Parliament LIVE: Cong Releases Goa Minister's Tape Saying 'Parrikar Holding Modi Govt to Ransom With Rafale Papers'

According to sources, the cabinet could take a call on a Joint Session of the Parliament in order to debate the Triple Talaq Bill. It is also being speculated, this time the parliament session is likely to be extended by two days. 

Rahul Gandhi to Lead Opposition Attack on Rafale Deal | Congress president Rahul Gandhi will spearhead the party’s charge against the Modi government on alleged irregularities in the Rafale deal and is expected to demand a joint parliamentary committee probe into the contract signed by the NDA government with Dassault Aviation for procurement of 36 fighter jets after the Supreme Court refused to order a court-monitored probe.

Firing the opening salvo on the Rafale debate, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, suggesting a massive conspiracy at play, has alleged Goa chief minister Manohar Parriakar, who was the defense minister when the Rafale deal was signed, is not being removed despite his deteriorating health conditions as he has some incriminating documents on the Rafale deal.  The party has released an audio tape of Goa’s health minister Vishwajit Rane, in which he is purportedly speaking to ‘X’. In the tape, Rane says Parrikar has Rafale deal files in his bedroom and is holding the Modi government to ransom and not leaving his post as Goa CM despite illness. 

Triple Talaq to be Pushed in Rajya Sabha | The government is set to renew its push for the triple talaq bill in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, after a united opposition disrupted the proceedings of winter session two days ago. The Triple Talaq bill was passed by the Lok Sabha last week. The government considered a law on it after the Supreme Court said in August last year that the traditional method of Muslim men instantly divorcing their wives by uttering Talaq thrice was "unconstitutional" and "arbitrary". The Rajya Sabha was adjourned till today after the opposition demanded for a select parliamentary committee for further scrutiny of the bill.

Rafale Deal, Triple Talaq Expected to Rock Both the Houses | The stage is set for a busy day in Parliament with the Lok Sabha set to debate the Rafale deal and Rajya Sabha set to take up the triple talaq bill. The Congress on December 31, 2018, accepted Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s challenge to debate the Rafale deal in the lower house of Parliament. The government had insisted on a debate in Parliament responding to Congress’ demands for an investigation by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) into the defence deal. In a major boost for the Narendra Modi government ahead of the 2019 election, the Supreme Court last year in December gave it a thumbs-up in the “sensitive” issue of purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets.  A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi held that “broadly the processes have been followed” and that India cannot remain unprepared in skies when its adversaries have acquired the most modern fighter planes.