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Parliament Winter Session concluded: Key bills passed

The Winter session of Parliament which began on November 18 concluded today with both the Houses adjourned. The month-long session saw some controversial bills being passed. Except for Surrogacy Bill and Data Protection Bill, no other bills were sent to the select committee within Parliament.

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The Winter session of Parliament which began on November 18 concluded today with both the Houses adjourned. The month-long session saw some controversial bills being passed. Except for Surrogacy Bill and Data Protection Bill, no other bills were sent to the select committee within Parliament.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi, today informed the media that a total of 14 Bills were passed in the Lok Sabha with 116% productivity, whereas the Rajya Sabha passed 15 bills with 100% productivity. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said that Rajya Sabha wasted over 11 hours in the session due to disruptions, however, members sat beyond scheduled hours to complete the business. The Lok Sabha worked for 130 hours, while the Rajya Sabha worked for 105 hours.

In the Monsoon session, Lok Sabha had worked for 281 hours which is 135% of the scheduled hours and Rajya had Sabha had worked for 195 hours which is 100% of the scheduled hours. This was higher than any other session of Parliament in the past 20 years.

The most contentious bill that was passed in the Winter session was the Citizenship Amendment Bill. The bill seeks to grant citizenship status to persecuted minorities–Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Christians, and Parsis–from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The legislation also reduces the pre-requisite time span required to stay in India before applying for citizenship, from 11 years to 5 years. The passage of the bill in both houses led to violent protests in various parts of the Northeast.

The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Bill, 2019 was also passed amid several concerns from various quarters. The Bill seeks to prohibit the production, trade, storage, and advertisement of electronic cigarettes. Any person who contravenes this provision will be punishable with imprisonment of up to one year, or a fine of up to one lakh rupees, or both.

Another contentious Bill that was passed in December was the Special Protections Group Act. It provides for the constitution and regulation of the Special Protection Group (SPG) to provide security to the Prime Minister, former Prime Ministers, and their immediate family members.

The Bill provides security to the Prime Minister, former Prime Ministers, and the immediate family members residing at the allotted residence for a period of five years from the date on which she/he demits office.

Another bill that was passed amid stiff opposition was The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019. The Trans Bill was passed on November 26 and defines a trans-person as someone whose gender does not match the one assigned at birth. It prohibits discrimination against them in employment, education, housing, healthcare, and other services. It allows self-perception of gender identity but calls for recognition as ‘transgender’ on the basis of a certificate of identity issued by a district magistrate.

Most of the laws in the last two sessions were introduced with little or no notice, ignored proposed amendments and demands for scrutiny or references to Select Committees.

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India News

Abhishek Banerjee says will not bow to BJP after nearly 11 hours of ED questioning

After spending nearly 11 hours before the Enforcement Directorate, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee said he would not bow to the BJP and accused the ruling party of using investigative agencies for political purposes.

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Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress leader and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday said he would not bow to the BJP after spending nearly 11 hours being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an ongoing investigation.

Speaking after the questioning, Banerjee alleged that central agencies were being used to target opposition leaders and asserted that he would continue his political fight despite what he described as sustained pressure.

The TMC leader has repeatedly maintained that investigations involving him are politically motivated, a charge he has made on several previous occasions while appearing before central agencies.

His appearance before the ED comes amid a period of heightened political activity and multiple investigations involving leaders in West Bengal. Recent days have also seen Banerjee face summons and questioning in separate matters by state investigative agencies.

After leaving the ED office, Banerjee reiterated that he would not be intimidated and said he remained committed to his political responsibilities. He also accused the BJP of attempting to weaken opposition parties through investigative action, an allegation that the BJP has rejected in the past.

The Enforcement Directorate has not publicly commented on Banerjee’s remarks. The investigation related to the questioning remains ongoing.

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India News

DMK attacks Rahul Gandhi, accuses him of weakening opposition unity

DMK has intensified its criticism of Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader’s actions have weakened opposition unity and strained relations within the INDIA bloc.

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Rahul-Gandhi

The war of words between the DMK and Congress has intensified, with the DMK launching a strong attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and accusing him of contributing to divisions within the opposition alliance. The criticism comes amid strained ties between the two parties following their political split in Tamil Nadu.

According to the DMK, Rahul Gandhi’s political approach has weakened unity among opposition parties. The party’s IT wing mocked the Congress leader on social media, while an editorial published in the DMK’s official mouthpiece Murasoli questioned his recent remarks on opposition solidarity.

DMK questions Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on opposition unity

In its editorial, Murasoli argued that Rahul Gandhi was speaking about opposition unity despite, according to the DMK, contributing to disagreements among alliance partners in several states. The publication cited criticism directed at Congress by various opposition parties and suggested that the party’s actions had often created tensions within the INDIA bloc.

The editorial also referred to past political disputes involving Congress and Left parties, particularly in Kerala, claiming such episodes had raised concerns among opposition allies about Congress’s approach toward its partners.

Tamil Nadu political fallout adds to tensions

The attack comes after a major political realignment in Tamil Nadu. Following the 2026 Assembly elections, Congress ended its alliance with the DMK and joined the government led by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The move left the DMK in the opposition and significantly altered the political equation between the two former allies.

The DMK has alleged that Congress benefited from the alliance during the election and later abandoned its partner. The party’s editorial questioned whether assurances from Congress leadership would be trusted by alliance partners after the developments in Tamil Nadu.

Congress rejects allegations

Congress has not issued a detailed official response to the editorial, but party sources have rejected the allegations. According to the party, its decisions in Tamil Nadu were made in line with the mandate delivered by voters and were not intended to undermine either the DMK or the broader opposition alliance.

The latest exchange highlights growing strains between two key opposition parties even as leaders continue to stress cooperation on national issues. Just days earlier, Rahul Gandhi had said that the DMK remained aligned with the opposition on defending the “idea of India” despite political differences.

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Entertainment

Kumkum Bhagya actor Sanchita Ugale dies by suicide near Mumbai at 22

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, died by suicide at her residence near Mumbai. Police have launched an investigation.

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Sanchita Ugale

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for her appearances in Kumkum Bhagya, Wagle Ki Duniya and Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi, died by suicide at her residence in Nalasopara East near Mumbai on June 14. She was 22.

According to police officials, the incident took place at her home in Achole village, Nalasopara East. Authorities said Ugale had locked herself inside her bedroom and was later found hanging from a ceiling fan. Family members and local residents rushed her to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. Officials said inquiries are underway and the exact reason behind the incident has not yet been established.

Career across television, OTT and films

Ugale had built a growing presence in the entertainment industry through television, streaming projects and films. Apart from Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, she played a lead role in Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi. She also appeared in OTT projects such as Crime Aaj Kal and Silence 2.

The actor was also associated with the film Chhaava, which contributed to her growing recognition among audiences.

Last social media post draws attention

Following news of her death, social media users shared and commented on Ugale’s final Instagram post, which had been uploaded hours before the incident. The post showed the actor in traditional attire lip-syncing to a classic Bollywood song. Fans expressed shock and grief after learning of her death.

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