LIVE

Winter Session Day 9 | RS debates Vande Mataram; Nadda accuses Nehru of being responsible for 'apathy towards national song'

The Rajya Sabha resumed its debate today on the 150th anniversary of the national song Vande Mataram, with Union Minister and Leader of the House JP Nadda delivering the concluding address.
Leader of the House and BJP president JP Nadda adressing the Rajya Sabha during the Vande Mataram debate.
Leader of the House and BJP president JP Nadda adressing the Rajya Sabha during the Vande Mataram debate.Screengrab | Sansad TV
TNIE online desk

Government says 1,951 issues of aircraft GPS interference reported in two years

A total of 1,951 issues of interference with aircraft's GPS system have been reported during the two years since November 2023, the government said.

In recent times, there have been instances of GPS spoofing and interference incidents at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Amritsar, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai airports.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said GPS interference reporting started after the publication of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) advisory circular on November 24, 2023 regarding GNSS interference in airspace.

"Total GPS interference issues reported (November, 2023 to November, 2025) are 1,951 nos after publication of DGCA circular," the minister said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.

'What was the hurry': TMC's Sagarika Ghose questions deportation of migrant workers

The case of two women migrant workers from West Bengal, who were deported to Bangladesh, was raised in Rajya Sabha by Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghose, who questioned the hurry in deporting the women without proper verification.

"On June 21, Sunali Khatun, a 26-year-old heavily pregnant migrant worker, was picked up with her family by the Delhi police and deported to Bangladesh with her family, including her son. Another Bangladeshi migrant worker in Delhi, 32-year-old Sweety and her family were also picked up by Delhi Police and sent to Bangladesh," Ghose said.

She said Sunali Khatun could return to India only after the intervention of the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court.

Ensure standardised, transparent medical billing: BJP MP K Laxman

BJP MP K Laxman urged the government to ensure transparent and standardised medical billing, as he raised concerns over "exploitation practices" by private hospitals. He said in the absence of norms, many families are pushed into hardship due to medical bills. "Absence of transparent norms leaves people with little choice, pushing many families into hardship. Reports highlight they charge Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 as OPD, which is not covered under schemes like Ayushman Bharat," he said.

Nadda says Nehru solely responsible for Constituent Assembly’s apathy toward Vande Mataram

Leader of the House JP Nadda stated that the responsibility for the Constituent Assembly’s handling of the national anthem and the neglect of Vande Mataram lay solely with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

“What happened with the National Anthem in the Constituent Assembly and the apathy towards the national song, Vande Mataram, the only person responsible for it was Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, and even he had accepted that,” Nadda said.

Nadda cites 1937 Nehru letter, says Congress altered Vande Mataram under pressure

Citing historical documents, Nadda referred to a 1937 letter by Nehru expressing reservations about some stanzas of the song. This prompted LoP Mallikarjun Kharge to ask whether Nehru was Prime Minister in 1937. Nadda replied that Nehru was then the Congress president and said the party, under pressure from “communal elements,” altered the song by discarding stanzas invoking Bharat Mata as Maa Durga.

He also referred to Congress Working Committee records from October–November 1937, which noted that some stanzas contained allusions and religious imagery not aligned with the ideology of other communities, leading to the decision that only the first two stanzas should be sung.

Opposition members protested, accusing Nadda of misleading the House.

Nadda says Vande Mataram had “lightning effect” on national consciousness

Nadda highlighted the historical significance of Vande Mataram, noting that when the British sought to impose God Save the Queen (British national anthem) in Indian schools, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay offered the song, which had a “lightning effect” on national consciousness. He also recalled that freedom fighter Khudiram Bose’s last words before his execution were “Vande Mataram,” describing the song as a unifying mantra during the struggle for Independence.

Nadda says Vande Mataram continues to inspire generations

Nadda said Vande Mataram remains central to India’s freedom movement and continues to inspire younger generations who did not witness that era. The song, he said, witnessed and energised many historic moments of the struggle for Independence.

Nadda says debate not to demean Nehru, but to “set history straight”

Responding to Jairam Ramesh’s criticism that the debate was intended to target Jawaharlal Nehru, Nadda said the objective was not to “demean Nehru” but to place historical facts on record. “Whenever anything happens, responsibility lies with the ‘sardar’, and at the time the Congress ‘sardar’ was Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru,” he said. “When it suits you, you call it the Nehruvian age; when it doesn’t, you invoke Subhash Chandra Bose or Rabindranath Tagore.”

Nadda says Vande Mataram was denied due respect after Independence, holds Nehru-era leadership responsible

Leader of the House and BJP president JP Nadda, while participating in the Rajya Sabha debate on the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, said the national song did not receive the respect it deserved after Independence and held the then Congress leadership responsible for that situation.

BJD MP urges shifting Winter, Budget sessions out of Delhi over toxic air

BJD Rajya Sabha MP Manas Ranjan Mangaraj on Thursday urged the government to relocate Parliament’s Winter and Budget sessions outside Delhi until the capital’s air quality improves, calling the annual pollution crisis a “man-made disaster.”

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Mangaraj said that, coming from Odisha, a state known for its swift disaster response , he recognised a genuine crisis when he saw one. Delhi’s air pollution, he argued, required similar urgency.

He said MPs, parliamentary staff, drivers, sanitation workers and security personnel were being exposed to toxic air daily, adding that Parliament “cannot pretend this is normal.”

Mangaraj proposed several cities with cleaner air and adequate infrastructure as possible venues, including Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Gandhinagar, Bengaluru, Goa and Dehradun.

“This is not about politics. This is about life and dignity,” he said, urging the government to begin consultations on rotating parliamentary sessions to safer cities during the winter months.

BJP Depriving Bengal, TMC MPs stage protest outside Parliament

Opposition MPs from West Bengal hold a protest in the Parliament with posters of "BJP Depriving Bengal Deliberately" and "59 lakh voices, where are our wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

Lok Sabha extends tenure of committee examining 'one nation, one election' bills

Lok Sabha on Thursday extended the tenure of the parliamentary committee examining bills that seek to introduce simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.

Committee Chairman P P Chaudhary moved the motion seeking extension of the tenure of the Joint Committee on the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, up to the first day of the last week of the 2026 Budget session.

The Lok Sabha adopted the motion by a voice vote.

The committee has met constitutional experts, economists, Law Commission Chairman Dinesh Maheshwari, among others, since it was constituted last December.

Rahul Gandhi says Amit Shah was “nervous” during Lok Sabha face-off

Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday intensified his criticism of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging the senior BJP leader appeared visibly “nervous” during their exchange in the Lok Sabha a day earlier.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Gandhi said, “Amit Shah ji was very nervous yesterday. He used the wrong language, his hands were trembling… He is under tremendous mental pressure. Everybody saw this.”

He added that the Home Minister did not respond directly to the questions raised and offered “no proof.” Gandhi said he had challenged Shah to debate his press conference claims on the floor of the House but “got no answer.” (Read article)

Centre says Jal Jeevan Mission funds to Karnataka withheld over incomplete verification

Congress MP E. Tukaram questioned the Centre in Lok Sabha on why the allocated Rs 13 crore under the Jal Jeevan Mission had not been released to Karnataka.

Responding, Minister Patil said the state had submitted verification certificates for only Rs 48 lakh out of the Rs 13 crore from the previous instalment. He added that Karnataka had “admitted discrepancies in the project funds,” and until the remaining certificates are furnished, “release of the next instalment is impossible.”

Lok Sabha: Question Hour ends, Zero Hour underway

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi reaches Parliament in a Hydrogen-powered car

Ruckus in Lok Sabha after Anurag Thakur alleges TMC MPs using e-cigarettes

A brief uproar broke out in the Lok Sabha after BJP MP Anurag Thakur alleged that some Trinamool Congress MPs were smoking e-cigarettes within the Parliament premises. Thakur urged the Speaker to immediately look into the matter.

As the Opposition protested the charge, the Chair intervened, reminding members of the House rules and urging them not to violate established norms. "If such an incident is brought to my notice with clarity, appropriate action will follow," Om Birla said.

TMC’s Sagarika Ghose questions “haste” in deporting Bangla-speaking migrant workers

TMC MP Sagarika Ghose raised concerns in Rajya Sabha over the treatment of urban migrant workers, particularly Bangla-speaking labourers. She said many such workers in Delhi are being threatened with eviction and are routinely accused of being illegal migrants from Bangladesh.

Ghose highlighted two recent cases — Sonali Thakoon, a pregnant woman who was detained along with her young son, and Sweety Baby, a single mother — both allegedly picked up by Delhi Police and deported to Bangladesh.

She questioned the urgency behind these actions, asking whether there is a political motive behind the “hot haste” with which such deportations are being carried out.

TMC leaders hold silent protest inside Parliament premises over the issues of MGNREGA dues.

Rajya Sabha takes up Zero Hour

Gadkari opens Question Hour with remarks on ethanol fuel blend

Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari opened Question Hour in the Lok Sabha by responding to queries on the E10 and E20 ethanol fuel blends. He said the shift to ethanol has supported farmers, describing it as a green fuel that helps reduce carbon emissions and pollution.

Gadkari added that expanding ethanol usage could eventually eliminate the need for India’s current oil imports of 22 lakh metric tonnes, helping the country move closer to becoming aatmanirbhar.

Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri in Lok Sabha informed the house said that Higher ethanol blending done after consulting all stakeholders.

Rajya Sabha begins proceedings with mention of Diwali’s UNESCO heritage inscription

Rajya Sabha proceedings opened on Thursday with Chair CP Radhakrishnan informing the House that Diwali, or Deepavali, has been added to UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity. He noted that this marks the 16th Indian cultural element to be inscribed on the global register.

Lok Sabha commences proceedings at 11 am

PM Modi hails Amit Shah’s speech as “outstanding”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday praised Union Home Minister Amit Shah for delivering what he described as an “outstanding speech.” Modi said Shah had presented concrete facts on India’s electoral process, underscored the strength of the country’s democracy, and “exposed the lies of the Opposition.”

Leader of the House and BJP president JP Nadda adressing the Rajya Sabha during the Vande Mataram debate.
Amit Shah refutes Opposition's 'vote chori' charges in Lok Sabha; Rahul Gandhi challenges him to debate

Electoral reforms, Vande Mataram to be discussed in Rajya Sabha today

Summary

The Rajya Sabha is set for a charged sitting on Thursday, as the Upper House is prepared to take up discussions on the 150th anniversary of the national song Vande Mataram and the long-running debate over the Special Intensive Review (SIR). Both issues have already sparked heated exchanges in the Lok Sabha earlier this week, setting a combative tone for the ninth day of the Winter Session.

Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, will kick off the discussion today. Union Minister and Leader of the House JP Nadda is slated to deliver the concluding remarks. Following this, the House will shift focus to discussions on electoral reforms.

On Wednesday , both Houses were adjourned until 11 am today after opposition protests and a walkout during Home Minister Amit Shah’s speech.

In the Lok Sabha, a fiery exchange unfolded over electoral reforms. Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi pressed Amit Shah to first respond to allegations of voter list irregularities raised at a recent press conference. Shah countered sharply, saying no one could dictate the sequence of his remarks.

The Winter Session, which began on December 1, is scheduled to run until December 19.

Lok Sabha
winter session
Vande Mataram
150 Years of Vande Mataram
SIR debate

Key Events

Electoral reforms, Vande Mataram to be discussed in Rajya Sabha today

X
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com