External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made a statement in Parliament on former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav verdict where he reiterated that the ruling vindicated India’s position in the matter.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Wednesday ruled that Pakistan had violated Jadhav’s right to consular access and called for a review of the death sentence handed to him by a military court at an appropriate forum of Islamabad’s choice.

Follow all the highlights here:

7:28 pm IST Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day Rajya Sabha has been adjourned until tomorrow.





3:22 pm IST Data leak of unemployment figures serious: Government The government Thursday admitted in the Rajya Sabha that there has been a data leak of unemployment figures and said efforts were being made to ascertain who was behind it. Replying to queries during Question Hour, Minister of State for Planning and Statistics Rao Inderjit Singh termed the issue as “serious” and said data pertaining to unemployment figures was leaked ahead of its announcement in May this year, reports PTI.





3:09 pm IST No plan to restore special category status to states: Government There is no plan to restore special category status -- which has been scrapped by think- tank Niti Aayog -- to any state in the country, the government informed the Rajya Sabha Thursday. Minister of State for Statistics and Planning Rao Inderjit Singh replied in the negative when Congress leader Ripun Bora asked if the government has any plans to restore special category status to Assam or any other state, reports PTI.





2:53 pm IST Sanctity of regular Budget numbers called into question: Congress Coming down heavily on the NDA government, Congress Thursday said the sanctity of regular Budget numbers have been called into question and that amendments are being made to laws without adequate discussions in Parliament. Initiating the discussion on the Finance Bill, 2019, Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said there is no roadmap for achieving the target of USD 5 trillion economy, reports PTI.





1:56 pm IST 7 indirect taxation-related laws being amended: Nirmala Sitharaman Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Thursday said seven legislations under indirect taxation are being amended to ensure greater simplicity, as she moved the Finance Bill in the Lok Sabha. She told the Lower House that amendments to laws are being made through the Finance Bill in five major categories, including in the Goods and Services Tax (GST), reports PTI.





1:48 pm IST Everyone should accept that there is only one person who is working for nation’s unity and development and that is PM Modi: Neeraj Shekhar Former Samajwadi Party leader Neeraj Shekhar (son of former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar) who recently joined BJP: After 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, everyone should accept that there is only one person who is working for nation’s unity and development and that is PM Narendra Modi. Former Samajwadi Party leader Neeraj Shekhar (son of former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar) who recently joined BJP: After 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, everyone should accept that there is only one person who is working for nation's unity & development and that is PM Narendra Modi. pic.twitter.com/z3poHbiEIM — ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2019





1:46 pm IST Government empowering minorities without appeasement: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi “Empowerment without appeasement and development with dignity” is the new mantra of the Narendra Modi government to carry out welfare programmes for the minorities, Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said in Lok Sabha on Thursday. Naqvi said the minorities meant six centrally notified minority communities-- Jain, Buddhist, Sikh, Parsi, Muslim and Christian and not Muslims alone, reports PTI.





1:36 pm IST BJP MP Hema Malini and National Conference MP Farooq Abdullah at the Parliament Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Hema Malini & National Conference MP Farooq Abdullah at the Parliament. Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Hema Malini & National Conference MP Farooq Abdullah at the Parliament. pic.twitter.com/l3BOm4XnXH — ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2019





12:10 pm IST Sole dissenting vote was that of Pakistan: Jaishankar The sole dissenting vote was that of Pakistan, says S Jaishankar in Lok Sabha.





12:08 pm IST Pakistan must inform Kulbhushan Jadhav of his rights: Jaishankar Pakistan must inform Kulbhushan Jadhav of his rights: Jaishankar.





12:07 pm IST World court verdict is a vindication of India’s stand: S Jaishankar World court verdict is a vindication of India’s stand: S Jaishankar in Lok Sabha.





12:00 pm IST Rajya Sabha adjourned till noon amid uproar by Congress,Samajwadi Party members Rajya Sabha proceedings were Thursday adjourned for almost an hour after opposition Congress and Samajwadi Party members created an uproar over the Supreme Court ruling on the Karnataka issue and the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh.





11:21 am IST I am very happy that the entire House is together in welcoming the ICJ judgement: Venkaiah Naidu Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on International Court of Justice (ICJ) verdict on Kulbhushan Jadhav: I am very happy that the entire House is together in welcoming the ICJ judgement. Hope we will pursue till Shri Kulbhushan is discharged and released. Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on International Court of Justice (ICJ) verdict on #KulbhushanJadhav: I am very happy that the entire House is together in welcoming the ICJ judgement. Hope we will pursue till Shri Kulbhushan is discharged and released. pic.twitter.com/DCiodHtQ4x — ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2019





11:17 am IST Kulbhushan Jadhav’s family has shown exemplary courage in difficult circumstances: Jaishankar EAM S Jaishankar in Rajya Sabha on Kulbhushan Jadhav verdict: Kulbhushan Jadhav’s family has shown exemplary courage in difficult circumstances. I can assure the government will vigorously continue its efforts to ensure his safety and well being, as well as his early return to India. EAM S Jaishankar in Rajya Sabha on #KulbhushanJadhav verdict: #KulbhushanJadhav's family has shown exemplary courage in difficult circumstances. I can assure the govt will vigorously continue its efforts to ensure his safety and well being, as well as his early return to India. pic.twitter.com/DiPyzMQUoX — ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2019





11:16 am IST Government has made untiring efforts in seeking his release including through legal means in ICJ: Jaishankar In 2017, government made commitment on floor of the House to undertake all steps necessary to protect interest and welfare of Shri Jadhav. Government has made untiring efforts in seeking his release including through legal means in ICJ, says S Jaishankar.





11:15 am IST We once again call upon Pakistan to release and repatriate Kulbhushan Jadhav: Jaishankar We once again call upon Pakistan to release and repatriate Kulbhushan Jadhav, says Jaishankar.





11:14 am IST ICJ has directed that Pakistan is under an obligation to inform Jadhav without further delay of his rights: Jaishankar ICJ has directed that Pakistan is under an obligation to inform Jadhav without further delay of his rights and to provide Indian consular officers access to him in accordance with Vienna Convention, says Jaishankar.





11:13 am IST ICJ by a vote of 15-1 upheld India’s claim that Pakistan is in violation of Vienna Convention on several counts: S Jaishankar EAM S Jaishankar on KulbhushanJadhav verdict, in Rajya Sabha: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) by a vote of 15-1 upheld India’s claim that Pakistan is in violation of Vienna Convention on several counts.





10:34 am IST Congress gives Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha over “alarming situation due to spurt in crime in Delhi” Congress Party has given Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha over “alarming situation due to spurt in crime in Delhi”, reports news agency ANI.





10:23 am IST Congress MP gives Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over ‘need for social integration through inter-caste marriages’ Congress MP Selja Kumari has given Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over ‘need for social integration through inter-caste marriages’ Congress MP Selja Kumari has given Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over 'need for social integration through inter-caste marriages' pic.twitter.com/jbJNaVTNre — ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2019





10:21 am IST Congress MP gives Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over “need for new laws in view of frequent building collapses in the country.” Congress MP, Viplove Thakur has given Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over “need for new laws in view of frequent building collapses in the country.” Congress MP, Viplove Thakur has given Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over "need for new laws in view of frequent building collapses in the country." pic.twitter.com/RvdCLWAln7 — ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2019





10:20 am IST Samajwadi Party MP gives Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over ‘desperation in youths due to unemployment’ Samajwadi Party MP Vishambhar Prasad Nishad has given Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over ‘desperation in youths due to unemployment’, reports news agency ANI.





10:18 am IST S Jaishankar to make a statement in Parliament on KulbhushanJadhav verdict, today External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to make a statement in Parliament on KulbhushanJadhav verdict, today. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to make a statement in Parliament on #KulbhushanJadhav verdict, today. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/LTyFWttm7y — ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2019



