BJP & CONG TRADE ‘SAY SORRY’ JIBE IN RAHUL GANDHI REMARKS

The LS and RS were adjourned soon after they met as heated exchange between BJP and Congress over Rahul’s remarks at Cambridge University in London continued

Moni Sharma

New Delhi: Parliament was adjourned for the day on Tuesday afternoon - till 11 am todayamid a continuing standoff between the ruling BJP and the Congress over Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the government and PM Narendra Modi. Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha saw protests for a second straight day.

On Tuesday, Piyush Goyal picked up where he, his colleagues left off on Monday, declaring, “Both Houses are part of Parl, which have been insulted. I feel this is 1st time entire Parl was insulted.” P5

MAJOR HAPPENING l Congress MP Shaktisinh

Gohil filed a breach of privilege notice against Piyush Goyal, for violating House rules by making allegations against a member.

PM MODI HOLDS MEETING WITH TOP MINS IN PARL

On Tuesday morning, top ministers attended a meeting in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office to fine-tune the ruling party’s strategy in Parliament. Union ministers Pralhad Joshi, Anurag Thakur, Piyush Goyal, Nitin Gadkari and Kiren Rijiju attended the meeting to discuss the Parl strategy.

WOULD HAVE BEEN INTO ACTING, IF NOT LAWYER: VP MIN THAKUR DEMANDS APOLOGY FROM RAHUL

After India’s glory at Oscars, winners being praised inside RS. “It’s a recognition in which we all must take pride”, VP and RS Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar hailed Naatu Naatu, The Elephant Whisperer’s win at Oscars 2023. “If I hadn’t become a lawyer, I would definitely have been into acting,” he, said.

Sanjay Raut to clarify his Maha legislature remark by March 20

First India Bureau Mumbai: Rajya Sabha MP and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Tuesday said the time granted to him by the Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly for submitting a clarification for his “chor-mandal” remark has been extended till March 20.

Last week, Assembly

Speaker Rahul Narvekar had said that he had accepted Raut’s request for more time to submit a written clarification.

Raut had been earlier asked to submit his reply by March 3.

Asked about the extension, Raut told reporters, “It is till March 20.” Raut caused a furore last month when he dubbed the state `Vidhimandal’ (legislature) a “chor-mandal (council of thieves).

Legislators of the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena submitted to the Speaker a notice for a breach of privilege motion against him.

Rahul Gandhi goes abroad and insults the country. He should come to the Parliament and apologise to the nation. He says he is not allowed to speak in Parliament, but his attendance in Lok Sabha is lower than the average attendance of MPs in Parliament, said Union minister Anurag Thakur in Parl on Tuesday.

Clash in Pakistan as police try to arrest Imran Khan

Lahore: Pakistani police and supporters of Imran Khan fought pitched battles outside the former prime minister’s home in Lahore on Tuesday, wounding several on both sides, ahead of his expected arrest, a government spokesman and witnesses said.

DON’T GO ON STRIKE: FADNAVIS APPEALS TO EMPLOYEES

Mumbai: Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said in assembly that there is no strike. “We are ready for discussion with all the employees and organizations. The decision on old pension scheme is not a hasty decision but a well thought out decision,” Fadnavis said. “I am ready to talk to all the employee unions for a full day, not just one, four days. What steps can be taken, what can be the way forward. This is a deliberate decision. When there is no fiscal yardstick between future governments or the public, it should be considered what will be the condition of the states. The rulers should think about the future”, he said.

The employees union is ready for discussion. But when we discuss, the government tells us that they are appointing a committee. There has also been a lot of change in the labor force in the Pension Fund Development Authority in the Central Government. It has been changed so that NPS holders are given 40 per cent family pension there. But that much is not given in Maharashtra. Rs 20 lakhs are given as retirement. But it is not given in Maharashtra. Gratuity is given to NPS employees on retirement. Maharashtra doesn’t have it.

—Employee union’s office bearer

SETBACK FOR BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY VICTIMS

Top Court rejects Centre’s plea for addl compensation

First India Bureau

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the Central government’s curative plea for enhanced compensation for the victims of the 1984 Bhopal Gas tragedy from US-based firm Union Carbide Corporation, now owned by Dow Chemicals. A five-judge constitution bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul pronounced the verdict today after reserving the order on January 12. . The bench also comprised of Justices Sanjiv Khanna, Abhay S Oka, Vikram Nath and JK Maheshwari. P6

We are unsatisfied with Union of India for not furnishing any rationale for raking up this issue after 2 decades. We are of the view that curative petitions cannot be entertained.

—Justice Sanjay K Kaul, Supreme Court Judge

WHAT CENTRE SAID

The Centre’s curative plea for enhanced compensation for the victims sought a direction to Union Carbide and other firms for over `7,400 crore additional amount over and above the earlier settlement amount of USD 470 million (`715 crore at the time of settlement in 1989) for paying compensation to the gas tragedy victims.

WHAT SC REPLIED

W hile rejecting the plea, SC said, ‘Dispute can’t be re-opened after final settlement in 1989. Depreciation of rupee since 1989 can’t be a ground to now seek a “top-up” of compensation.” SC also expressed concern over `50 cr undistributed dues, also asked “How can Centre file a “curative” plea directly without filing a review?”

TRIAL IN LAKHIMPUR KHERI VIOLENCE CASE NOT ‘SLOW PACED’, SAYS SC

SC on Tuesday said trial in 2021 Lakhimpur case, in which Union minister Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish is among those facing prosecution, is not “slow paced” and directed the concerned sessions judge to keep apprising it about the future developments of trial. “We have received 3 letters from trial judge,” SC observed, adding it had gone through contents of letters received from 1st addl district and sessions judge, Lakhimpur Kheri.