New Delhi:

Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Friday submitted an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha to discuss Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on Dr BR Ambedkar in Rajya Sabha and demanded his apology and resignation.

“The Minister’s comments, made during the Constitution debate in the Rajya Sabha, were not only unacceptable but also reflected a deep-seated disdain for the principles of social justice and equality that Dr Ambedkar fought for throughout his life,” Manickam Tagore said in the notice.

Manickam Tagore demanded that Amit Shah apologize unconditionally for his remarks and resign from his position as Union Home Minister.

“I demand that Amit Shah apologize unconditionally for his remarks and resign from his position as Union Home Minister. His continued presence in the Cabinet is an affront to the dignity of the Constitution and the people of India,” the notice read.

Manickam Tagore demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the parliament take action against Amit Shah’s remarks in the strongest possible terms and demand his resignation.

“Furthermore, I urge the Prime Minister to take immediate action and remove Amit Shah from his position, as his comments have brought disrepute to the office of the Home Minister. I request this House to condemn Amit Shah’s remarks in the strongest possible terms and demand his resignation,” the notice read.

On Thursday, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah to take back his remark on the architect of the Indian Constitution Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar and said that it has “hurt Baba Saheb’s dignity.”

On the same day, INDIA Bloc MPs led by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi held a protest in the Parliament premises and demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his remarks on Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Many MPs including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Sanjay Raut, Mahua Majhi, and Ram Gopal Yadav were seen wearing blue clothes as a mark of protest against the Home Minister’s remarks.

The row erupted after Union Home Minister Amit Shah in his recent speech in the Rajya Sabha, reportedly said, “If they had taken the name of God so many times instead of Ambedkar, they would have got heaven for seven lives.”

New Delhi:

The Lok Sabha on Tuesday held a division vote to introduce two bills to amend the Constitution and permit simultaneous federal and state polls, as part of the ruling BJP’s ‘one nation, one election’ push.

The bills were passed by simple majority, as required by the rulebook; 269 MPs voted in favour and 198 opposed it. However, the margin was flagged by critics of the ‘one nation, one election’ bill, who claimed it shows the government lacks support, even at this stage, to pass the bills.

“Two-thirds majority (i.e., 307) was needed out of the total 461 votes… but the government secured only (269), while the opposition got 198. The ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal failed to gain two-thirds support,” Congress MP Manickam Tagore said on X, with a screenshot of the e-voting system.

Two-thirds majority (307) was needed out of the total 461 votes, but the government secured only 263, while the opposition got 198. The ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal failed to gain two-thirds support. pic.twitter.com/5GIQQ0qY7r

— Manickam Tagore .Bமாணிக்கம் தாகூர்.ப (@manickamtagore) December 17, 2024

Mr Tagore’s colleague, Shashi Tharoor, also pointed out the apparent gap in numbers.

“Undoubtedly the government has larger numbers on its side… but to pass it (bills to amend the Constitution) you need a 2/3 majority that they very clearly don’t have,” he told reporters after the House was briefly adjourned, “It is obvious (then) that they should not persist too long with this…”

#WATCH | On One Nation One Election Bill, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says “…Undoubtedly the government has larger numbers on its side than us. In the JPC, however, they may even have a majority in terms of the composition of the JPC but to pass it as a constitutional amendment,… pic.twitter.com/8e56JJNNCP

— ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2024

According to the rules, these amendments to the Constitution will require the support of two-third of members present and voting to clear the Lok Sabha. The Congress, using today as an example, pointed out that 461 members took part in the vote to introduce the Constitutional Amendment Bill.

If this were a vote to pass the bill, 307 of those 461 would have to vote in favour but only 269 did, prompting the Congress to say, “This bill does not have support… many parties have spoken against it.”

The Congress’ exultations, while premature, contain a kernel of truth.

‘One Nation, One Election’ Numbers Game

As of today the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance has 293 MPs in its camp, and the opposition – the Congress-led INDIA – has 234. Even at full strength the NDA’s score is not enough – as the Congress leaders said – to push through bills to amend the Constitution.

The BJP will, therefore, need support, from non-aligned parties, but there are only two possibilities here – the YSR Congress with four MPs and the Akali Dal with one. Both have already pledged support. 

That leaves Prime Minister Narendra Modi needing at least nine more votes – not impossible to cobble together for the BJP – for his ‘one nation, one election’ dream to cross the Lok Sabha.

For now, the bill will likely be sent to a joint committee that will be constituted based on each party’s Lok Sabha numbers. This will mean the BJP will have the maximum members and lead the committee

Congress, Opposition Slam ONOP

The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha this afternoon by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. The introduction was followed by scathing attacks from the opposition.

The Congress’ Manish Tewari, the Samajwadi Party’s Dharmendra Yadav, Kalyan Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress, and TR Baalu from Tamil Nadu’s Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam led the charge.

The Shiv Sena faction of ex-Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and the Nationalist Congress Party group led by Sharad Pawar, as well as a host of smaller parties, including the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Indian Union Muslim League, also voiced opposition.

READ | “Not Tampering With State Powers”: Law Minister On ‘ONOP’

The common thread among critics of the ‘One Nation, One Poll’, or ONOP Bill, was that the simultaneous elections proposal subverts the basic structure of the Constitution and must be withdrawn immediately. Mr Yadav, meanwhile, warned the House, “This is the path to dictatorship”.

Earlier, Trinamool boss and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called it “a design to subvert the basic structure of the Constitution and slammed the “anti-federal” exercise, labelling it “an authoritarian imposition designed to undermine India’s democracy and federal structure”.

READ | “Must Save Democracy”: Mamata Banerjee, Opposition Slam ‘1 Nation, 1 Poll’

Mr Baalu flagged the expenditure simultaneous polls entailed, including the Election Commission having to spend Rs 10,000 crore on new EVMs, or electronic voting machines, every 15 years. “The government should send this bill to the JPC (joint parliamentary committee),” he said.

READ | Rs 10,000 Crore Every 15 Years – Cost Of ‘One Nation, One Poll’

“Unwavering Support” From BJP Allies

Two of the BJP’s allies – Andhra Pradesh’s ruling Telugu Desam Party and the Sena faction of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde – established their backing of the bill.

“We have seen in Andhra Pradesh (that) when simultaneous elections happen… there is clarity of process and governance. That has been our experience and we want that to happen across the country,” the TDP’s Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu said, expressing “unwavering support”.

BJP Responds

Rising to speak after the avalanche of criticism, Mr Meghwal hit back and insisted the ‘one nation, one election’ proposal is a long-pending piece of electoral reform and will not damage the Constitution.

“Laws can be brought in for electoral reforms… this bill is aligned with the process of easing the electoral process, which will be synchronised. There will be no damage to the Constitution via this Bill. There will be no tampering with the basic structure of the Constitution,” he said.

What Is ‘One Nation, One Election’?

Simply put, it means all Indians will vote in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections – to pick central and state representatives – in the same year, if not at the same time.

As of 2024, only four states voted with a Lok Sabha election – Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Odisha voted alongside the April-June Lok Sabha election. Three others – Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir – voted in October-November.

NDTV Special | ‘One Nation, One Election’: What Is It And How Will It Work

The rest follow a non-synced five-year cycle; Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana, for example, were among those voted at different times last year, while Delhi and Bihar will vote in 2025 and Tamil Nadu and Bengal are among those that will vote in 2026.

Can ‘One Nation, One Election’ Work?

Not without an amendment to the Constitution and that amendment being ratified by the governments of all states and union territories, as well as, possibly, major political parties.

NDTV Explains | ‘One Nation, One Election’. What Are Pros And Cons?

These are Article 83 (term of Parliament), Article 85 (dissolution of Lok Sabha by the President), Article 172 (duration of state legislatures), and Article 174 (dissolution of state legislatures), as well as Article 356 (imposition of President’s Rule).

Legal experts have warned that failure to pass such amendments will leave the proposal open to attack on charges of violating India’s federal structure.

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Congress’s Manickam Tagore has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, seeking action against BJP leader Sambit Patra for what he called  “slanderous language” against Rahul Gandhi. Mr Patra, he alleged, had made the comments about the Leader of the Opposition at a press conference.

In his letter to the Speaker, Mr Tagore sought stringent action against Mr Patra, alleging that his conduct was a “clear violation” of the decorum and ethics expected of a Member of Parliament.

Mr Patra had claimed that billionaire investor George Soros and some US-based agencies, investigative media platform “Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project” and Mr Gandhi form three sides of a “dangerous” triangle trying to destabilise India.

“I have no hesitation in saying that he (Gandhi) is a traitor of the highest order,” Mr Patra had said.

In his letter to Mr Birla, Mr Tagore said, “Such behaviour not only tarnishes the image of Parliament but also insults the dignity of a high constitutional office. As a custodian of Parliament, I urge you to take immediate and stringent action against Sambit Patra”.

“I trust that you will address this matter with the seriousness it deserves and take appropriate steps to uphold the dignity and integrity of our parliamentary system,” Mr Tagore wrote.  
 

Manickam Tagore. File.
| Photo Credit: KVS GIRI

Congress MP Manickam Tagore, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sought a “more detailed explanation” behind the reasons for the recent price hike announced by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA).

On X today (November 2, 2024), Mr. Tagore posted a letter dated October 25, 2024 in which he expressed his concerns “regarding the recent decision by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) to increase the ceiling prices of eight commonly used drugs by 50%”

Also read |Why did the Centre sanction a 50% hike in prices of commonly-used drugs?

Last month, the NPPA had approved an increase in the ceiling prices of eleven scheduled formulations of eight drugs by 50% of their current ceiling prices.

Most of these drugs are low-cost and generally used as first line treatment crucial to the public health programmes of the country.

“While I understand that the government cited ‘extraordinary circumstances” and “public interest as reasons for this increase, I believe it is crucial to clarify the rationale behind such a significant decision,” he said stating that the hike affects vital medications that are “essential for millions of citizens.”

Explaining the hike in prices, the NPPA had said that it has been receiving applications from the manufacturers for upward revision of prices citing various reasons like increased cost of active pharmaceutical ingredients, increase in the cost of production, change in exchange rate etc., resulting in unviability in sustainable production and marketing of drugs.

“A sudden increase in drug prices could place an additional burden on these individuals potentially compromising their health outcomes.”

In his letter he also proposed the “establishment of an independent review committee to assess the real impact of this increase on patients and healthcare providers.”

Such a committee, he said, could offer recommendations for future pricing policies.

New Delhi:

The Congress party has named party MP Gaurav Gogoi as the deputy leader and K Suresh as the Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha.

Congress MPs Manickam Tagore and Md Jawaid will serve as whips of the party.

In this regard, a formal letter has been sent to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi.

Party MP KC Venugopal took to ‘X’ and provided information about the fresh appointments.

“Hon’ble CPP Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji has written to the Hon’ble Lok Sabha Speaker informing him about the appointment of the Deputy Leader, Chief Whip, and two Whips for the Congress Party in the Lok Sabha. Deputy Leader: Shri @GauravGogoiAsm, Chief Whip: Shri @kodikunnilMP, Whips: 1. Shri @manickamtagore and 2. @DrMdJawaid1. Congratulations to the new appointees,” he wrote in a post on ‘X.

The Congress MP also expressed confidence that the party, along with its allies in the INDIA bloc, would champion the people’s causes in the Lok Sabha.

“Guided by LOP Shri @RahulGandhi ji, the Congress and INDIA parties will energetically champion the people’s causes in the Lok Sabha,” he added.

Gaurav Gogoi represents Assam’s Jorhat constituency in the 18th Lok Sabha. He was pitted against the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Topon Kumar Gogoi.

K Suresh is currently the longest-serving Lok Sabha MP, as he has remained MP for 29 years.

Suresh was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1989, and thereafter, he won consecutively in the 1991, 1996, and 1999 general elections to the Lok Sabha from the Adoor constituency for four straight terms.

Suresh, who won his eighth Lok Sabha election from Mavelikkara (Kerala) in the 2024 general elections, has represented the seat four times in the past.

He is the working president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) and was the chief whip of the Congress Parliamentary Party in the 17th Lok Sabha.

The Mavelikkara MP was also nominated for the post of Deputy Speaker in the Lok Sabha. Later, the INDIA bloc decided to field him for the post of Speaker after the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) refused to accept the opposition INDIA bloc’s demand that the Deputy Speaker’s position be left for the Opposition in exchange for its support for the NDA nominee.

However, the NDA, which commands 293 MPs in the 543-member Lok Sabha, was able to demonstrate its clear majority to ensure that Om Birla returns to the chair he held in the 17th Lok Sabha.

Earlier, the INDIA bloc appointed Congress MP Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of Opposition (LoP), ending the 10-year spell of no LoP in the Lower House since 2014.

Lok Sabha did not have a Leader of Opposition in the last 10 years because no political party, other than the ruling party, was able to secure the minimum number of Lok Sabha seats required to nominate a Leader of the Opposition.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, the Congress emerged as the second-largest party with 52 seats. This was three short of the requisite numbers. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the Congress, again the second largest party, won 44 Lok Sabha seats — way below the mark.

After the 2024 Lok Sabha Polls, the Congress emerged as the second-largest party in the election and improved its tally to 100, from 52 in the 2019 Lok Sabha poll. The total tally of the INDIA bloc stood at 234.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Monday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for raking up the Katchatheevu island issue and dared him to take back the island from Sri Lanka if he is “so concerned” about Tamil Nadu.

“Will he take back Katchatheevu if he is so concerned about Tamil Nadu? I challenge PM Modi. They have failed,” Mr Tagore said speaking to the news agency ANI hours after Prime Minister’s ‘X’ post on the Katchatheevu island.

The senior Congress leader further assured that the Congress will raise its voice to take back the island from Sri Lanka if Tamil fishermen in Ramnad district are attacked.

“We are very clear that if our fishermen, our brothers in Ramnad district are attacked, we will raise our voices to take back Katchatheevu. But, in 10 years, PM Modi has failed to do so,” Mr Tagore said.

Claiming that the BJP had slim electoral chances in Tamil Nadu, Mr Tagore said, “PM Modi should stop such cheap tactics. He is being rejected by Tamil Nadu. They will not get even one seat in Tamil Nadu. Annamalai will not even come in the second place. He is struggling for the third place in Tamil Nadu.”

Mr Tagore claimed that the BJP is using “diversionary tactics” in Tamil Nadu since people are rejecting them in the state.

“The problem with BJP, RSS and PM Modi is that people are rejecting them in Tamil Nadu and they want a diversionary tactic,” the Congress leader said.

“Their discrimination towards Tamil Nadu is well known. AIIMS Madurai has not even started, all the projects in Tamil Nadu have not even started. There is only the foundation stone, only one brick is there everywhere…For that, they are raising this issue that had its origin in 1974,” he added.

Explaining the historical context of India giving away the Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka, Mr Tagore said, “The government of India headed by Indira Gandhi signed an agreement called the Indira Gandhi-Sirimavo Bandaranaike agreement. At that time, to save 6 lakh Tamils… because they are natives of old Ramnad district, this Katchatheevu island was given by the Government of India to the Sri Lankan government. It was done to save Tamils.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)