India Politics highlights: Union Budget 2024 is 'discriminatory', I.N.D.I.A. bloc MPs to stage protest in Parliament tomorrow

BJD alleges microphone switched off during Naveen Patnaik's address in Odisha assembly

Opposition BJD on Monday alleged that the microphone was switched off when Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik was speaking. It is an effort to suppress the voice of the opposition in the House, Opposition Chief Whip Pramila Mallik asserted.

Read more

Paper leaks that used to happen during the Congress regime, we wouldn't spare those who are responsible for it, says Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma

Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma.

West Bengal Governor seeks report from Mamata Banerjee on her comment on Bangladesh: Raj Bhavan

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose called upon Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for a report over her comment offering "shelter" to helpless people of violence-hit Bangladesh, the Raj Bhavan said.

Read more

BJP withdraws protest, slams full-page ads by Siddaramaiah

The Opposition BJP on Monday withdrew its protest in the Legislative Assembly with Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka slamming the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government for “undermining the dignity” of the House by issuing full-page advertisements in newspapers on the embezzlement at the ST Development Corporation.

Read more

AAP party stage protest Parliament against BJP govt for misusing state agencies like CBI, ED to target opposition

Karnataka's Congress govt stages protest at Vidhana Soudha against Central Govt misusing central agencies against CM Siddaramaiah

Dy CM DK Shivakumar speaks to media near Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru.

Karnataka Congress including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and State Home Minister G Parameshwara hold protests at Gandhi statue outside Vidhan Soudha against alleged arbitrary actions taken by ED officials.

"Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar says, "Today all legislators including ministers are protesting against the ED for forcing the Assistant Director of the Department of Social Welfare to spell out the name of the CM. The minister himself had resigned to cooperate in a free and fair investigation... The SIT has already recovered 50% of the amount and arrested a lot of people... Now the ED has become involved and they are forcing the Assistant Director of the Department of Social Welfare to say that the CM is involved... I have been targeted. CBI is harassing people like me... The FIR has been registered. The law will take its course. We do not want to meddle with the investigation... We will discuss it in the assembly also," said DK Shivakumar.

AAP minister Atishi Marlena arrives at Rose Avenue court to appear in defamation case filed by BJP leader

The Court granted bail to Atishi in the defamation matter on a bail bond of Rs 20,000.

Catch the latest updates from Union Budget 2024 | Read More

Track latest reactions to Budget | Here

Union Budget 2024 | When and where to watch it live?

Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge slams central govt for failure to curb NEET Exam paper leakage

"We have seen what is happening with NEET all around, more than 25 lakh students are suffering due to scams that have happened... To date, only 4-5 students used get such high marks, how is this possible that hundreds of them are getting such high marks at one or two centres in Gujarat or Rajasthan? It affects the future of the student. That's the reason states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have come forward to reject this process," said Priyank Kharge.

Karnataka govt is expected to bring resolution at Vidhana Soudha seeking exemption from National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for admissions to medical courses on July 23 or 24.

The resolution against NEET was approved by the Cabinet, which met late on Monday (July 22) evening.

"Arvind Kejriwal's sugar level has dropped below 50 for 36 times," says AAP minister Sanjay Singh

JD(U) MLC Ram Bachan Rai files nomination for the Deputy Chairman of Bihar legislative council

CM Nitish Kumar and the Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary were present as JD(U) MLC Ram Bachan Rai filed his name for the Deputy Chairman of Bihar legislative council election.

I.N.D.I.A bloc leaders from RJD and Congress stage protest demanding special status to Bihar

During the Budget 2024 presentation, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has assured assistance in Power projects including setting up of a new 2400 MW power plant at Pirpainti. It will be taken up at the cost of Rs 21,400 crores.

"New airports, medical colleges and sports infrastructure in Bihar will be constructed. The requests of Bihar Govt for external assistance from multilateral development banks will be expedited," added Sitharaman.

Catch the latest updates from Union Budget 2024 | Read More

Track latest reactions to Budget | Here

Union Budget 2024 | When and where to watch it live?

Bihar Assembly adjourned till noon

Leaders of RJD, Congress and the Left had reached the House, carrying placards with slogans like "shame on anti-Bihar BJP".

Adding a dash of humour, a few of them also held rattles meant for children to underscore that the Centre, after having denied the state its due, was offering a "jhunjhuna" by speaking of special package and other types of help.

Track latest reactions to the Union Budget here

'It is a very happy day as Bihar has got the financial assistance it demanded': Samastipur MP Shambhavi Choudhary

"In this budget, tourism in Bihar is also being encouraged. This will give more speed to development in Bihar," said Shambhavi Choudhary.

Track latest reactions to the Union Budget here

Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) MPs protest inside the Parliament complex

Disappointed over BJP govt not allocating any major funds for development of Maharashtra, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders staged protest at Parliament complex.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah slams BJP govt for misusing central agencies to target him and Congress ministers

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah slammed central government for using investigating agencies such as Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to target opposition-run state government in Karnataka.

"They are doing (using ED against Valmiki corporation scam) this to make people feel that our government is against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. We (Congress) stand for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Weaker Sections, Poor, Farmers, Labourers.

However, somehow they are following the left path with the intention of weakening the Congress government in Karnataka. Neither the finance department nor I are related to this scam. We are investigating the scam. According to the complaint filed by Kavita, the wife of deceased Chandrasekhar, the investigation has gone on the right track as per the complaint of Padmanabha. But in the Bhovi Development Corporation, Devaraja Aras Truck Terminal, A.P.M.C and Covid scams that took place during the @BJP4Karnataka tenure, ED never came.," CM Siddaramaiah.

"BJP is asking the CBI to hand over the case. When he (Modi) was in the opposition, he called CBI a Chor Bachav organization. Since their government is at the centre, they are demanding to hand it over to the CBI. We have handed over many cases to CBI in the past. The Raghavendra Co-operative Bank case has been handed over to the CBI. Paresh Mehta, D.K. Ravi, Ganapati, One-Number Lottery cases have been entrusted to CBI. Government decides cases based on discretion. As per Reserve Bank of India guidelines, CBI can investigate if there is more than Rs 25 crore. We have no objection to the investigation. But we condemn illegal investigation. We are protesting symbolically to condemn the work of destabilizing the elected government. We are going to propose this in the Vidhan Sabha and Legislative Council," said CM Siddaramai

"Not one I.N.D.I.A governments got anything in this Union Budget 2024: Dy CM DK Shivakumar

"No I.N.D.I.A bloc-led governments got anything. No opposition parties got anything including Karnataka. It is unfortunate and I never expected this from FM Nirmala Sitharaman," said Dy CM DK Shivakumar.

Track latest reactions to the Union Budget here

Former Congress MP DK Suresh slams BJP govt's union budget for prioritising only on Andhra Pradesh and Bihar

"A Budget for BJP Partners! Gross #InjusticeToKarnataka! While day in and out, Karnataka and several others states toil, fight amongst each other to attract investments and move towards growth, #Budget2024 is seemingly discriminatory promoting only 2 states," said DK Suresh on X (formerly Twitter).

"This is pure injustice and a mirror to the step motherly attitude of the centre. Sadly #Karnataka continues to give majority seats to #BJP in the Lok Sabha Elections, but in return all we get is a significant “Chombu”!," added DK Suresh.

'Only Andhra Pradesh and Bihar have been given funds in this budget': Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

"This budget is like an empty vessel given to Karnataka by Nirmala Sitharaman. Only Andhra Pradesh and Bihar have been given funds. Nothing has been given to other states because he (PM Modi) needs to have the confidence of those two states to remain as PM," said Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

'Central BJP government continues to act as a stepmother to Karnataka,' says Dy CM Shivakumar

"We had faith in the Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman. But all they have tried is to save the government by allocating major funds for development of infrastructure in BJP partner govt-run Andhra Pradesh and Bihar states.," DK Shivakumar said on X (formerly Twitter)

"As expected, the central BJP government continues to act as a stepmother to Karnataka. It is especially unfair to Congress-ruled states. Funds have not been released for any pending major projects in the state. In one line it can be said that the current budget is a big betrayal to the Kannadigas," added DK Shivakumar.

Track latest reactions to the Union Budget here

I.N.D.I.A bloc's floor leaders (Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha) held a meeting with regard to Union Budget 2024 at the residence of Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge.

"The concept of the budget has already been destroyed by this year's Union Budget. They have completely discriminated against most of the states. So the INDIA alliance meeting was held on how to oppose it," said KC Venugopal, General Secretary, Congress.

After the meeting, INDIA Alliance MPs have announced to stage a protest in Parliament tomorrow (July 24) morning alleging the Union Budget 2024 to be a “discriminatory budget”.