Parliament Winter Session Live Updates: Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day amid uproar over notes found at Singhvi's seat

"This is BJP's strategy, a diversionary tactic. The issues we are raising, farmer issues, the Chairman himself has raised it and these are many big issues. We want a discussion on the bribery allegations in the Modani scam. So, to divert attention from these, they raise new issues. For the first time, I saw that today the BJP MPs, were very eager to adjourn the session...We are demanding in Lok Sabha that they should discuss the Modani scam, Lok Sabha is being adjourned. This is the strategy of the government that you are not letting the Lok Sabha run, we will not let Rajya Sabha run. Running the House is the responsibility of the government. We are giving constructive cooperation... The government does not want any discussion in Rajya Sabha," said Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on cash apparently recovered from Rajya Sabha seat allotted to Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

Following the Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar's announcement that a wad of cash was found on the seat allotted to Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Union minister JP Nadda described the incident as both abnormal and serious, emphasizing that it has undermined the dignity of the House.

With vice president Dhankhar ordering an investigation into the matter, Nadda expressed confidence in the Chairman's decision, stating that a thorough investigation would be carried out to clarify the situation.

"This incident is abnormal and is of a serious nature. It doesn't mean to get divided in the ruling or opposition party. This incident hurts the dignity of the House... Sir, I have faith in your ruling that a detailed investigation will be conducted and everything will be cleared," Nadda said in Rajya Sabha.

The upper House has been adjourned till Monday.

BJP MP Anurag Thakur reacted to the discovery of cash allegedly recovered from the Rajya Sabha seat allotted to Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

"If the Rajya Sabha chairman has made a statement then it means the matter is serious. The truth should come out. Why is the opposition running away from raising the issues of the public?... Why they (the opposition) are not allowing the parliament to function?" he said.

“BJP doesn’t want Parliament to run. We gave the Speaker a privilege motion against Nishikant Dubey and Sambit Patra. We wanted a ruling today, however, the question hour got adjourned. After that, we wanted to raise that issue. Our issue should have come first after paper was laid but Speaker sir gave that person, against whom we gave a privilege motion, chance to speak,” he said.

Chaos erupted in the Rajya Sabha on Friday after Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar announced that a "wad of currency notes" had been found in a seat allotted to Congress MP Abhishek Singhvi during routine checks. Dhankar informed the House, saying, "During the anti-sabotage check after the adjournment of the House yesterday, a wad of currency notes was recovered from seat number 222, currently allotted to Abhishek Manu Singhvi, elected from Telangana. The matter was brought to my notice, and an investigation is underway."

In response, Singhvi denied the charges, stating he only carries a single Rs 500 note to the Rajya Sabha and was hearing about the incident for the first time. "I heard about it now, for the first time. I carry one Rs 500 note when I go to the RS. I entered the House at 12:57 pm yesterday, and the House rose at 1 pm. Afterward, I sat in the canteen with Sh Ayodhya Rami Reddy until 1:30 pm before leaving Parliament," Singhvi posted on X.

BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi responded to the RS Chairman’s statement regarding the recovery of a wad of currency notes from the bench of Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

"Congress leaders have so much money that they don't even bother to take account of the money which is left (on the bench in Parliament). Since no leader came to collect the money, it raises doubts on many sources of the money that people know whose money it is but they don't come to collect it. This incident should be investigated and Congress which used to question everything is today refusing to give an account of the case recovered from parliament...," he said.

"I hereby inform the members that during the routine anti-sabotage check of the chamber after the adjournment of the House yesterday. Apparently, a wad of currency notes was recovered by the security officials from seat number 222 which is presently allotted to Abhishek Manu Singhvi, elected from the state of Telangana..The matter was brought to my notice, and I made sure an investigation takes place and the same is underway," Dhankhar said.

Meanwhile, Singhvi said, "I am quite astonished to even hear about it. I never heard of it. I reached the inside of the House yesterday at 12.57 pm. The House rose at 1 pm. From 1 to 1:30 pm, I sat with Ayodhya Prasad in the canteen and had lunch. At 1:30 pm, I left Parliament. So my total stay in the House yesterday was 3 minutes and my stay in the canteen was 30 minutes. I find it bizarre that even on such issues politics is raised. Of course there must be an inquiry as to how people can come and put anything anywhere in any seat. It means that each of us must have a seat where the seat itself can be locked and the key can be carried home by the MP because everybody can then do things on the seat and make allegations about this. If it was not tragic and serious it would be comical. I think everybody should cooperate in getting to the bottom of this and if there is a failing in the security agencies that must also be completely exposed."

The lower house will resume on Monday.

"I am quite astonished to even hear about it. I never heard of it. I reached the inside of the House yesterday at 12.57 pm. The House rose at 1 pm. From 1 to 1.30 pm, I sat with Ayodhya Prasad in the canteen and had lunch. At 1.30pm, I left Parliament. So my total stay in the House yesterday was 3 minutes and my stay in the canteen was 30 minutes. I find it bizarre that even on such issues politics is raised," he said

"Of course there must be an inquiry as to how people can come and put anything anywhere in any seat. It means that each of us must have a seat where the seat itself can be locked and the key can be carried home by the MP because everybody can then do things on the seat and make allegations about this. If it was not tragic and serious it would be comical. I think everybody should cooperate in getting to the bottom of this and if there is a failing in the security agencies that must also be completely exposed," he added.

"Heard of it first time now. Never heard of it till now! I carry one 500 rs note when I go to RS. First time heard of it. I reached inside house at 1257 pm yday and house rose at 1 pm; then I sat in canteen till 130 pm with Sh Ayodhya Prasad then I left parl! Pl quote me if u do fully," Abhishek Manu Singhvi said in a post on X.

"I here by inform the members that during the routine anti-sabotage check of the chamber after the adjournment of the House yesterday. Apparently, a wad of currency notes was recovered by the security officials from seat number 222 which is presently allotted to Abhishek Manu Singhvi, elected from the state of Telangana..The matter was brought to my notice, and I made sure an investigation takes place and the same is underway," he said.

Amid uproar, the lower house was adjourned within two minutes of its commencement.

"We all know that sleeper cells of Adani are getting activated in the Parliament. We know that to divert attention from the Adani issue, different people are placed. Congress has turned to Speaker and has demanded that such defamatory language must not be allowed in the Parliament and action must be taken against members who are using defamatory language," he said.

On Friday, JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal and Union minister Ramdas Athawale paid tribute to Dr BR Ambedkar on the occasion of the 69th Mahaparinirvan Diwas. Pal remarked that India’s democratic process has become the "strongest" in the world, thanks to the Constitution crafted under Dr. Ambedkar’s leadership. He added that, while much of the world teeters on the brink of war, India continues to pursue peace, affection, compassion, and love, all owing to the guidance of the Constitution and Dr Ambedkar’s vision.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh has submitted a suspension of business notice to discuss the worsening law and order situation in Delhi, highlighting the increase in crimes and threats faced by public representatives.

"If Rahul Gandhi is MP and LoP, he should have been present in the Parliament where the problems of 140 crore people of India are highlighted...one unfortunate incident happened there, the administration is normalising the situation and ordered not to come...if you want to ensure peace, you could have done it from here as well...he could have raised the issue in Parliament but he is not interested in running the Parliament session," Pal told ANI.

"In a shocking and unprecedented incident, the Leader of the Opposition, Shri Rahul Gandhi, along with a delegation of Members of Parliament, was blocked by the authorities while on their way to visit the bereaved families of the victims in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh," Venugopal stated in a notice.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, expressing concern over BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra’s alleged use of "slanderous language" against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi during a media interaction. Tagore called for strict action against Patra, accusing him of violating the decorum and ethics expected of a Member of Parliament.

The controversy arose after BJP MPs K Laxman and Patra referenced a report from French media outlet Mediapart to target Gandhi. Patra claimed that billionaire investor George Soros, the investigative media platform Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), and Gandhi were part of a "dangerous" triangle attempting to destabilize India and create public disaffection to engineer a regime change.

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, criticized the Union government following US prosecutors' allegations linking Gautam Adani to a bribery case. Gandhi claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi cannot order an investigation into Adani, as doing so would also lead to an investigation into Modi himself.

"Modi ji can't get Adani ji investigated because if he does that, he would be getting himself investigated...Modi aur Adani ek hain. Do nahi hain, ek hain," said Rahul Gandhi as he joined Opposition MPs in protest over Adani matter.

A delegation of concerned citizens and experts met with Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, to discuss the escalating air pollution crisis and presented practical measures to address the "public health emergency." During the meeting at Parliament House, Gandhi assured the group that he would raise the issue in Parliament and push for immediate action on their recommendations.

The delegation included renowned medical expert Dr Sanjeev Bagai, environmentalists Jai Dhar Gupta and Vimlendu Jha, and Bhavreen Khandari from Warrior Moms. According to the Congress, the group highlighted the urgency of the situation, describing air pollution as a severe threat to public health. They submitted a petition calling for urgent intervention and proposed actionable solutions to mitigate the crisis.

Parliament passed the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024, a bill aimed at replacing the 90-year-old Aircraft Act and enhancing the ease of doing business in the aviation sector. The bill, which had previously been approved by the Lok Sabha on August 9, was passed in the Rajya Sabha by a voice vote. It seeks to eliminate redundancies and modernize the 1934 Aircraft Act, which has been amended 21 times.

During the debate, civil aviation minister K Rammohan Naidu addressed concerns over the bill's title change from English to Hindi. He explained that the decision was made to "showcase India's heritage and culture" and emphasized that there was no violation of Constitutional rules. Naidu acknowledged that the Hindi title might be difficult to pronounce at first but assured that people would become accustomed to it over time.

Regarding concerns about rising airfares, the minister highlighted the government's efforts to improve accessibility, particularly through the Udaan scheme, and reaffirmed its commitment to making air travel more affordable for passengers.