BJP's parliamentary party meeting, held at Parliament library building, concluded today

The BJP's parliamentary party meeting, held at the Parliament library building, concluded today. This was the first such meeting of the BJP during the ongoing parliament session. The meeting was held to lay down the agenda after the party won its highest-ever tally in parliament.

Among the high-profile leaders who attended the meet were Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP's working president JP Nadda.

The bill for the extension of President's Rule in Jammu and Kashmir for another six months was passed yesterday by the Rajya Sabha, while Mr Shah responding to a debate, said the government will preserve "Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat and Kashmiriyat", terms used first by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

"Modi government's commitment to the policy of 'Jamhooriyat, Insaniyat, Kashmiriyat' should not be taken to mean that the forces that want to divide India will be spared. They will be given an appropriate response in their same language," Mr Shah had said yesterday.

Here are the LIVE updates on Day 12 Of Parliament Session:

Jul 02, 2019 16:18 (IST) Demonetisation had no effect on Indian economy: Nirmala Sitharaman

India still continues to be the fastest growing economy and demonetisation has had no effect on the Indian economy, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told the Rajya Sabha today.

T he minister who was responding to supplementaries during the Question Hour, said the manufacturing sector has had a certain fall, but it is not attributable to demonetisation.

Ms Sitharaman said the moderation in growth momentum in 2018-19 is primarily on account of lower growth in ''Agriculture and allied'', ''trade, hotel, transport, storage, communication and services related to broadcasting'' and ''public administration and defence'' sectors," she said.

Jul 02, 2019 14:09 (IST) Actor-politician Sumalatha delivers debut speech in Lok Sabha



Actor-turned politician Sumalatha Ambareesh on Thursday delivered her first speech in the Lok Sabha in which she pleaded that the Centre must save the ''Annadatas'' (food providers), reported news agency ANI.



She brought up the issue of farmers suicide during the Zero hour and urged the Centre and state government to take steps to strengthen existing laws to protect the interests of farmers.



Sumalatha highlighted the issues of water crisis and drought condition in Mandya.



"My region is already suffering from huge water crisis and impending drought conditions. This presents a very bleak scenario for farmers, especially for those sugarcane and paddy growers," Sumalatha was quoted as saying by ANI.



Sumalatha pulled off a remarkable win as a BJP-backed Independent candidate against Karnataka's Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil.



Jul 02, 2019 14:05 (IST) Sonia Gandhi expresses concern over condition of HAL, BSNL, MTNL: news agency IANS



Sonia Gandhi expressed concern over the condition of some public sector undertakings including HAL, BSNL and MTNL, reported news agency.



"Their condition is not hidden from anyone," she was quoted as saying by IANS.



Mrs Gandhi said privatization leads to priceless assets going into a few private hands at "very cheap prices" and thousands then become unemployed.



Jul 02, 2019 14:02 (IST) Sonia Gandhi accuses Modi government of planning to privatise railway production units: news agency IANS



UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday accused the Modi government of planning to privatise six rail production units, saying this is a "first attempt" to hand over the country's priceless assets to private hands cheaply leaving thousands unemployed, reported news agency IANS.



Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, Mrs Gandhi said these included Rae Bareli's Modern Coach Factory. She said the move was against the objectives for which the plant had been set up.



"The real concern is that they have chosen the Modern Coach Factory for the experiment," Mrs Gandhi was quoted as saying by IANS.



She said the factory was set up by the UPA government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to boost rail manufacturing in the country and it was the "most modern plant" that produced good quality coaches at cheap prices.



"This factory has been producing more than its basic capacity. This is the most modern factory of the Indian Railways. This is famous for manufacturing cheapest rail coaches. This is one of the best rail production units," she said.



Alleging that the future of over 2,000 employees working in the factory was now uncertain, the Congress leader said it was not known why the government wanted to privatize this factory.



"The employees have also not been taken into confidence. It is a matter of sadness that their and their families' future is in danger.



"I urge the government that it should protect the Modern Coach Factory and other PSUs and give respect to the farmers and their families," she said.



Jul 02, 2019 13:17 (IST) Read Here: PM Narendra Modi Upset After Kailash Vijayvargiya's Son Akash Vijayvargiya Hits Official

A furious Prime Minister Narendra Modi today reportedly expressed his displeasure with Akash Vijayvargiya, the son of senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya, who is out on bail after being arrested for assaulting an official with a cricket bat last week. PM Modi said at a meeting that such people should be expelled from the party, "no matter whose son", without exception, according to party leaders. A furious Prime Minister Narendra Modi today reportedly expressed his displeasure with Akash Vijayvargiya, the son of senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya, who is out on bail after being arrested for assaulting an official with a cricket bat last week. PM Modi said at a meeting that such people should be expelled from the party, "no matter whose son", without exception, according to party leaders.

Jul 02, 2019 13:03 (IST) AAP lawmaker raises issue in zero hour in Rajya Sabha over company in Israel using picture of Mahatma Gandhi on wine bottle: news agency ANI



AAP lawmaker Sanjay Singh raised an issue in zero hour in Rajya Sabha about a company in Israel which used the photo of Mahatma Gandhi on a bottle of wine, reported news agency ANI.



Jul 02, 2019 12:23 (IST) Read Here: PM Narendra Modi To Kick Off BJP Membership Drive From Varanasi On July 6

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the BJP's membership drive from Varanasi on July 6 during which, he told party workers, at least five trees should be planted in every booth across the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the BJP's membership drive from Varanasi on July 6 during which, he told party workers, at least five trees should be planted in every booth across the country.

Jul 02, 2019 11:55 (IST) PM Modi to launch BJP membership drive from Varanasi on July 6: news agency PTI



Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the BJP's membership drive from Varanasi on July 6 during which, he told party workers, at least five trees should be planted in every booth across the country, reported news agency PTI.



PM Modi was felicitated by senior party leaders in the first BJP parliamentary party meeting after the recent Lok Sabha polls during which he had led the BJP to a big win. Party chief Amit Shah and its working president JP Nadda were also felicitated, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi told reporters.



In his address, PM Modi asked party lawmakers to ensure their presence in Parliament during the ongoing session and added that they should also dedicate themselves to people''s service so that they are known for what they have done for the masses, Mr Joshi said.



PM Modi will launch the membership drive on July 6, the birth anniversary of BJP ideologue Syama Prasad Mookerjee. Mr Shah will kick it off in Telangana and other party leaders in different parts of the country.



Jul 02, 2019 11:26 (IST) Read Here: "Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat, Kashmiriyat": Amit Shah's Big Push For J&K

Union Minister Amit Shah, responding to the debate on the bill to extend President's Rule in Jammu and Kashmir, said the government will preserve "Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat and Kashmiriyat" - terms first used by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee while speaking of a healing touch for the state. But renewing the promise, Mr Shah also delivered a warning.

Union Minister Amit Shah, responding to the debate on the bill to extend President's Rule in Jammu and Kashmir, said the government will preserve "Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat and Kashmiriyat" - terms first used by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee while speaking of a healing touch for the state. But renewing the promise, Mr Shah also delivered a warning.

Jul 02, 2019 11:25 (IST) Read Here: PM Modi After Passage Of J&K Bills: Such Bipartisan Support Is Gladdening

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday thanked lawmakers in both houses of Parliament for passing two legislations on Jammu and Kashmir, and complimented Home Minister Amit Shah for delivering speeches that were both "comprehensive and insightful" in this regard.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday thanked lawmakers in both houses of Parliament for passing two legislations on Jammu and Kashmir, and complimented Home Minister Amit Shah for delivering speeches that were both "comprehensive and insightful" in this regard.