- Rajya Sabha adjourned till 11 am, Friday.
- Lok Sabha adjourned for the day.
- Mayawati comments on dismissal of Dayashankar Singh, the rights of Dalits.
- Sharad Yadav, Ahmed Patel commence debate on Dalit violence.
- Home Minister Rajnath Singh delivers statement on the Kashmir turmoil in Lok Sabha.
- Rajnath Singh blames Pakistan for sponsoring the violence in Kashmir.
- Committee to provide report on use of pellet guns within 2 months: Rajnath Singh.
- Congress’ Jyotiraditya Schindia raised violence against Dalits in the Lok Sabha.
- Schindia also condemned Dayashankar Singh’s comments about BSP supremo Mayawati.
Fall in People’s Faith in Politics, says Rajnath Singh
Home Minister Rajnath Singh quoted statistics of Gujarat on murder, rape, and compared it to states like Bihar and the Uttar Pradesh which have a higher rate of these crimes. He also commented on the social and cultural milieu of the country.
I believe that post independence there has been a fall in people’s faith in politics and politicians...There should be at least one programme from each party to change social and cultural mindset. From time people couldn’t enter certain premises, now they are empowered financially through ‘Stand Up India’ and ‘Jan Dhan’. Give us credit at least for this, that our Government’s approach is positive and not negative!Rajnath Singh, Home Minister
Javdekar Responds to the NIT Bill, Says Students Have “Urge to Learn”
Minister of Human Resource Development also spoke on the NIT bill and said:
Many raised the issue of infrastructure. (Therefore) We are proposing a higher education funding to Cabinet, the budget also has Rs 1000 crore. All NIT and IIT campuses will be linked with industries, can customise research requirements -this will promote research. Interest free educational loan for those with annual income up to Rs. 9 lakh will also be provided.
Mayawati Responds to BJP’s Decision to Oust Singh After ‘Prostitute’ Comment
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, BSP leader Mayawati addressed two issues. She commented on BJP’s decision to remove Dayashankar Singh to remove him from his position as the Uttar Pradesh Vice President.
All leaders, especially minority and women leaders have condemned the remarks. They have boosted my morale. I’d hoped that the BJP would have filed FIR against Dayashankar after suspending him from post and party.Mayawati, BSP Leader
The second issue she spoke about reservations for the SC/ST.
Congress in power -the longest and in highest numbers. Now the BJP has also served a total of eight years at the Centre since Independence. But even then there has not been enough progress in Dalit social and financial empowerment, there has been not even 50 percent benefit. The BJP celebrated its 125th birth anniversary but made no reservation for SC/ST in private sector or in higher judiciary... Forget about Dalits getting justice, even their FIR is not filed many times and the latest example is Una (Gujrat) incident.Mayawati, BSP Leader
She also said that both the Congress as well as the BJP use Dalits as political weapons when they are in Opposition.
NIT Bill Met With Tharoor’s Offensive
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor launches offensive against the quality of education provided by the National Institutes of Technology (NIT) in the country.
The expenditure of Harvard University only exceeds the budget that Mr Jaitley has provided Mr Javadekar.Shashi Tharoor
Comparing the condition of NITs to that of “small boats which collapse with the first wave”, Tharoor added that we should be building ships that can survive the oceans.
The attack was in response to the National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2016 that was introduced by Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar.
“I’m not opposing this bill...But we want these institutes to be solid ones,” says Tharoor.