Sushma Swaraj ready for debate, Opposition unrelenting; Parliament adjourned

The Monsoon Session of the Parliament began on Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi voiced hope that the session will be fruitful and that promises made by "some political parties" during the last session to allow work on priority will be kept.

21 July 2015

15:13 PM

Rajya Sabha adjourns for the day due to continuous uproar over the Lalit Modi controversy.

14:21 PM

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 3 pm amid continuous uproar by Opposition over Lalit Modi issue.

14:02 PM

As Opposition continued to disrupt Rajya Sabha proceedings, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj says she was ready for a debate on Lalit Modi controversy.

Swaraj took to Twitter account to express her views:

I am ready for a debate today itself. I asked Shri Arun Jaitley to convey this to Rajya Sabha.

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 21, 2015

Shri Arun Jaitley has conveyed this to the House. We are looking forward to the Opposition's response.

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 21, 2015

13:47 PM

An adjournment motion on the Vyapam scam is likely to be moved by Congress on Wednesday in Lok Sabha. 

A decision to take up the Vyapam issue in a big way in Lok Sabha was taken at a meeting party chief Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi had with party MPs soon after the House adjourned today after paying obituary references, party sources said.

12:50 PM

Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley hits back at the Opposition for creating uproar in the Rajya Sabha over 'Lalitgate' row. 

Addressing mediapersons, the Finance Minister says the government has placed on record that request for discussion on Lalit Modi row and Vyapam can be placed. 

Jaitley attacks the Opposition saying it is not prepared for a discussion. "I told the House that Sushma Swaraj will herself be present for a debate, but the opposition didn't agreed for it as it was not ready with information."

He further accuses the Opposition of only being interested in disruption of Parliament proceedings, rather than a debate.

"We also offered the Opposition to adjourn the House till lunch and then have the discussion, but they didn't agreed, Jaitley says adding, the government is publicly declaring that it is ready for discussion at any time.

12:50 PM

Rajya Sabha adjourns for the third time following Opposition uproar over Lalit Modi issue.

12:26 PM

Reports emerge that Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi along with other party leaders will hold silent protest at Gandhi Statue in the Parliament tomorrow over Vyapam scam.

12:21 PM

Congress leader Anand Sharma addresses press conference, reiterates his party's demand of removal of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

Sharma maintains that PM Modi should break his silence over Lalit Modi controversy. "The PM promised transparency, but is not fulfilling it," says Sharma.

While speaking to the mediapersons, the Rajya Sabha further says that Congress wants PM Modi to maintain the same standards for his ministers that the BJP wanted us to hold when they were in opposition.

Sharma says Congress will not allow Parliament to function till Swaraj and Raje are sacked from their posts.

12:03 PM

As the Rajya Sabha reconvenes, the unrelenting Opposition continues to create ruckus over Lalitgate. The Chair again adjourns the House till 12:30 pm. 

11:52 AM

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan meets Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu.

11:40 AM

Congress president Sonia Gandhi holds parleys with party MPs. According to reports, Sonia is likely to discuss with party MPs a possible strategy to ratchet up pressure on the BJP over the most pressing issues.

11:37 AM

If Congress continues to protest over Lalit Modi controversy, then it's image will be damaged further, says Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut.

Raut further says his party backs Sushma Swaraj on the 'Lalitgate' row.

11:27 AM

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 12 noon following uproar over Lalit Modi issue.

11:22 AM

Finance Minister and Leader of the Upper House Arun Jaitley responds to Anand Sharma's allegations, says the government is ready for a debate on the 'Lalitgate' row right now.

11:18 AM

Congress raises Lalit Modi controversy in Rajya Sabha.

Rajya Sabha MP and senior Congress leader Anand Sharma slams NDA government and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for helping the former IPL chief procure travel documents.

Sharma asks the Centre to bring Lalit Modi back and face prosecution in India.

11:16 AM

Lok Sabha adjourned till Wednesday after paying tributes to late parliamentarians.

11:10 AM

11:01 AM

Monsoon Session of Parliament gets underway with playing of national anthem in both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha.

10:43 AM

Minutes before commencement of Monsoon Session of Parliament, PM Modi and senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

PM Modi also meets top BJP leaders including Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu. 

10:37 AM

PM Narendra Modi addresses media ahead of Monsoon Session.

“I am hopeful that the Parliament will function according to people's expectations and good decisions will be taken and maximum decisions will take place,” PM says.

Commenting on yesterday’s all-party meet, the PM Modi says it was fruitful and was held in very constructive atmosphere.

PM Modi thanked the MPs for their support during the Budget Session and hoped that all parliamentarians will contribute towards good quality debates and support the business and proceedings.

09:52 AM

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Urban Development MinisterVenkaiah Naidu will meet Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan at 11.30 am.

09:45 AM

Reports say that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is likely to make a statement in the Parliament in respect of the allegations against her regarding Lalit Modi's travel documents. 

Sushma Swaraj has admitted that she helped the former IPL chief procure documents to travel to Portugal for the treatment of his cancer-stricken wife on "humanitarian grounds". 

09:41 AM

Parliamentary Affairs Minister and senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu asserts that the government has nothing to hide and ready for discussion on any issue. "Parliament should reflect aspirations of people and discuss all issues, the Union Minister says. 

Taking a dig at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, Naidu says instead of worrying about PM Modi's 56 inch chest, Congress should ponder on how they came down from 400+ seats to 44.

Addressing Congress workers in Jaipur, the Congress vice-president poked fun at PM's '56-inch' chest, saying his party and the people of this country will reduce it to 5.6 inches in the next six months.

09:26 AM

Union Minister and BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi reiterates that the government is ready for discussion on all issues, but the opposition Congress only wants disturbance in the Parliament.

09:24 AM

CPI leader and Rajya Sabha member D Raja says that his party will give notice in the Upper House seeking suspension of business and discussion of scams be held. 

09:15 AM

The Monsoon Session of Parliament will begin today at 11 am. The Opposition-led by the Congress is expected to lock horns with the Narendra Modi-led government over the controversies surrounding External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

The opposition parties are prepared to launch an attack on the government over issues ranging from the Lalit Modi controversy to the Vyapam scam, with the Congress insisting on the resignation of "scam-tainted" ministers.

PM Narendra Modi on Monday appealed to the political parties for smooth running of the Monsoon Session and expressed willingness to discuss any issue as he said that running Parliament is a "shared responsibility".

While Congress made it clear that it will not allow Parliament to function unless the BJP leaders facing allegations quit, the government asserted that there will be no resignations and that it will not give in to any ultimatum.

Bracing itself for a stormy session, the government has decided to go for an aggressive counter attack in the face of mounting criticism by the Opposition.