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PM Modi’s charge of Manmohan Singh colluding with Pak disrupts Parliament for fourth day

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8 years ago

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Disruptions continued to dog the Parliament on the fourth day of winter session, forcing Rajya Sabha to be adjourned for the day on Wednesday, Dec 20, while the Lok Sabha was adjourned temporarily and managed to conduct some business despite the ruckus.

The cause of the uproar was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks against his predecessor Manmohan Singh, accusing him of colluding with Pakistan to influence Gujarat polls. Dr Singh had made an uncharacteristically sharp rebuttal, accusing Modi of trying to win “political points” through “canards” and demanding that he apologise to the nation. Taking it up now, as expected, while the Congress is demanding an apology for the bizarre charge, the BJP government has made it clear that no apology would be tendered.

The loss of time comes when the winter session was already curtailed: it began on December 15 and will conclude on January 5 next year.

In Parliament on Wednesday, with the Question Hour on his office, PMO, the PM was present in Lok Sabha but no work could be conducted. As the Question Hour started, the Congress MPs trooped in the Well of the House, shouting “Dr sahab se maafi mango” (apologise to Dr Manmohan Singh). Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the proceedings of the House till noon.

In Rajya Sabha, Chairman Venkaiah Naidu’s repeated appeals for calm had no effect. Naidu’s statement did not help: “… Nobody is going to give apology. Nothing happened in the House. The statement was not made here.”

The Parliament has lost three days over the issue. On Tuesday, Naidu said he had met senior leaders from both sides to try and address the problem. He said he also met Dr Singh. There was an agreement that a joint committee will be formed to find a solution, according to media reports.

However, after a joint meeting between members of the government and the opposition on Tuesday, reports said an apology from Modi or his government was not likely. Reports said that the government clearly conveyed its decision during the meeting, in which Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar were present, that no apology will be issued for Modi’s accusation of treason, which he made on 11 December, without providing any evidence.

The meeting came after the Chairman of Rajya Sabha Venkaiah Naidu asked the two sides to talk and resolve the issue.

Dr Manmohan Singh was also reported to have met Naidu to express anguish over Modi’s remarks. “Dr. Manmohan Singhji met me. He has expressed his concern, his feelings. I have talked to him and also understood what he meant. I have conveyed it to the right persons also,” Naidu said.

While the government has made it clear that an apology from Modi was ruled out, it had reportedly assured that either Jaitley, who is Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, or Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar would make a statement.

However, media reports quoting sources said that during the meeting between the Opposition and the government, Jaitley made it clear that he had a transcript of the Prime Minister’s speech and he did not speak out of line. Jaitley instead went on to accuse the Congress of using abusive terms for Modi.

“I think the PM’s stature will not be diminished if he clarifies and regrets because Manmohan Singh is also a member of the House. Why should he stand on falsehood? Either he should prove there was something wrong or he should take his words back to convey his regret to Singh,” deputy leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma said.

In the Lok Sabha, while turning down the opposition demand in the Question Hour for a discussion on the issue, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said, “The elections are over and the results are out. I cannot allow you to raise the issue here.”

The House was adjourned amid noisy scenes. The protests continued in the Well of the House even in the Zero Hour, with Congress members trying to speak even when not granted permission.

As Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi looked on, party MPs took to addressing the Speaker from the Well one by one though they could not be heard. Meanwhile, the Zero Hour proceedings continued regardless with members from ruling BJP and other parties raising various issues.

Congress leader in the House Mallikarjuna Kharge read out from a written note from his seat despite being disallowed by the Speaker. The Congress walked out shortly thereafter.

It is usually seen as the government’s responsibility to ensure smooth functioning of the House. It may allow a discussion and get an issue done with instead of letting it stall the Parliament’s work. However, the government and the opposition refuse to relent from their respective stands, costing the Parliament valuable time that could be used for debates and discussions over the business to be transacted.

The blame for disruptions always falls on the opposition parties, although during the previous, UPA government’s time, the charge was that the government was ‘shying away from a debate’.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Mamata Banerjee holds crucial meeting with TMC MLAs amid party rebellion in West Bengal

Mamata Banerjee has called a crucial meeting of TMC MLAs amid growing dissent and claims by a rebel faction, with party unity under intense scrutiny.

Published

2 days ago

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June 5, 2026

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West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is set to hold a crucial meeting with party legislators at her residence as the ruling party grapples with one of its most serious internal challenges in recent years.

The meeting comes at a time when the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is facing visible dissent from a section of its MLAs, raising concerns over party unity and legislative strength. The gathering is being closely watched as a test of whether Mamata Banerjee can bring disgruntled lawmakers back into the party fold.

Attendance under scrutiny after recent setbacks

The latest meeting assumes significance after an earlier gathering at Mamata Banerjee’s residence reportedly witnessed poor attendance, forcing the session to be called off. Reports suggested that only a fraction of the party’s legislators attended, triggering speculation about growing unrest within the organisation.

The internal turbulence has intensified following claims by a rebel faction that it enjoys the support of a substantial number of TMC legislators. The developments have sparked concerns about the party’s cohesion in the state assembly.

Leadership faces challenge from rebel camp

The rebellion has largely been linked to dissatisfaction among some legislators regarding the party’s leadership structure and decision-making process. While several reports indicate that the anger of dissenting MLAs is directed more towards sections of the party leadership than Mamata Banerjee herself, the crisis has nevertheless emerged as a major challenge for the TMC chief.

Recent developments, including the recognition of a rebel-backed opposition leader in the West Bengal Assembly and subsequent legal and political battles, have further highlighted divisions within the party.

Meeting expected to focus on party unity

Party leaders are expected to use the meeting to assess support within the legislative wing, discuss the ongoing political situation and explore ways to restore unity ahead of future political battles in the state.

Political observers believe the outcome of the meeting could provide a clearer picture of whether the Trinamool Congress can contain the rebellion or whether the internal crisis is likely to deepen further in the coming weeks.

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Ramalinga Reddy resigns from Karnataka cabinet over portfolio allocation dispute

Karnataka minister Ramalinga Reddy has resigned from the DK Shivakumar cabinet after expressing dissatisfaction with the portfolio allocated to him, creating an early challenge for the new government.

Published

2 days ago

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June 5, 2026

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Senior Congress leader and Karnataka minister Ramalinga Reddy has resigned from the state cabinet, just days after taking oath in the newly formed government led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. The resignation follows his reported dissatisfaction with the portfolio allotted to him.

According to reports, Reddy was assigned the Major and Medium Irrigation department during the cabinet portfolio distribution announced on Friday. However, the veteran leader was said to be seeking the Bengaluru Development portfolio, which eventually went to Krishna Byre Gowda.

The development comes at a sensitive time for the new Karnataka government, which was sworn in earlier this week after D.K. Shivakumar took charge as Chief Minister. Portfolio allocation had reportedly been delayed amid intense lobbying for several key departments, including those linked to Bengaluru’s administration and infrastructure.

Reddy cites repeated humiliation

In his resignation, Ramalinga Reddy reportedly expressed strong disappointment with the manner in which the portfolio allocation was handled. He is said to have felt sidelined despite his seniority in the party and flagged what he described as a reversal of earlier assurances.

Reports indicated that meetings were held involving Shivakumar, Reddy and other senior leaders as efforts were made to resolve the issue. However, the discussions did not result in a breakthrough, leading to Reddy’s decision to step down from the ministry.

Early challenge for Shivakumar government

Reddy’s resignation marks one of the first major political challenges for the newly formed Congress government in Karnataka. The cabinet formation process had already drawn attention due to competition for influential portfolios and ongoing efforts to balance various factions within the party.

It remains to be seen whether the Congress leadership will attempt to persuade Reddy to reconsider his decision or move ahead with a cabinet reshuffle to address the vacancy.

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Vijay allocates Tamil Nadu’s lone Rajya Sabha seat to Congress

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has handed the state’s lone vacant Rajya Sabha seat to Congress, strengthening alliance ties ahead of the upcoming Upper House elections.

Published

3 days ago

on

June 4, 2026

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and TVK chief Vijay has allotted the state’s lone vacant Rajya Sabha seat to alliance partner Congress, a move that further strengthens cooperation between the two parties after the formation of the new government. The decision comes ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for June 18.

The allocation is being seen as an important political gesture by Vijay towards Congress, which has emerged as a key ally of the ruling coalition in Tamil Nadu. Congress currently has five MLAs supporting the government and is also represented in the state cabinet.

Sources indicate that senior Congress leader and All India Congress Committee functionary Praveen Chakravarty is likely to be the party’s nominee for the Rajya Sabha seat. His nomination is expected to be filed in the coming days.

Move reinforces TVK-Congress partnership

The decision follows recent interactions between senior Congress leaders and the Tamil Nadu leadership, including a meeting between veteran Congress leader P. Chidambaram and Chief Minister Vijay. Political observers view the Rajya Sabha seat-sharing arrangement as another step towards consolidating the alliance ahead of future electoral contests.

Congress had reportedly sought the Rajya Sabha berth from its ally, and the allocation is expected to increase the party’s representation in the Upper House from Tamil Nadu. With the latest development, Congress is set to have two Rajya Sabha members from the state along with representation in the state government.

The Rajya Sabha bypoll had earlier been viewed as an opportunity for Vijay’s TVK to secure its first direct entry into Parliament. However, the party chose to back its ally, highlighting the importance it places on coalition politics and alliance management.

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