Parliament LIVE | Both Houses Adjourned For The Day; Lok Sabha Passes Bill To Levy Excise Duty On Tobacco

The Lok Sabha was adjourned on Wednesday and is scheduled to reconvene at 11 AM on December 4.

The 63-km Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri New Rail Line project has been adversely affected due to Himachal Pradesh government's failure to pay its outstanding share of Rs 1843 crore, the government informed the Lok Sabha.

Responding to the questions regarding to the current status of the Bhanupli–Bilaspur–Manali–Leh railway line and Nangal-Una-Talwara Railway line, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri (63km) New Rail Line project has been sanctioned on a cost-sharing basis with the state government.” “In this project, 82 Ha land out of the total required 124.02 Ha land in Himachal Pradesh has been acquired. The work on available land has been taken up,” he said.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said tax revenues collected from excise duty on tobacco and related products will be part of the divisible pool, and 41 per cent of that will be shared with the states.

Replying to the debate on the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha, Sitharaman said this is not an additional tax, and the same tax burden, as currently applicable under the GST regime, will continue. The bill seeks to levy excise duty on tobacco, related products.

"This is not an additional tax. This is not something which the Centre is taking away. This is not a cess. This is excise duty. It existed before GST... It is coming back to the Centre, to be collected as excise duty, which will go to the divisible pool. It is going to be redistributed again at the 41 per cent which has to go to the states," Sitharaman said.

Lok Sabha passed a law to levy a higher excise duty on tobacco and related products once the GST compensation cess ends. The Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was passed by a voice vote in the lower house.

The Bill, once enacted, will give the government the fiscal space to increase the rate of central excise duty on tobacco and related products after GST compensation cess, which is currently levied on all tobacco products like cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, hookah, zarda, and scented tobacco, ceases to exist.

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned on Wednesday and is scheduled to reconvene at 11 AM on December 4.

The Rajya Sabha adopted the statutory resolution to extend the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024, to Manipur. The move aims to strengthen water pollution regulation in the state by bringing it under the updated national legislative framework.

Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav responded to the discussion on the statutory resolution seeking to extend the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024, to Manipur.

The Rajya Sabha, on the third day of the Parliament's Winter Session, witnessed a heated exchange after All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) member Dola Sen, during Zero Hour, raised the issue of the Ministry of Home Affairs' November 25 directive to rename all Raj Bhavans in the country as Lok Bhavans.

The discussion became contentious when Sen brought up additional topics, including MGNREGA. This prompted the Chair to intervene, clarifying that any unrelated remarks would not be included in the official record.

Leader of the House JP Nadda objected to the deviation and said, "You permitted her to speak during Zero Hour about the change of name from Raj Bhavan to Lok Bhavan. She spoke about MGNREGA and other issues. I would like to be very clear that because it does not relate to the subject, it should be deleted, and it should not be brought on record, and only issues related to Lok Bhavan should be admitted."

Rajya Sabha Chairperson CP Radhakrishnan agreed, reiterating that deviations from the listed subject would not be recorded.

Coming to defend Sen, Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said, "She has not spoken any unparliamentary word. Everything is connected to the subject. And that subject was examined in your office, after that she spoke."

Kharge added, "The Leader of the House cannot interfere and say whatever is said is unparliamentary and delete it. The Leader (of the House) is bulldozing. You don't want to run according to a parliamentary democracy."

The Chair maintained that proceedings were proper and again urged members to address only the listed subjects during Zero Hour. Nadda then clarified his intervention, stating, "I never bulldozed," and explained that he was only requesting the record reflect issues related to the subject.

Punjab MPs in the Lok Sabha raised the plight of farmers in the state, who suffered massive losses due to heavy rains in August-September, and demanded a special package from the Centre. Raising the issue during the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, Malvinder Singh Kang of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said farmers from 2,500 villages across six districts in Punjab faced severe losses in August-September when the state faced the brunt of heavy rain.

Kang added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several Union ministers visited Punjab, but the state has not received a single rupee of the assistance promised by the Centre. "I demand the Government of India announce a special package of Rs 50,000 crore to help the farmers of Punjab," he said.

Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal said heavy rains in Punjab had left five lakh hectares of arable land under silt brought down by the Ravi and Beas rivers, which were flowing in spate. She urged the Central government to make efforts to mitigate the suffering of farmers in Punjab, who had endured significant crop losses from devastating floods three months ago. Badal, a former union minister, wanted the government to credit compensation directly into farmers' bank accounts to ensure they did not suffer due to cross-claims over flood relief between the Centre and the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday sought justice for Zubeen Garg, the popular singer-composer from Assam who died in Singapore in September, leaving his fans distraught.

The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024, which decriminalises minor offences and replaces criminal penalties with monetary fines, is currently under debate in the Rajya Sabha for extension to Manipur. The updated law, already adopted by several states, revises the original 1974 Act.

Environment and Forest Minister Bhupender Yadav moved the resolution. He noted that both Houses must approve the central act’s extension to Manipur because President's Rule currently applies in the state.

During the debate, Trinamool Congress MP Sushmita Dev criticised the Centre for maintaining President's Rule in Manipur.

She said, "In a state where people remain in relief camps and internally displaced people protest outside the Raj Bhawan, bringing the Water Pollution Act 2025 amendment and claiming to help Manipur is a mockery. If you want to help Manipur, elections must be held democratically. This is a violation of cooperative federalism."

Congress MP Neeraj Dangi stated that the resolution was presented in Parliament because Manipur’s situation has not improved.

DMK MP P Wilson added, “How long will the state assembly remain suspended, requiring Parliament to carry out its functions, including passing this resolution?”

BJP MP Sanjaoba Leishemba welcomed the resolution. He noted that, while the President's Rule continues, Parliament must exercise its legislative powers for Manipur. He supported adopting the Water Pollution Amendment Act 2024 for the state under Article 252(1) of the Constitution.

Key provisions of the act under debate include decriminalising minor water pollution offences, enabling the Centre to prescribe service conditions for State Pollution Control Board chairpersons, and exempting certain industrial plants from statutory restrictions.

It seeks to rationalise criminal provisions so that citizens, businesses, and companies are not subject to imprisonment for minor or procedural violations. Instead, monetary penalties would apply for continued contraventions.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday moved the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha for consideration and passage. The Bill seeks to amend the Central Excise Act, 1994, ensuring that the tax incidence on tobacco products does not decline after the expiry of the GST compensation cess.

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav moved a statutory resolution to adopt the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024 in Manipur.

The proceedings of the Rajya Sabha resumed at 2 pm after adjourning for lunch.

BJP MPs raised issues ranging from power infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh to banking services in Bihar during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, while a Congress MP sought increase in deposit insurance cover from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh.

Raising the issue of rising power demand in Uttar Pradesh, BJP's Tejveer Singh said initiatives like smart city, data centre parks and electric mobility have led to record power consumption in the state, creating a burden on meeting energy needs during peak demand hours in many districts. He called for strengthening the transmission network and energy supply, giving priority to expansion of the green grid in the state through solar parks and rooftop solar installations.

BJP's Dharmshila Gupta sought further strengthening of banking services in Bihar, saying despite positive changes through schemes like Jan Dhan, Mudra, Kisan Credit Card and Self-Help Groups (SHGs), credit flow remains below expectations. "People are depositing in banks in a big way but Bihar's credit ratio is less, creating problems for farmers, youth, SHGs and small businessmen," she said, urging the Centre to address gaps in credit flow to make Bihar a developed state.

BJP member Shambhu Sharan Patel demanded restoration of halts for trains, including Muzaffarpur-Bhagalpur Express (13420), Banka Intercity Express (13242) and Rourkela-Barbil Intercity Express (18403), besides upgrade of Mankatha Railway Station in Lakhisarai district. Another BJP member Dinesh Sharma raised the issue of roads and public places still bearing Mughal and British-era names, citing examples like Akbar Road, Lodhi Road and Minto Bridge in Delhi.

Congress MP Neeraj Dangi called for increasing the deposit insurance limit from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh, noting that with more banks becoming defunct, there is need for enhanced protection for depositors under the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation. The insurance limit was last raised from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh in February 2022 following the Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank crisis, he said.

Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala on Wednesday flagged concerns related to the Sanchar Saathi mobile application in the Rajya Sabha, saying it completely negates the right of privacy of every individual.

Raising the issue, he said, a clear apprehension is that features of the application would point out real-time geo-location of every user, monitoring of the search history, financial transactions and a possible monitoring of conversations through SMS and WhatsApp. "Government of India, Ministry of Communication has purportedly issued an order whereby all cellphone manufacturers and importers of cellphones are compulsorily obliged to upload the Sanchar Saathi app. It is also directed that this app has to be pushed into every cell phone and smartphone," Surjewala said.

Surjewala said pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app is a clear breach of the privacy of every smartphone and cell phone user of India. "Would this not completely negate the right of privacy of every individual? And a possible kill switch, sir, will turn every cellphone into a brick. If the government then wants, then every cellphone of every journalist, every opposition leader, every dissident, it will become a pure, simple brick by use of a kill switch," said the Rajya Sabha member from Rajasthan.

Surjewala said all passwords, information, bank account numbers, and personal information of every user stored on the cell phone becomes susceptible, either with a government agency or a hacker, or both in this case. "It can also possibly give a hacker full device control. Look at the implications it is fraught with. Also, sir, it leaves millions of devices exposed for months, for it depends on an upgrade that would be pushed by the government. Surjewala demanded that the government clarify the legal authority for mandating a non-renewable application and push a compulsory software update, and disclose "what independent security audit and safeguards and misuse prevention mechanisms are in place" for it.

The proceedings of the Rajya Sabha were adjourned till 2 pm for lunch.

Terming fake news as a threat to democracy, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday said there is a need to take strict action against those who create AI-generated deep fake videos and spread false information.

Vaishnaw also informed the Lok Sabha that the government is working on framing new rules for curbing fake news and AI-generated deep fake videos and strengthening the institutional mechanism for that. "Fake news is a very serious issue. Fake news is a threat to democracy. There is a need to take strict action against fake news and AI-generated deep fake videos," he said during Question Hour.

The minister said the people and the ecosystem which spread fake news don't follow Indian laws, and there is a need to take action against them. Appreciating the recommendations made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, headed by BJP member Nishikant Dubey, he said the panel has given many good suggestions, and the government is working on framing new rules and regulations.

"There is a need for making a fine delicate balance between fake news and freedom of speech," he said. Replying to a question on online betting activities, Vaishnaw said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has enacted a very strong law to curb the online money games.

"Modi government never shies away in taking strong action against such misconduct," he said. On another question regarding some TV news channels indulging in disseminating alleged false information, the minister said the government and the Press Council of India actively look into such complaints and take action wherever required.

The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday erupted in a heated exchange of words between Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge and the Chairman CP Radhakrishnan, after the Upper House agreed to hold a discussion on the renaming of the Governor's residence to Lok Bhavan.

"Everything is connected to the subject, and that subject was examined in your (RS Chairman) office. After that, only she (Dola Sen) spoke. The Leader of the House cannot interfere and say everything is unparliamentary; you delete. Leader is telling, Leader is bulldozing," Kharge told Chairman Radhakrishnan. Questioning JP Nadda called for deleting anything unrelated to the discussion, Kharge asked the RS Chairman, "Do we not want to run (the House) according to parliamentary democracy? All the records, keep them intact, not a single word should be removed."

Nadda too replied to Kharge's accusation, asking Chairman Radhakrishnan, "I need your protection, sir. I have never bulldozed; I have only said that whatever is related to the subject should be admitted, and whatever is not related, you may please examine." The exchange took place after TMC MP Dola Sen spoke on the issue and accused the BJP of running a "dictatorship" which will eventually be thrown out by the people. She claimed that the state governments were not consulted before changing the name of Raj Bhavan, which is now Lok Bhavan.

"The expenses for (Lok Bhavan) have been borne by the state government for many years, but the state assembly is not aware of these notifications (on name change). Surely the state government should be consulted. This is not just an attack on federalism...but in effect Raj Bhavan is being made to run a parallel government and to use them as extended party officers of BJP" TMC MP Dola Sen said in her speech. As part of larger conspiracy, in Bengal, the order of MHA has been brought into effect but what is the situation of people on the ground?" she asked.

She further criticised the Centre for allegedly not clearing the dues of West Bengal, including Rs 43 thousand crore for MNREGA, Rs 42,600 crore for cyclones, Rural Housing Scheme Rs 24,200 crore. Following the speech by the TMC MP, Leader of the House and BJP MP JP Nadda requested the chairman to examine Dola Sen's words, and strike anything off the record which is not related to the discussion at hand.

"She was permitted to speak on zero hour, but she used this opportunity to raise the issue in the House about the issue related to MNREGA and other issues. I would like to be very clear that because it is not related to the subject, it should be deleted, and it should not be brought to record, and the only issue related to the Lok Bhawan should be admitted," Nadda said in Rajya Sabha.

Chairman and Vice President Radhakrishnan agreed with Nadda's request, saying that it was already made clear that anything unrelated to the discussion will not be put on the record. "Yes I have already said anything deviating from the subject will not go on record," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs from West Bengal in Parliament, sources said. According to sources, the Prime Minister said, "We have to win Bengal; everyone should focus on their work." He also discussed other issues concerning Bengal, emphasising the need to work hard in the state and outlining the election strategy.

This meeting comes ahead of the Parliamentary discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in 12 States and Union Territories, including West Bengal, on December 9. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, earlier, informed that during the All Party Meeting Chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker, it was decided to hold a discussion in Lok Sabha on the 150th Anniversary of the National Song 'Vande Mataram' on December 8 and a discussion on election reforms on December 9.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) has been a staunch opponent of the SIR exercise in West Bengal. PM Modi's meeting with the MPs is also crucial as the state is set to undergo the Legislative Assembly elections in 2026. West Bengal also came into discussion in the Parliament when a question regarding funds allocated under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and Animal Husbandry Development Fund (AHIDF) in the state was raised in the Question Hour in Lok Sabha.

Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday said snooping is neither possible nor will it happen with the Sanchar Saathi safety app, amid a row over his ministry's order asking smartphone makers to preload the state-run cybersecurity app on all new devices. The minister added that the government is ready to change the order depending on the feedback.

In the Lok Sabha, Scindia said the app is for the protection of the people. Sanchar Saathi app se "na snooping sambhav hai, na snooping hoga", the minister said during Question Hour. In the context of the discussions about the app, the minister also said the government want to give power in the hands of the people to help them protect themselves. Read more...

Leaders of several opposition parties met in Parliament on Wednesday to discuss their joint strategy for the Winter Session. Floor leaders of various parties, including the Congress, DMK, RJD, SP, JMM, CPI-M, CPI, IUML, NCP-SP, and SS-UBT, attended the meeting, while Trinamool Congress (TMC) skipped it.

The TMC was also absent from the last meeting of Opposition leaders, held on December 1 — the first day of the winter session. Leaders of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, were present at the meeting, which was held in Kharge's chamber.

During the meeting, the leaders also stressed that their unity and continued pressure on the government have forced it to agree to their demand for a discussion on Electoral reforms, including SIR. They also called for the smooth functioning of Parliament, saying it is the government's responsibility to ensure it.

The Opposition has been protesting in Parliament over their demand for a discussion on SIR. Leaders of various parties on Wednesday protested outside the Makar Dwar of Parliament over the new labour codes. They raised slogans against the government and demanded that the labour codes were against the interests of the labour class and needed to be withdrawn.

Rajya Sabha on Wednesday approved a motion to elect one member of the house to be a member of the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. The motion was introduced by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. “That in pursuance of the provisions contained in clause 9.1(e) of the Scheme for the Administration and Management of the properties and funds of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, read with Regulations 3.1 and 3.1.1 of the Regulations of the Institute, this House do proceed to elect, in such manner as directed by the Chairman one Member from amongst the Members of the House, to be a member of the Council of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore for the quadrennial 2026-2029,” the motion said.

"Government never said 'no' to discussion on SIR; now opposition will bring something else to protest against," said BJP MP Dinesh Sharma

Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury reacted to reports that the Rajya Sabha is considering initiating a privilege motion against her over her recent remarks involving dogs, saying, "I will see when it will be brought... I will give a befitting reply..."

The proceedings of both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha began at 11 am on Wednesday

Top leadership of the Congress party, including party President Mallikarjun Kharge, Legislative Party leader Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and MP Priyanka Gandhi attended the INDIA bloc protest on Wednesday against the 4 labour codes at Parliament premises.

Claiming that the four labour codes propagate "corporate jungle raj," the INDIA bloc MPs held up various banners, and a bigger banner reading "No to Corporate Jungle raj- Yes to labour justice"
The INDIA bloc protest comes after the Opposition's repeated demands for a discussion was accepted by the Government. The Central government is set to hold a discussion on electoral reforms on December 9.

Since the Parliament winter session started, INDIA bloc MPs have been protesting against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), with the government urging for cooperation amid a stalemate in the house. Earlier today, INDIA bloc floor leaders held a meeting ahead of the third day of the Winter Session of the Parliament, to chalk out the strategy after the Centre accepted the Opposition's demand to hold a debate on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll.

"It's a victory of the opposition because government was not in a mood to accept the same. We were continuously demanding the same and they were justifying the SIR process but now finally they had to concede and we think this is a victory of the opposition and we will continue with the same," said CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar on Centre agreeing for discussion on electoral reforms.

"We should also discuss other things like pollution. We should discuss many other issues which are important," said Waynad MP and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on her arrival at Parliament for the third day of the winter session.

On Union Minister Kiren Rijiju's statement on the debates on Vante Mataram and electoral reforms, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said, "In the freedom struggle of the country, when Congress was fighting against the British, the BJP's parent organisation was supporting them... Today, they remember Vande Mataram?... Congress conferences and sessions always begin with Vande Mataram... As far as electoral reforms are concerned, the date has been fixed in the Lok Sabha..."

Kanyakumari Lok Sabha MP has moved an adjournment motion in the House seeking an urgent discussion on what he called the government’s failure to bring meaningful labour reforms. ‘Although the government claims to have merged 29 labour laws into four Labour Codes, the rules have still not been notified, and there is no sign of implementation. As a result, workers across the country continue to suffer without proper protections,” the motion said.

The MP said that crores of workers need a fair national minimum wage, universal health coverage, an urban employment guarantee, strong social security for unorganised workers, and an end to excessive contractualisation, especially in key government services. He pointed out that while the Centre promotes reforms only on paper, states like Karnataka have already brought in modern welfare laws for gig and platform workers, showing what real, inclusive labour protection looks like.

On Union Minister Kiren Rijiju's statement, BJP MP Dinesh Sharma says, "The government is fully prepared. The government even announced that there will be a discussion on Vande Mataram and electoral reforms. This work had already been decided in the deliberations. Without any reason, the opposition wasted two days for themselves and tried to ruin the House as well. I believe that if this negative attitude is transformed into a positive debate, it will be beneficial for the general public..."

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to move the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025, for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, as per the list of business. The Bill aims to raise excise duties and cess on tobacco products, with an amendment to the Central Excise Act, 1944. The Lok Sabha Secretary General will report a message from the Rajya Sabha regarding the Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025, which was passed in the Lower House on the first day of the Winter Session. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi are set to move a motion in Lok Sabha, that "this House do agree with the Eleventh Report of the Business Advisory Committee presented to the House on December 2," the list of business read.

Balashowry Vallabhaneni and Vivek Thakur are set to present the fifth report on action taken by the government on the observations and recommendations contained in the Nineteenth Report (17th Lok Sabha) on "Status of framing of subordinate legislation viz. rules/ regulations etc. under various acts being administered by the Ministry of Railways" and the sixth report on action taken by the government on the recommendations contained in the Twenty Eighth Report (17th Lok Sabha) on "Status of framing of subordinate legislation viz. rules/ regulations etc. under various acts being administered by the Department of Fisheries in the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and delay in laying of rules/regulations".

Lok Sabha will also witness an obituary reference on the passing away of former Congress MP Rameshwar Dudi.

In the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav is likely to move a statutory resolution that the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024, should be adopted in Manipur. The Parliament had enacted an Act for decriminalising and rationalising minor offences to further enhance trust-based governance for ease of living and doing business.

A Parliamentary panel has asked the government to explore the feasibility of amending the penal provisions for publishing or telecasting fake news to include cancelling the accreditation of the journalist or the creator found guilty of indulging in such an act, according to a report tabled in Parliament on Tuesday.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, chaired by BJP member Nishikant Dubey, also asked the government to define the term 'fake news', and incorporate suitable clauses in the existing regulatory framework for the media to combat misinformation and protect freedom of speech.

The report on 'Review of Mechanism to curb Fake News' also asked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to consult all the stakeholders while arriving at the definition of fake news. "There is also a need to amend the penal provisions for publishing/telecasting fake news in relevant Acts/Rules/Guidelines for each form of media (print, electronic, digital)," the committee said.

It said the ministry may explore the feasibility of cancelling the accreditation of a journalist/creator if found guilty of creating and/or propagating fake news. "Needless to say, all these should involve and emerge from a consensus-building exercise among media bodies and the relevant stakeholders," the Committee said.

The report said that in the light of the ambiguity related to the term 'misinformation/fake news', the committee feels there is a need for defining the term ‘fake news’ per se in a subtle manner," according to the report.

Floor leaders from various opposition parties will meet on Wednesday morning in the chamber of the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, to discuss their joint strategy in Parliament. Sources said the opposition leaders will convene at 9.45 am to plan their approach during the ongoing winter session of Parliament.

The Trinamool Congress did not participate in a meeting of opposition parties held on Monday, which aimed to develop a collective strategy for the first day of the winter session. Various parties have been protesting in Parliament, demanding a discussion on the special intensive revision of electoral rolls, but the government declined to hold an immediate discussion on this matter.

However, during a meeting on Tuesday evening, the government agreed to conduct discussions on the 150th anniversary of the national song 'Vande Mataram' in the Lok Sabha on the following Monday, as well as on electoral reforms in the lower house the day after. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will initiate the debate on 'Vande Mataram' in the Lok Sabha. The government has said that a discussion on the two issues would be held in the Rajya Sabha after they conclude in the Lok Sabha.