. This corridor will be one of the biggest game changers of the 21st century..."

Amidst ongoing controversey around the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), President Draupadi Murmu while addressing the Joint session of the Parliament said the government would take tough action on the case.

"My government is working towards rectifying the functioning of the agency responsible for conducting the examination (National Testing Agency) along with improving the processes involved in the conduction of the exam," said President Murmu while addressing the joint sitting of Parliament ahead of the Budget session.

The opposition had earlier raised a demand for a Supreme Court-montioned investigation into the NEET-UG paper leak matter. President Murmu said, "The government is making concerted efforts to allow the youth of the country to showcase their talent and skills and any delay in the conduction of examinations is undesirable." While urging to abandon party politics on examination related matters, President Murmu said, "The recent paper leak issue should be impartially investigated and my government is committed towards punishing those responsible.

The opposition had raised many demands including an increased transparency and timely conduction of examinations along with filling up vacancies in time.

"The people of India have always demonstrated complete trust in democracy and expressed full faith in the electoral institutions. We need to preserve and protect this trust to sustain our robust democracy. We must realise that hurting the faith of people in democratic institutions and the electoral process is like cutting the very branch on which we all are sitting," President Murmu said.

"We should collectively denounce every attempt to undermine the credibility of our democracy," she added.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh says, "When his bail was to be approved by the Supreme Court, when there was every possibility of his release from the Supreme Court, at that time Kejriwal ji was arrested by the CBI...So I think that this is a very big example of dictatorship and the Prime Minister should speak on the misuse of investigation agencies, this should be stopped, and Arvind Kejriwal should be released. Today we have gathered here with this demand, we are registering our protest and we have full respect for the President. But the speech of the President is a speech written by the government, in that official speech she will say big things about democracy, in the official speech she will say big things about the Constitution, but the ground reality is that the Constitution and democracy of India are being crushed in the entire country..."

President Droupadi Murmu addresses a joint session of both Houses of Parliament, she says "Today, India is performing well in many areas. If India performs well in the world in terms of digital payments, then we should be proud. If Indian scientists successfully land Chandrayaan on the southern side of the moon, then we should be proud. If India becomes the fastest-growing economy in the world, then we should be proud. If India completes such a big election without much violence, then also we should be proud. Today, the whole world respects us as the Mother of Democracy. The people of India have always expressed their full faith in democracy. They have expressed full trust in the institutions related to elections. To maintain a healthy democracy, we have to preserve this faith. We also have to protect it...We remember the time when ballot papers were looted and snatched away. In order to make the voting process secure, it was decided to adopt EVMs. In the past several decades, EVMs have crossed many hurdles from the Supreme Court..."

President Droupadi Murmu says, "Today, our youth is getting fresh opportunities even in sports. As a result of the effective efforts of my government, young athletes of India are winning medals on international platforms, in record numbers. Paris Olympics will begin in a few days, we are proud of all the athletes who will represent India. I extend my best wishes to them. To take these achievements further ahead, Indian Olympic Association is preparing to host 2036 Olympics."

President Droupadi Murmu addresses a joint session of both Houses of Parliament, she says "In the coming few months, India is going to complete 75 years as a Republic. The Indian Constitution has withstood every challenge and test in the past decades. Even after the Constitution was implemented in the country, there have been many attacks on the Constitution. Emergency implemented on 25th June 1975 was a direct attack on the Constitution. When it was imposed, there was an uproar in the entire country. But the country has shown victory over such Constitutional forces. My government also cannot make the Indian constitution just a medium of governance. We are making efforts to make our Constitution, a part of public consciousness. With this, my government has started celebrating 26 November as Constitution Day. The Constitution has been fully implemented in our Jammu and Kashmir, where the situation was different due to Article 370..."

President Droupadi Murmu leaves from Lok Sabha after concluding her address to a joint session of both Houses of the Parliament.

The government is fully committed to investigating the recent incidents of paper leaks and ensure that the guilty are punished, President Droupadi Murmu said in her address to a joint sitting of Parliament.

Addressing the 18th Lok Sabha for the first time, the president said her government is working to create an environment to enable youth of the country dream big and achieve them.

As she mentioned steps taken by the government on the education front, some opposition members were heard shouting "NEET".

"If due to any reason there is obstruction in examinations it is not appropriate. Sanctity, transparency are a must in government recruitments and examinations," she said.

"The government is committed to conduct fair investigation and ensure the most stringent punishment to those guilty in the recent incidents of paper leak," she said.

The President also congratulated the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the high voter turnout recorded in the union territory in the recent Lok Sabha elections and lauded the Election Commission for holding the world's biggest democratic exercise.

"A very good outcome has emerged from Jammu and Kashmir in this election. Voting records of decades have been broken," she said.

"In the last four decades, we only saw low voter turnout in Kashmir amid strikes and shutdowns. Enemies of India used to project it as the opinion of Jammu and Kashmir on the global stage. This time, the people of Jammu and Kashmir gave a befitting reply to such forces," she said.

President Droupadi Murmu says "My Government has started giving citizenship to refugees under the CAA law. I wish a better future for the families who have received citizenship under CAA. My Government is re-establishing the heritage and culture of India along with efforts to build the future. Recently, a new chapter has been added to it in the form of the Vocational Campus of Nalanda University. Nalanda was not just a university, it was proof of India's glorious past as a centre of basic knowledge. I am confident that the new Nalanda University will prove helpful in making India a global knowledge hub...."

Opposing policies different from disrupting Parliament proceedings; people's interest should be paramount for all members: President Murmu.

Entire country plunged into chaos during Emergency, but nation was victorious against such unconstitutional powers: President Murmu.

Emergency was the biggest and darkest chapter of the direct attack on the Constitution

President Droupadi Murmu says "My government is going to take one more decision, all the elderly above 70 years of age will get the benefit of free treatment under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Due to frequent opposition, prejudice, mentality and narrow selfishness, the basic spirit of democracy has been greatly harmed. This affects the Parliament as well as the country's development journey...In the last 10 years, many such reforms have been done, which are benefiting the country today. When these reforms were being done, they were opposed but all these reforms have stood the test of time...Today GST is creating a medium to formalize India's economy, to make trade and business easier. For the first time in the month of April, GST collection has crossed the level of ₹2 lakh crore. This has increased the profit of the states...

Govt has started granting citizenship to refugees under CAA law; wish for a better future for such persons, says President Murmu

Every attempt to tarnish our democracy should be condemned by all: President Murmu in Parliament.

"From July 1, the Bharatiya Nyay Samhita will be effective in the country," President Murmu said.

"Now, justice will be prioritised over punishment... which is also a sentiment in Constitution," she said. "With the new laws, there will be efficiency in the judicial process," she added.

Cases of paper leaks and irregularities in exams being probed at high level; need to rise above partisan politics. Sanctity, transparency must in government recruitments and examinations: President Murmu in Parliament

India has, over the years, ensured that India's banking system is one of the safest and most robust in the world. Today, India has the world's 3rd largest start-up ecosystem.

"For a strong India, modernity is required in Defence forces. Continued reforms are needed in Armed Forces to ensure that the country is at its best in case of conflict. My government has made several steps to make the Armed Forces self-reliant," President Murmu said.

Her remarks saw slogans of "Agniveer" in the House.

President Droupadi Murmu says "It is possible to build a developed India only when the poor, youth, women and farmers of the country are empowered. Therefore they are being given top priority by my government. Our aim is to provide the benefits of every government scheme to them. India is working with the willpower that not even a single person should be left out of the government schemes. It is because of the government schemes that 25 crore Indians have come out of poverty in the last 10 years... My Government is developing affordable and indigenous assistive devices for Divyang brothers and sisters. My Government is integrating social security schemes for workers. Work is being done to increase the coverage of accident and life insurance by using Digital India and the network of post offices...In the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the dignity of the life of the poor and their health have been made a matter of national importance. For the first time, toilets have been built for crores of poor people in the country. These efforts make us regret that today the country is following the orders of Mahatma Gandhi in the true sense..."

Delegates from various nations arrived at the Parliament ahead of President Droupadi Murmu's address to a joint session of both Houses.

Israel's Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, Singapore's High Commissioner to India, Simon Wong, and envoys of other nations arrived at the Parliament. Officials welcomed the diplomats upon arrival at the Parliament.

President Droupadi Murmu is addressing the joint sitting of Parliament shortly, which will be her first presidential address after the formation of the third National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

Following the President's address, a motion of thanks will be moved in both Houses of Parliament, which will be discussed by the members.

President refers to NEET leak in her address in joint session of Parliament, says probe will fix accountability

Reform process in Armed Forces should continue to keep it combat ready: President Murmu in Parliament.

Women demanding more participation in Lok Sabha and assemblies are empowered by women's reservation law: President Murmu.

Our goal is to ensure that no one remains untouched by government schemes: President Murmu in Parliament.

Government working for lasting peace in North East; several old problems addressed in last 10 years: President Murmu in Parliament

"As a 'Vishwa Bandhu', India has taken initiative to solve many global problems," President Murmu said in Parliament.

"Today, India is known not for increasing the world's challenges but for providing solutions," she added. From nutrition to sustainable agriculture, India has presented many solutions, she said.

President Droupadi Murmu says "My Govt has provided ₹3.20 lakh crores to the farmers of the country under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. Since the beginning of the new term of my government, an amount of more than ₹20,000 crores has been transferred to the farmers. The government has also made a record increase in the MSP for Kharif crops. Today's India is changing its agriculture system keeping in mind its current needs. Nowadays, the demand for organic products is increasing rapidly in the world. Indian farmers have the full capacity to meet this demand. Therefore, the government is integrating the supply chain of natural farming and related products...On India's initiative, the whole world has celebrated International Millet Day in the year 2023. You have seen that recently the whole world has also celebrated International Yoga Day..."

President Droupadi Murmu says, "The pledge of reform, perform and transform has made India the fastest-growing economy in the world. In 10 years, India rose from the 11th position to become the 5th largest economy...Despite a pandemic and conflicts in different parts of the world, India has been able to achieve this growth rate. This became possible due to the reforms and decisions taken in national interest in the last 10 years. Today, India contributes to 15% of the global growth. My Government is working towards making India the 3rd largest economy in the world."

President Droupadi Murmu says major economic and social decisions, historical steps will be announced in Union Budget

Several records of voting were broken in Kashmir; Valley gave fitting reply to India's enemies: President Murmu in Parliament

President Droupadi Murmu says "A stable government with a complete majority has been formed in the country after six decades. People have shown trust in this Govt for the third time. People are aware that only this Govt can fulfil their aspirations...The 18th Lok Sabha is a historic Lok Sabha in many ways. This Lok Sabha was formed in the early years of the Amrit Kaal. This Lok Sabha will also be a witness to the 56th year of adoption of the Constitution of the country...In the upcoming sessions, this government is going to present the first budget of this term. This budget will be an effective document of the government's far-reaching policies and futuristic vision. Along with big economic and social decisions, many historic steps will also be seen in this budget..."

President Droupadi Murmu says, "On behalf of crores of countrymen, I would like to express gratitude Election Commission of India. This was the biggest election in the world...Decades-long records of voting have been broken in J&K. For the past 4 decades, Kashmir witnessed low voting amid shutdowns and strikes. India's enemies propagated it as the opinion of Kashmir, on international forums. But this time, Kashmir valley gave a befitting reply to all such forces..."

Government is working towards making India the third-largest economy in the world, says President Droupadi Murmu

"I congratulate all the newly-elected members of the 18th Lok Sabha. You all have come here by winning the trust of country's voters. Very few get this opportunity to serve the nation and the people. I have full faith that you would fulfill your duties with a feeling of nation first," says President Droupadi Murmu addressing the joint session of Parliament.

President Murmu addresses joint sitting, congratulates all newly-elected MPs

President Droupadi Murmu arrives at the Parliament. She will address a joint session of both Houses shortly. President Droupadi Murmu being accorded the Guard of Honour upon her arrival at the Parliament. She will address a joint session of both Houses shortly.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MPs Thursday protested outside Parliament against the arrest of Delhi CM and party leader Arvind Kejriwal by the CBI in connection with the excise policy case.

Led by Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, the members shouted slogans like "taanashaahi nahi chalegi (dictatorship won't be tolerated)", "Kejriwal ko riha karo (release Kejriwal)" and "Pradhan Mantri jawab do (PM should answer)."

Delegates from various nations arrive at the Parliament ahead of the President's address to a joint session of both Houses.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh says "I express my heartfelt gratitude and thanks to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar for withdrawing my suspension. Today the proceedings of the House will also begin in Rajya Sabha and President Droupadi Murmu is inaugurating the session. You all know what is happening to us, how the elected CM has been kept in jail and how he was arrested by CBI yesterday...We will definitely boycott the President's address because this is not the President's own statement, rather she reads the government's statement. She reads the written speeches of the government. So that is why we will boycott the President's address..."

President Droupadi Murmu leaves from Rashtrapati Bhavan for Parliament. She will be addressing the joint session of Parliament shortly.

Samajwadi Party (SP) MP RK Chaudhary triggered a controversy by demanding the removal of the sacred 'Sengol' from the Lok Sabha, claiming it as a 'Raja Ka danda' (the king's stick) or an anachronistic symbol of monarchy in democracy. He further said that the Sengol should be replaced by a large replica of the Constitution in the Parliament.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Om Birla has been elected as the Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha through a voice vote after Prime Minister Narendra Modi moved the motion in the House. He is as an MP from Rajasthan's Kota Lok Sabha constituency. He was first elected as an MP in 2014. After the Congress’s Balram Jakhar in 1985, the Kota parliamentarian became the first speaker in 39 years to get re-elected to the Lok Sabha’s highest office. Read more

On SP MP RK Chaudhary's 'Sengol' means 'Raja ka Danda' remark, BJP Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla says, "The Samajwadi Party has opposed Sengol in Parliament. It says that it is 'Raja ka Dand', if it was 'Raja ka Dand', why did Jawaharlal Nehru accept the Sengol? This shows the mindset of the Samajwadi Party. First, they attack and abuse Ramcharitmanas, now Sengol, which is part of Indian and Tamil culture. Does DMK support this kind of insult of Sengol, they must clarify. The question is that the mindset to reduce Sengol to a walking stick for decades has once again come in the form of Samajwadi Party. They do not respect Indian culture, they do not respect Tamil culture, and therefore they are again insulting Sengol. The DMK must take a stand on this."

There was no Deputy Speaker for the entire duration of the 17th Lok Sabha (2019-24). However, with its numbers up, the Opposition has been contending that it get the Deputy Speaker's post in accordance with the contention.

While there's no official word yet, there has been speculation that the post could go to an ally in the ruling NDA.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Members of Parliament from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), who are partners with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the National Democratic Alliance government.

The Prime Minister said that both their parties are working together at the Centre and in Andhra Pradesh where the TDP-BJP-JanaSena combine is in power.

"Met MP colleagues from @JaiTDP. Our Parties are working closely at the Centre and in Andhra Pradesh under the leadership of my friend @ncbn Garu. We will do everything possible for the progress of India and the development of AP," PM Modi said in a post on 'X'.

The TDP-BJP-Janasena Party alliance registered a landslide victory in the Andhra Pradesh assembly as well as in parliamentary elections. TDP has 135 MLAs in the Andhra Pradesh assembly while Janasena Party has 21 and BJP eight. The opposition YSR Congress Party has 11 MLAs.

AAP MP Sandeep Pathak says "Today we will protest in the Rajya Sabha against the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and we will boycott the President's address. The President and the Constitution are supreme and when dictatorship is done in the name of justice, it is important to raise our voices. We did not have a discussion with the remaining parties of the INDIA alliance regarding this but our party will boycott the President's address."

The Lok Sabha did not have a Leader of Opposition for the last 10 years because no Opposition party had members equalling one-tenth of the total Lok Sabha strength, a prerequisite for qualifying for the post.

What does a Leader of Opposition do? An official 2012 booklet on Parliament says that the parliamentary system is based on “mutual forbearance”, the LoP lets the Prime Minister govern and is, in turn, permitted to oppose

Nobel laureate Amartya Sen has asserted the recent Lok Sabha poll results point to the fact that India is not a ‘Hindu Rashtra’.

He also expressed displeasure that keeping people behind bars “without trial" has continued in the country since the British rule and it is more in practice under the BJP government in comparison to the Congress regime.

"That India is not a Hindu Rashtra only has been reflected in the election results," Sen told a Bengali news channel at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport here.

The 90-year-old economist arrived in Kolkata from the US on Wednesday evening.

Zero FIR, registration of police complaints online, summons through electronic modes and mandatory videography of crime scenes of all heinous crimes are the key highlights of the three new criminal laws that will come into effect from July 1.

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 mark a significant step towards empowering Indian citizens and aim to create a more accessible, supportive and efficient justice system for everyone, official sources said.

The new laws, enacted late last year, are set to replace the British-era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act respectively.

Under the new laws, a person can now report incidents by electronic communication, without the need to physically visit a police station. This allows for easier and quicker reporting, facilitating prompt action by the police, the sources said.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday condemned the imposition of Emergency in 1975 and described it as a “dark day in the history” of the country, setting off a political firestorm during the first session of the House as Congress members shouted slogans and termed the remarks “unfortunate”. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members welcomed the speaker’s reference to Emergency, opposition members condemned the reference, prompting Birla to adjourn the House. Read more

According to the information, President Droupadi Murmu will be received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the presiding officers of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha at the Gaja Dwar of the Parliament building from where she will be escorted to the Lower House chamber with the traditional sceptre 'Sengol' in the lead.

According to Article 87 of the Constitution, at the commencement of the first session after each general election to the House of the People and at the commencement of the first session of each year, the President shall address both Houses of Parliament assembled together and inform Parliament of the causes of its summons.

Uttar Pradesh Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jaiveer Singh on Wednesday criticised AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi for his "Jai Palestine" slogan during his oath-taking as a Member of Lok Sabha and said that Hyderabad MP should show respect towards his country and should have said Bharat Mata ki Jai and Hindustan ki Jai to express loyalty towards the country he lives in.

He also said that Owaisi would live in India, eat Indian food and then raise slogans for Palestine.

He emphasised the importance of loyalty to one's country regardless of religion or caste, stating, "One should respect the country they live in. If you want to say something, say Bharat Mata ki Jai, say Hindustan ki Jai."

"He always tries to create a new controversial statement. He will live in India, eat Indian food...and then raise the slogans of Palestine Zindabad. I think that one should be loyal to the country in which he is, no matter which religion it belongs to. Or whatever caste he belongs to, he should not forget the respect of his country..If you want to say something, say Bharat Mata ki Jai, say Hindustan ki Jai," Singh told ANI.

The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), chose to maintain suspense over the appointment of the deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha. Soon after NDA’s nominee Om Birla was re-elected as the Speaker on Wednesday, the focus shifted to the stand-off between the government and the opposition over the deputy Speaker’s post. Read more

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday reappointed Sam Pitroda as chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, weeks after he resigned from the post following some controversial remarks in the middle of Lok Sabha elections which the BJP termed as "racist".

Pitroda, who is considered a close aide of Rahul Gandhi, resigned from the post on May 8, and his resignation was accepted by the Congress chief.

"Congress president has reappointed Sam Pitroda as chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress with immediate effect," AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said in a statement.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that Pitroda was reappointed Indian Overseas Congress chief after he clarified the context in which the controversial statements were made.

Om Birla was elected as the Lok Sabha Speaker for the second time in a row after the motion moved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seconded by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was adopted by the House through a voice vote on Wednesday.

On his re-election to the House, Birla thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leaders of parties in the House and Members of Parliament for their support.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi congratulated Om Birla on his re-election and said that the Lok Sabha Speaker is the final arbiter of the voice of the people, and the Opposition this time represents that voice significantly more than the 17th Lok Sabha.

"I would like to congratulate you for the successful election that you have been elected for the second time. I would like to congratulate you on behalf of the entire Opposition and the INDIA alliance," Gandhi said.

Rahul Gandhi also assured the Speaker on behalf of the entire opposition of assisting the speaker in the functioning of the House.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominee Om Birla was once again elected as the Lok Sabha speaker on Wednesday after a motion moved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was adopted through voice votes. Read more

President Droupadi Murmu will be addressing the joint sitting of Parliament today, which will be her first presidential address after the formation of the third National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

Following the President's address, a motion of thanks will be moved in both Houses of Parliament, which will be discussed by the members.

The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha began on Monday and the Rajya Sabha session will start from today.