ANOTHER 78 OPPOSITION MPS SUSPENDED FROM PARLIAMENT

As many as 78 opposition members -- 33 in Lok Sabha and 45 in Rajya Sabha -- were suspended from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Monday for disrupting proceedings in both the Houses of Parliament.

Earlier, on 14th Dec, 14 MP were suspended – 13 from Lok Sabha and one from Rajya Sabha.

Thirty-three opposition members were suspended from the Lok Sabha on Monday, including Congress leader in the House Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, DMK MPs T R Baalu and Dayanidhi Maran, and Trinamool Congress' Saugata Roy for disrupting the proceedings.

Among those suspended in Rajya Sabha were Congress MPs Pramod Tiwari, Jairam Ramesh, K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala and Samajwadi Party's Ram Gopal Yadav.

While 30 LS members were suspended for the remainder of the Winter Session, three were suspended pending the report of the Privileges Committee. The three -- K Jayakumar, Vijay Vasanth and Abdul Khaleque -- had climbed on the Speaker's podium to raise slogans.

After being named by the Chair, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi moved a motion regarding the suspension and it was adopted by a voice vote. The House was then adjourned for the day.

While 34 of the Rajya Sabha MPs were suspended for the remainder of the Winter session, 11 have been directed to stay away from the House pending an inquiry report on their conduct by the Committee of Privileges. The members were suspended after the House adopted a motion moved by Leader of the House Piyush Goyal for suspension of 34 MPs for the remainder of the session and another one for referring cases of conduct of 11 other opposition MPs to the privileges committee.

The Committee has been asked to submit its report within three months and the 11 MPs will not be able to attend the proceedings of the House till then.

Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar first named the suspended members and then put the motion to vote, which was adopted by voice vote.

The opposition members were creating a din in the House while demanding a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah on the security breach in Lok Sabha and were raising slogans and disrupting proceedings of the House that saw repeated adjournments since morning.

The Winter session is slated to conclude on December 22.

MP SUSPENSIONS HALVE STRENGTH OF INDIA BLOC IN RS, REDUCE BY ONE-THIRD IN LS

Opposition INDIA bloc lost almost half its strength in Rajya Sabha and one-third in Lok Sabha as 78 MPs in total were suspended on Monday for unruly behaviour and disregarding the directions of the Chair. The INDIA bloc has 95 MPs in Rajya Sabha of which 45 were suspended on Monday.

In the Lok Sabha, on the other hand, the Opposition bloc has a total strength of 133 MPs of whom 46, or around one-third, stand suspended. The 46 include 33 suspended on Monday and 13 earlier.

After the suspension of most of their leaders, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will now have to spearhead the alliance's attack in Rajya Sabha and Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha.

NCP leader Sharad Pawar, CPM floor leader Elamaram Kareem and Dravida Munnetra Kazhgam floor leader Tiruchi Siva will also have to lead the Opposition charge along with Kharge in the upper house, as others stand suspended.

MOCKERY OF DEMOCRACY: OPPOSITION

The Opposition tore into the govt over the suspension of 92 MPs from Parliament. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said the BJP was afraid and the suspension of Opposition members was suppression of the voice of the people, describing the action a “mockery of democracy”.

Talking to reporters here, she said they could suspend all members of the Opposition from Parliament and then do a “mockery of democracy”. “Why did they suspend so many MPs? Do you think they won two states so they became so arrogant?” said Banerjee.

“The House is supreme. If they (BJP) have majority of members, why are they so afraid? They are passing all Bills by voice vote. They suspend all the members, how can they raise their voice,” said Banerjee.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, in a post on X, said, “With an Opposition-less Parliament, the Modi govt can now bulldoze important pending legislations, crush any dissent, without any debate.All democratic norms are being thrown into a dustbin by an autocratic Modi govt”

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said: “Neither the Prime Minister nor the Home Minister speaks on the issues. If we demand your statement, you suspend us from the House – this is not acceptable to anyone.”

INDIA SHOULDN’T BE DEFENSIVE ABOUT ITS DOMESTIC POLITICS: JAISHANKAR

In a sharp message to Indian and western diplomats, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday that Indian negotiators should not be defensive about their “domestic politics”.

Jaishankar, who was speaking at the launch of the book, “India’s Moment: Changing Power Equations around the World” by former Indian diplomat, Prof Mohan Kumar, said: “American domestic politics or Western or European domestic politics is often made to appear very reasonable… they can’t do this because they have a big domestic lobby. What about my domestic lobby? How often do we talk about that? So, domestic politics is there in every polity and we should not be defensive about our domestic politics. Well, other countries assert it, often as almost as a baseline of a negotiation… saying, this is my way of life. This may not be absolutely market based, but you’ve got to accept it because it is cultural, it is social, and is historical. So, that’s my domestic politics.”

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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EARTHQUAKE IN CHINA, OVER 110 DEAD

At least 111 people were killed when an earthquake collapsed buildings in northwest China, state media reported Tuesday, as rescue workers raced to start digging through rubble.

About 100 were killed and scores more injured in Gansu province after the strong, shallow tremor struck, state broadcaster CCTV said, citing the provincial earthquake relief headquarters.

According to CCTV, 11 others were killed and 100 injured in the city of Haidong in the neighbouring province of Qinghai.

The quake caused significant damage, including collapsed houses, and sent people running into the street for safety, state news agency Xinhua said.

Rescue work was under way early Tuesday, with Chinese President Xi Jinping calling for "all-out efforts" in the search and relief work as well as ensuring the safety of the survivors and their property.

The quake, which was logged as magnitude 5.9 by the US Geological Survey, struck in Gansu near the border with Qinghai, where Haidong is located.

US SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL IRONCLAD, BUT SAFETY OF GAZANS A PRIORITY: AUSTIN

US defence secretary Lloyd Austin told top Israeli leaders on Monday that protecting civilians was a “strategic imperative” for their ground and air campaign in Gaza, as pressure grows on Israel to scale back the war. Austin, making his second visit to Israel since the deadly Hamasled October 7 attacks, met with PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s defence minister, Yoav Gallant, and other top officials to discuss in detail how Israeli forces will transition to the next phase of the war.

Speaking to reporters after daylong meetings in Tel Aviv, Austin called US support for Israel “unshakable”, and endorsed Israel’s campaign to destroy Hamas’s ability to wage military operations. But he also repeated a message he has often made of late: Israel would be left less secure if its combat operations turn more Palestinians in support of Hamas. “Israel has every right to defend itself,” he said, standing alongside Gallant. “As I’ve said, protecting Palestinian civilians in Gaza is both a moral duty and a strategic imperative.” Austin’s comments came a day after Netanyahu vowed to “fight to the end” in Gaza.

POPE OKS BLESSINGS FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES IF RITUALS DON’T RESEMBLE MARRIAGE

Pope Francis has formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, with a new document explaining a radical change in Vatican policy by insisting that people seeking God’s love and mercy shouldn’t be subject to “an exhaustive moral analysis” to receive it.

The document from the Vatican’s doctrine office, released Monday, elaborates on a letter Francis sent to two conservative cardinals that was published in October. In that preliminary response, Francis suggested such blessings could be offered under some circumstances if they didn’t confuse the ritual with the sacrament of marriage. The new document repeats that rationale and elaborates on it, reaffirming that marriage is a lifelong sacrament between a man and a woman. And it stresses that blessings should not be conferred at the same time as a civil union, using set rituals or even with the clothing and gestures that belong in a wedding.

But it says requests for such blessings should not be denied.

THE REST

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"JO UCCHIT SAMJHO...": RAJNATH SINGH TO EX-ARMY CHIEF DURING CHINA TENSION

'Jo ucchit samjho woh karo' (Do whatever you deem appropriate), this is what Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told the then Army Chief Gen MM Naravane on the night of August 31, 2020 following a tense situation arising out of Chinese PLA moving tanks and troops in Rechin La mountain pass on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

In his memoir 'Four Stars of Destiny', Naravane recounts Singh's direction as well as a flurry of phone calls between the defence minister, external affairs minister, the national security advisor and the chief of defence staff that night on the sensitive situation.

After Singh's call, Naravane says a hundred different thoughts "flashed through" his mind. "I conveyed the criticality of the situation to the RM (Raksha Mantri), who said he would get back to me, which he did, by about 2230 hours," writes Naravane.

"He said that he had spoken to the PM and that it was purely a military decision. 'Jo ucchit samjho woh karo' (Do whatever you deem is appropriate)."

MAMATA READY FOR TIE-UP WITH CONG, LEFT IN BENGAL, SAYS INDIA PM AFTER POLLS

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday said the INDIA bloc's prime ministerial candidate will be decided after the polls, adding that a Trinamool Congress-Congress-Left alliance, who are part of the Opposition grouping, is possible in her state too.

Talking to reporters, Banerjee expressed confidence the INDIA bloc will resolve all issues including those related to seat-sharing.

While stating that the BJP has "media and money power", Banerjee said people are with opposition parties. She also dismissed suggestions that the alliance has lost time in putting things in order, saying "It is better late than never".

Asked about BJP's rising influence, especially in the Hindi belt, she said, "The BJP is not strong. We are weak. We need to work together to overcome it".

CONGRESS'S 2024 FUNDS DRIVE "REDIRECTS" TO BJP WITHIN HOURS OF LAUNCH

The Congress party's 'Donate for Desh' crowdfunding campaign hit a roadblock - a technical one - within hours of its launch yesterday. It seems the party did not register the domain name before announcing the initiative and now, ironically, clicking DonateforDesh.org takes the visitor to the donation page of the BJP.

The Congress accused the BJP of "copying" it and "creating fake domains to confuse people".

The domain name of the party's campaign is donateinc.net.

Supriya Shrinate, a Congress leader and the party's social media and digital platforms chairperson, said the BJP "is in panic mode" after the grand old party started its donation campaign.

"Why is BJP so afraid despite having autocratic power, all institutions, all resources and maximum money? When Congress started the donation campaign, not only did they (BJP) panic but their system also started creating fake domains and confusing them. By the way, thanks for copying us - it's good to see your fear," she posted on X in Hindi.

ED ISSUES FRESH SUMMONS TO DELHI CM ARVIND KEJRIWAL IN EXCISE POLICY CASE

The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on December 21 for questioning in the excise policy case.

But Kejriwal is unlikely to appear for questioning as he is scheduled to go for Vipassana meditation between December 19 and December 30.

This is the second summons issued to the Aam Aadmi Party chief by the ED in the case. The first one was issued in October, asking him to appear for questioning on November 2. He, however, did not appear and instead wrote a letter to the ED Assistant Director, calling the summons politically motivated. He then left the city to lead a road show in Madhya Pradesh as part of the Assembly election campaign.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP and national general secretary (organisation) Sandeep Pathak said Monday that legal opinion regarding the fresh notice is being taken. “It is known that Arvind Kejriwal ji is supposed to go for Vipassana. These things are decided months in advance. A lawyer is going through the notice and a decision will be taken soon,” he said.

Pathak also called the excise policy case “completely fake”.

ASI SUBMITS SEALED GYANVAPI SURVEY REPORT TO VARANASI COURT

Almost five months after a Varanasi court ordered the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to carry out a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple to determine if the 17th-century mosque was constructed over a pre-existing Hindu temple, the ASI submitted its report on Monday. The report was submitted in a sealed cover.

The court has fixed December 21 to open the sealed report and supply its copies to advocates of both sides.

NEW TELCOM BILL ALLOWS GOVT TO INTERCEPT MESSAGES

A new telecom Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha yesterday seeks to provide greater powers to the govt to intercept messages and lay down levels of encryption on messaging services. It aims to bring WhatsApp-type services and email providers within the purview of ‘telecom services’, meaning these can be regulated.

The draft Telecommunications Bill, 2023, allows the govt to temporarily take control of telecom services in the interest of national security, drops OTT in definition of telecom services and provides for non-auction route for allocation of satellite spectrum (radio waves used for mobile telephony).

The Bill seeks to repeal the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, and the Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1950.

BSP MP Ritesh Pandey opposed its introduction as a money Bill, stating that this would keep it outside the scrutiny of the Rajya Sabha. Pandey demanded that the Bill be sent to a parliamentary committee as there were concerns relating to privacy.

The Bill aims to make amendments and consolidate the laws relating to development, expansion and operation of telecommunication services and telecommunication network.

The assignment of spectrum — whether through an auction or administrative allocation — for satellite communications was at the heart of a debate between the govt and a divided industry, with the telecom department even asking the telecom regulator TRAI for modalities around auctioning satellite spectrum.

It is understood that the govt’s decision in the Telecommunications Bill to allow for allocation of satellite spectrum came because there is “no precedent” of auctioning such airwaves globally.

INDIA STAR PERFORMER, CONTRIBUTING MORE THAN 16% OF GLOBAL GROWTH: IMF

Growing at a robust rate due to economic reforms in key sectors like digitisation and infrastructure, India has emerged as a star performer and is projected to contribute more than 16 per cent of the global growth, the IMF said on Monday.

What we have been observing for quite some time now is that India has been growing at a very robust rate. It's one of the star performers when it comes to real growth when you look at peer countries. It's one of the fastest growing large emerging markets and it's contributing, in our current projections, more than 16 per cent of global growth this year, Nada Choueiri, the Mission of India at IMF, told PTI in an interview.

Nonetheless, the economy is facing global headwinds, including a global growth slowdown in an increasingly fragmented world, Choueiri said.

There is a very strong push by the govt to invest in infrastructure and develop the logistics that are needed for a solid basis for growth, Choueiri said.

India, she said, has a very large and young and growing population and thus has the potential to grow at stronger rates if this potential is harnessed through structural reforms.

COVID-19 SUBVARIANT JN.1 APPEARS

As the number of cases of the new Covid-19 sub-variant, JN.1, goes up in Kerala and 15 cases of the JN.1 variant were detected in samples from Goa, the Health Ministry has said it is not known yet if an infection caused by it produces different symptoms or whether it is more severe than other variants. “In general, symptoms of COVID-19 tend to be similar across variants. There is no indication of increased severity from JN.1. At this time, there is no evidence that JN.1 presents an increased risk to public health relative to other currently circulating variants,” it said in a release.

Dr GC Khilnani of AIIMS, said: “Most people in India have had the infection at least two or three times. And, more than 95 per cent of the people have received at least two doses of the vaccine. Therefore, the probability of severe disease is low.”

He added for those who are old and co-morbid, general precautions such as washing hands frequently and avoiding crowded areas during the festive season are enough. “They may don an N95 mask if they have to go to some crowded area; it will protect them from pollution, Covid-19, and any other respiratory infection,” he said.

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Gold world Spot Price USD/aoz 2027 India (Rs. per gm 24k/22k) 6,262 / 5,740, Silver (Rs. Per KG) 79,700

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

All human beings have an innate need to hear and tell stories and to have a story to live by. Religion, whatever else it has done, has provided one of the main ways of meeting this abiding need. - Harvey Cox

OFF TRACK

A woman with her barking dog walks into a vet's clinic and spots a dog training video up for sale. She wisely decides to buy one.  

"How does this work?" she asks, handing the vet the money. "Do I just have him watch this?"