Nadda slams Opposition for walkout during Jaishankar's statement
New Delhi (PTI): Union Minister J P Nadda on Monday accused the Opposition of indulging in petty politics and creating anarchy after the Congress and other Opposition parties sought to disrupt Rajya Sabha proceedings and staged a walkout when External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made a suo motu statement on the situation in West Asia.
Soon after, the House met for the day, Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan read out the obituary references and allowed the laying of listed papers. He then asked Jaishankar to make the statement on West Asia.
However, Congress President and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge opposed this and demanded that there should be a full-fledged discussion on the situation in West Asia before such a statement is made by the minister.
ALSO READ: Excise Policy: Delhi HC seeks stand of Kejriwal, Sisiodia on CBI plea against discharge
After being permitted by the Chair, Kharge said the escalation in the West Asia conflict will affect the country's economic stability and endanger the security and livelihood of Indian citizens working there.
"I request a short-duration discussion on emerging challenges for energy security and the fast-changing geopolitical situation in West Asia affecting India's energy security," Kharge said.
The Chairman told Kharge he would come back to him, and again asked Jaishankar to continue with his statement.
As the minister started making the statement, MPs belonging to the Congress and other Opposition parties were on their feet and insisted that Kharge be allowed to complete his remarks. They also raised slogans and demanded that a short discussion be allowed to which the minister should reply.
Later, the entire Opposition staged a walkout from the House while the minister was making his statement.
After Jaishankar's statement, Leader of the House J P Nadda termed the Opposition's behaviour as "irresponsible" and said they only want to create "anarchy and hooliganism".
"It is with great regret that I must say that the opposition's behaviour is highly irresponsible and reprehensible. They have absolutely no interest in the country or in debates in Parliament. Their sole aim is to create chaos. In Parliament, the Leader of the Opposition is giving speeches on issues other than the main topic," Nadda said.
The minister reminded the House that Opposition parties staged walkouts during government replies on important discussions like SIR, Viksit Bharat, Operation Sindoor, the Waqf Bill, as well as on the Union Budget.
"The Opposition's interest lies in advancing their petty politics, but under the respected leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this will never be possible. They will keep diminishing while sitting in the Opposition and eventually come to an end," Nadda said.
Kharge earlier said the West Asia conflict is now directly impacting the country's economic stability.
Importantly, about one crore Indians work in the region, and there are reports of some Indians being killed or missing in the ongoing conflict, he said.
"India received about USD 51 billion in remittances from Gulf countries," the leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha said.
He also raised the issue of increase in LPG cylinder prices which were affecting the common people.
The house also congratulated the Indian cricket team for winning the T20 Cricket World Cup.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Liquor worth over Rs 42 cr seized along Gujarat borders in two years, govt informs assembly
Ahmedabad (PTI): Liquor worth more than Rs 42 crore was seized from checkposts along Gujarat's borders with Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in the past two years, the state government informed the assembly on Monday.
Gujarat is a dry state where prohibition is in force.
Replying to a question by Congress MLA Imran Khedawala, Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, who handles the Home portfolio, said 10,49,855 bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) worth Rs 38.89 crore and 1,59,265 bottles of beer worth Rs 3.33 crore were seized in a two-year period ending January 25.
The seizures were made at checkposts located along the borders with Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, which are often used for smuggling liquor into Gujarat, Sanghavi said in his written reply, adding that 1,018 accused persons have been arrested so far and 141 are absconding.
Replying to a question raised by AAP MLA Gopal Italia, Sanghavi said more than 32,000 of cases have been registered against people found consuming liquor without permit in Ahmedabad and Vadodara districts over the past two years.
According to the data shared in the Assembly, 17,311 cases were registered against persons found consuming liquor without permit in Ahmedabad district, while 15,154 such cases were recorded in Vadodara district as of December 31, 2025.
The minister said the police have also taken various preventive measures against those supplying liquor to such consumers. These include increased patrolling in areas where people are repeatedly found consuming liquor, as well as prohibition drives conducted at the city, district and state levels.
Sanghavi said individuals frequently involved in illegal liquor activities are declared as "listed bootleggers", after which periodic raids are carried out against them.
If such persons continue to indulge in prohibition-related offences, strict measures such as cases under prohibition provisions, externment and action under Prevention of Anti-Social Activities (PASA) Act are initiated against them, he added.
Separate cases are also registered against those found supplying or manufacturing liquor illegally, Sanghavi told the assembly.
