Govt embarrassed as PM’s remark on Congress leader expunged from record
New Delhi, August 10: A comment made by PM Modi after NDA candidate Harivansh won the election for the post of Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson, was deleted from the house records, causing embarrassment for the government
In a rare and embarrassing development for the government, a portion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech has been deleted from the records in Parliament on Thursday, August 9.
Modi allegedly made “derogatory remarks” about Congress candidate BK Hariprasad in the Rajya Sabha after the NDA candidate Harivansh won the election for the post of deputy chairperson.
As per media reports, PM Modi in his speech while congratulating Harivansh, said that the election was between “two Haris” and he went on to take a swipe at Hariprasad, playing on his initials. The PM’s remark was seen as derogatory by some from the Opposition camp.
Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Kumar Jha raised the issue under Rule 238 and urged Rajya Sabha chairperson Venkaiah Naidu to expunge the remark. Jha said PM’s remarks were “derogatory in direction and intent.”
Immediately after this, Modi praised Hariprasad for doing his bit to protect the dignity of democracy in a lost battle.
As per media reports, PM Modi, in his speech while congratulating Harivansh, said that the election was between “two Haris” and he went on to take a swipe at Hariprasad playing on his initials. PM’s remark was seen as derogatory by some from the Opposition camp
While BJP leaders called it an example of Rajya Sabha chairman Naidu’s fairness and non-partisanship, the Congress said the prime minister’s words lowered the dignity of the house.
Remarks made by the prime minister are rarely expunged from the records.
In a similar incident which occurred in 2013, after a sharp exchange in Parliament between then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and then Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley, some words used by both of them were expunged.
Harivansh has defeated Hariprasad by securing 125 votes to 105 after the BJD offered its support to the JD(U) MP.
In his victory speech following the election, Harivansh said he would uphold the dignity of the Upper House and expressed hope that differences would be ironed out through constructive debate, consensus and guidance.
“Treading on rules and procedures framed by our Constitution makers, we can lead the country to greatness… there would be differences in debates, there would be different opinions… we can find a way,” said Harivansh in the Parliament.
Courtesy: www.nationalheraldindia.com
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Taj Mahal top earning ASI monument through ticket sales from FY19-20 to FY23-24: Govt
New Delhi, Apr 3 (PTI): The iconic Taj Mahal in Agra earned the "highest income" through the sale of tickets among the ASI-protected monuments from FY19-20 to FY23-24, according to data shared by the government.
Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shared the data in a written response to a query in Rajya Sabha.
He was asked the amount that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has received from selling entry tickets to various monuments in the last five years, year-wise and monument-wise; and the monuments that have received the highest income through selling entry tickets in the last five years.
In his response, the minister shared the data in a tabular form for cycles of financial years ranging from FY19-20 to FY23-24.
According to the data, Taj Mahal earned the top slot for all five years.
The Mughal-era architectural wonder was commissioned by Emperor Shah Jehan in the 17th century and it is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the world.
In FY19-20, the Agra Fort in Agra and Qutub Minar in Delhi were in the second and third positions.
In FY20-21, the Group of Monuments Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu and Sun Temple, Konark were in the second and third positions. In FY23-24, Qutub Minar and Red Fort of Delhi were in the second and third positions.
