Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi named Deputy Leader of House in Rajya Sabha
New Delhi, Jul 19: Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was on Monday appointed the Deputy Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha.
Naqvi, 63, succeeds Piyush Goyal, who has been appointed as the Leader of House.
With the ruling BJP not having a majority in Rajya Sabha, Naqvi, along with Goyal, will be tasked with navigating various political challenges in the Upper House while delivering on the government's legislative agenda.
"The prime minister has directed me to inform that Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Union Minister of Minority Affairs, has been appointed as the Deputy Leader of the Rajya Sabha," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said in a written communication to Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu.
The minority affairs minister, a trusted organisation man of the BJP for decades, is a seasoned parliamentarian and had served as the minister of state for parliamentary affairs during the first term of the Modi government. He is the only Muslim face in the Cabinet.
He was also a member of the council of ministers in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.
The appointment of Naqvi, who is known for having cordial relations with leaders from across the political spectrum, comes at a time when the Opposition is raring to corner the ruling dispensation over a host of issues, including handling of the second wave of COVID-19, rising fuel prices and farmers' stir.
Congratulations to Minister @naqvimukhtar ji on being appointed the Deputy Leader of the Rajya Sabha. Best wishes to the experienced Parliamentarian for the new role. #MonsoonSession pic.twitter.com/NuO2sOqV2k
— Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) July 20, 2021
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Kerala ADGP Mahipal Yadav dies in Jaipur on day of retirement ceremony
Thiruvananthapuram: Senior IPS officer and Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Mahipal Yadav passed away in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on Wednesday. He had been undergoing treatment for a brain tumour. Yadav was due to retire from service on August 30, and a farewell function was scheduled to take place at the Kerala Police headquarters on the same day.
A 1997-batch IPS officer, Yadav last served as ADGP, Crimes, a post he was given in May 2025. Due to his illness, he had been on extended leave. Over the years, he held several key positions, including Excise Commissioner, IG Internal Security, IG Coastal Police, IG Training at the Kerala Police Academy, IG Crimes, IG Kannur Range, and IG BSF.
During his deputation with the CBI, Yadav investigated major cases such as the AgustaWestland helicopter deal and the inquiry into Mulayam Singh Yadav’s assets. For his service, he was awarded the President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2013 and the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2024.
A condolence meeting is scheduled at the police headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram at 4 pm on Wednesday.
