Oppn protests G RAM G during Prez Murmu address; govt condemns, demands apology
New Delhi (PTI): Opposition members on Wednesday protested against the VB-G RAM G Act during President Droupadi Murmu's address to the joint sitting of Parliament drawing strong condemnation from the government with Union minister J P Nadda demanding that they apologise for their conduct.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju alleged that the opposition members embarrassed the country with their conduct and also insulted Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Dr B R Ambedkar, Birsa Munda, Bhupen Hazarika, Guru Tegh Bahadur and Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay by raising slogans during the president's address which paid tributes to them, remembering their contributions.
"The way these people undermined the dignity of Parliament is highly condemnable. No amount of condemnation is enough. They should apologise to Parliament and the country," Nadda said.
Members of the Congress and its allies in the opposition briefly raised slogans against the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, demanding its rollback as soon as President Murmu began her address to the joint session of Parliament.
As the president referred to the VB-G RAM G Act and began speaking about provisions in her address, opposition members, including Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, rose from their seats and began protesting.
President Murmu paused for a moment during her address as the opposition began raising slogans, demanding the rollback of the VB-G RAM G Act.
Reacting sharply to the opposition protest, Nadda said, "The Budget session of Parliament began today with the address by President Droupadi Murmu. But, the way the leaders of the Congress and opposition parties habitually violated parliamentary decorum was utterly reprehensible and cannot be condemned enough."
"In her address, when the president was mentioning the celebration of the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram and paying tributes to the immortal scholar Bankim Babu remembering his works, the anarchic Congress and the 'INDI Alliance' created a ruckus and started shouting slogans," the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha added in a video message.
Nadda also slammed the Trinamool Congress (TMC), saying it was "surprising" that the party members participated in the opposition uproar when the president was paying tributes to Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, remembering his contributions.
Slamming the opposition, Rijiju told reporters in the Parliament House complex, "The country is ashamed of what the opposition members did during the president's address to the joint sitting of Parliament. The country will never forgive the Congress and its allies in the opposition for this."
In her address, the president was paying tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Dr B R Ambedkar Birsa Munda, Bhupen Hazarika, Guru Tegh Bahadur and Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, and exhorting the country to take inspiration from them, the parliamentary affairs minister said.
But the opposition members resorted to raising slogans and insulting them, he charged.
"Just imagine if any responsible Member of Parliament (MP) can ever behave in such a manner," Rijiju said.
The country will never forgive the opposition parties for the kind of politics they indulged in during the president's address, he said.
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What is Iran’s 10-point plan? Key demands ahead of US talks in Islamabad
Tehran/Islamabad: Iran has outlined a 10-point plan as the basis for upcoming talks with the United States, expected to begin in Islamabad on April 11, according to a statement from the Iranian Supreme National Security Council.
The plan lays out Tehran’s key political, military and economic demands, and is being seen as a framework for negotiations following the recent escalation in the region.
Strait of Hormuz at the centre
A major focus of the plan is the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. Iran has proposed “controlled passage through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the Iranian armed forces,” which it says would give the country a unique economic and geopolitical position.
The plan also calls for the “establishment of a safe transit protocol” in the Strait that would guarantee Iran’s dominance under an agreed mechanism.
Call to end conflict
Iran has demanded “the necessity of ending the war against all elements of the axis of resistance,” signalling its expectation that hostilities should stop not only in Iran but also involving allied groups in the region.
US troop withdrawal
Another key demand is the “withdrawal of US combat forces from all bases and deployment points in the region,” indicating Tehran’s long-standing position against American military presence in West Asia.
Sanctions relief and compensation
The plan places strong emphasis on economic measures. It calls for “full payment of Iran’s damages according to estimates,” along with “the lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions and resolutions of the Board of Governors and the Security Council.”
It also seeks “the release of all Iranian assets and properties frozen abroad,” which have been a major point of contention for years.
Binding global guarantee
Finally, Iran has demanded that all these terms be formally recognised through “a binding Security Council resolution,” suggesting it wants international legal backing to ensure enforcement.
What this means
The 10-point plan reflects Iran’s broader push for security guarantees, economic relief and regional influence. The upcoming talks in Islamabad are expected to test how far both sides are willing to negotiate on these demands.
