The Rajya Sabha resumed discussion on the Motion of Thanks for the President’s address.

Proceedings of the House began with Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar administering Oath of newly elected members Haris Beeran of the IUML, Jose K Mani of KC (M) and P P Sunir of the CPI.

While Haris Beeran and Jose K Mani took Oath in English, P P Sunir took Oath in Malayalam.

Thereafter, the Chairman offered Birthday greetings to Beeda Mastan Rao Yadav of the YSRCP and Madan Rathore of the BJP.

Resuming his speech, Birendra Prasad Baishya of AGP demanded that the floods in Assam be declared a national problem.

Participating in the debate, Ashokrao Shankharrao Chavan of the BJP said that a false narrative is being set that the BJP wants to change Constitution.

He said the government should take steps to tackle the issue arising out of leak in NEET examination which has caused stress.

Pramod Tiwari of the Congress said the address fails to give a concrete solution for rising prices and increasing unemployment.

He said that during election the BJP gave slogan of ‘400 paar’ but was reduced to 240. He expressed concern on the violence in Manipur and lamented that there was no mention of it in the President’s address.

Modammed Nadimul Haque of All India Trinamool Congress said that in the recent elections, BJP lost and Constitution of India has won.

‘The Modi government has been rejected. BJP was 36 short,’ ‘he said.

He said that despite the BJP being short of majority, the President’s address did not include the word- coalition.

He alleged that the stock markets were manipulated to make huge profits.

 ‘SEBI should do a thorough investigation, ‘he said.

He said that there was no deputy Speaker for five years in the previous Lok Sabha.

‘The Prime Minister did not reply to a single question on the floor of the House,’he said. He said that the government was doing politics of vendetta towards West Bengal.

He alleged that the government has not paid a single rupee  to West Bengal under MGNREGA and Awas Yojna since the BJP was routed in 2021 Assembly elections in the State. He alleged that the government is using agencies like ED and CBI for political vendetta.

Yerram Venkat Subba Reddy of YSR Congress party lamented about failure of the government to grant special category status to Andhra Pradesh.

P Wilson of DMK, raising the issue of leak in NEET examination, demanded scrapping of the competitive examination.

He said that the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly recently moved a resolution seeking exemption for Tamil Nadu from NEET exam or to scrap the NEET for admission to medical courses.

He called for attention of the Prime Minister, either to approve the bill passed by the State government, or to bring about amendments to National Medical Council act so the NEET and other exams are scrapped.

Sandeep Kumar Pathak of Aam Aadmi Party said that there was a selective emergency in the country.

He charged the BJP of putting opposition leaders in jail during the election.

He said that the government was using PMLA as a tool to lodge opposition leaders in jail.

Mahua Maji of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, V Sivadasan of the CPI-M, Dr Kanimozhi N V N Somu of the DMK, Samirul Islam of the All India Trinamool Congress, M Thambidurai of the AIADMK and R Girirajan of the DMK raised matters of public importance.

Digvijay Singh of the Congress alleged that the Election Commission of India played a completely partisan role during these elections.

He said that the President thanked the Election Commission in her address. But during the elections the election commission failed to ensure adherence to the model code of conduct. He said that the BJP has today become a party of corporates.

Raising the NEET paper leak issue, he wanted to know whether the government would cancel the NEET examination.

Prakash Chik Baraik of the All India Trinamool Congress lamented that the President’s address did not talk about problems faced by the tribal community.

He sought to focus attention on the working condition of workers of the Tea gardens in West Bengal.

He pointed attention to the rising unemployment in the country and blamed the government for failing to address the problem. He said that the government failed to take steps to address problems of women safety.

Sanjay Raut of the Shiv Sena (UBT), Madan Rathore of the BJP, Priyanka Chaturvedi of the Shiv Sena (UBT),A A Rahim of the CPI-M, Bhagwat Karad of BJP, Raghav Chadha of Aam Aadmi party, Ramji Lal Suman of the Samajwadi Party , A D Singh of the RJD, Lahar Singh Siroya of the BJP, Jose K Mani of KC (M) and Haris Beeran of the IUML participated in the discussion.  

Participating in the discussion, Leader of the House J P Nadda said the President’s address is a road map of India’s development journey.

The address outlines how the policies of the government will help achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat.

‘We hope to get support of others in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat, ‘he said.

He said that holding the G20 summit in India is a matter of National prestige

He also expressed happiness on the proposed setting up of the India Middle East Economic corridor.

Hailing the country’s current image at the Global stage, he cited in this regard the recently-concluded International Yoga Day as well as the 2023 International Year of Millets.

Hailing the steps taken by India during the spread of the Corona virus, Mr. Nadda, said that Initiatives like “Taali bajao, thaali bajao, diya jalao” boosted the country’s confidence.

He said that the government is committed to achieve the goal of ‘Viksit Bharat’

Ramdass Athawale of RPI (A), Mahendra Bhatt of the BJP and Sonal Mansingh of BJP also took part in the debate.

The reply to the debate by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be held on Wednesday (3rd July 2024).