Budget Session 2018 Live Updates: In back-to-back speeches, PM Modi underlined that the “New India” initiatives of his government were qualitatively different from the ones of “Old India” championed by the Congress. Budget Session 2018 Live Updates: In back-to-back speeches, PM Modi underlined that the “New India” initiatives of his government were qualitatively different from the ones of “Old India” championed by the Congress.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s reply to the Opposition in the Lok Sabha was briefly disrupted after the Congress protested against his remarks on party president Rahul Gandhi.

Speaking on the Rafale deal, Jaitley said the breakup cost of the deal cannot be disclosed as it would reveal to the enemy what weapons system is part of the aircraft. Saying that security pacts are “inherent” to such deals, Jaitley asked Congress MP Veerapa Moily: “Ask your kabadi (scrap dealer) president to kindly go back to Pranab Mukherjee (who served as defence minister in UPA) and take lessons from him.”

Earlier today, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 12 pm soon after it began as leaders from the Congress Party protested against PM Narendra Modi’s remark against Renuka Chowdhury.

Yesterday, while the Prime Minister was arguing that the Aadhaar scheme was conceptualised by the A B Vajpayee government, Renuka Chowdhury laughed out hysterically. As Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu pulled her up for her conduct and told her that he may have to name her, PM Modi requested him not to say anything to her.

He said he heard such laughter for the first time after the Ramayan serial telecast on Indian television in the late 80s.

Yesterday, while replying to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a blistering attack on the Congress and its first family. In back-to-back speeches, he underlined that the “New India” initiatives of his government were qualitatively different from the ones of “Old India” championed by the Congress. READ MORE