Live Updates: Have to protect the nation from 'Foreign Destructive Ideology', says PM Modi in Rajya Sabha

The nation is making progress and we are talking about FDI but I see that a new FDI has come to the fore. We have to protect the nation from this new FDI. We need Foreign Direct Investment but the new FDI is 'Foreign Destructive Ideology', we have to protect ourselves from it

India is very proud of the contribution of Sikhs. This is a community that has done so much for the nation. The words and blessings of the Guru Sahibs are precious: PM Modi

We mustn't forget what happened with Punjab. It suffered the most during partition. It cried the most during 1984 riots. They became victims of most painful incidents. Innocents were killed in J&K. Business of weapons was carried out in northeast. All this affected the nation

PM reitertes in Rajya Sabha 'MSP tha, MSP hai aur MSP rahega.'

Manmohan ji is here, I'd read out his quote. Those taking a U-Turn (farm laws) will perhaps agree with him. "There are other rigidities because of marketing regime set up in 1930s which prevent our farmers from selling their produce where they get highest rate of return. It is our intention to remove all those handicaps which come in the way of India realising its vast potential at one large common market.": PM Narendra Modi in Rajya Sabha

Sharad Pawar ji, and those from Congress, everyone... all governments have stood for agricultural reforms. Whether they were able to do it or not, but everyone has advocated that it should be done: PM

NDA's other schemes also help farmers. For example- the PMGSY. When the road connectivity improves, it enables the produce of the farmers to reach distant places. There are efforts like Kisan Rail too. The need of the hour is to improve the lives of the small farmers: PM Modi

Since 2014 we have initiated changes in the agriculture sector aimed at empowering the farmer. The crop insurance scheme was changed to make it more farmer friendly. The PM-KISAN scheme was also brought in. We are working for the small farmers: PM Modi

I would like to appreciate the contribution of HD Devegowda ji on the discussions relating to agriculture in the house. His words have added great perspective to the debate. He himself has a strong association with the agriculture sector: PM

Bajwa sahab from Congress was also speaking. He was speaking in such detail that I thought he will reach Emergency (period) shortly and speak on it, he is just one step away from it. But he didn't go there. Congress disappoints this country a lot, you did that too: PM Modi

I was listening to Derek ji, he had chosen good words - Freedom of Speech, Intimidation. When I was listening to him, I was wondering if he is talking about Bengal or the country. He sees all this for 24 hours, so he might have said the same here too: PM Modi

While other parts of the world are still looking for investment during the Covid-19 era, record investment is taking place in India. On one side there is an atmosphere of despair, on the other side there is a ray of hope in India: PM Modi

"India is not merely the world's largest democracy. India is the 'Mother of Democracy' and this is our ethos. Our nation's temperament is democratic."

"Our democracy is not a western institution. It's a human institution. India's history is filled with examples of democratic institutions. We find mention of 81 democracies in ancient India. Today it's essential to warn citizens about the attacks on India's nationalism."

"India's nationalism is neither narrow now selfish and not even aggressive. This is inspired by the values of 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram'. This quotation was given by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose."

"We've forgotten the ideals of Netaji. We've started cursing ourselves. I sometimes get surprised, world gives us a term & we start following it - 'Largest democracy of the world' - it feels good to hear this but we didn't teach our youth that India is the mother of democracy."

The COVID-19 period has added new strength to our federal structure and the spirit of cooperative federalism: PM Modi

India has seen days when there was a large threat of polio, smallpox. Nobody knew whether India will get a vaccine or how many people will get it. From those days, we're now here, when our nation is making vaccines for world. This increases our self-confidence: PM Modi in Rajya Sabha

You might've seen on social media an old woman sitting outside her hut on footpath, with a lit earthen lamp, praying for welfare of India. We're mocking her. If somebody who never went to school thinks they can serve India by lighting lamps, they can do it. It's being mocked

TMC MPs staged a walkout, as Prime Minister Modi began his reply in Rajya Sabha to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address.

The eyes of the world are on India. There are expectations from India and there is confidence that India will contribute to the betterment of our planet

India is truly a land of opportunities. Several opportunities are awaiting us, so a nation which is young, full of enthusiasm & a nation that is making efforts to realise the dreams, with a resolve, will never let these opportunities simply pass by

In Rajya Sabha, over 50 MPs expressed their views for over 13 hours, they expressed their invaluable views. So, I express my gratitude to all the MPs: PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi replied to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address in Rajya Sabha on Monday.

Last week, the House witnessed a 15-hour debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address.

The discussion on the motion has been the main business transacted by the House over three days in which 50 members from 25 parties participated, an official statement said.

The first six sittings of Rajya Sabha during the ongoing Budget session have proved productive with the House recording productivity of 82.10 percent, the statement said.

Against the total scheduled sitting time of 20 hours and 34 minutes, 4 hours 14 minutes were lost on February 3, due to disruption. The members, however, sat for extra 33 minutes beyond the business hours on Friday, the statement said.

To enable extra time for discussion on the Motion of Thanks, Question Hour was dispensed with on February 3 while both the Question Hour and Zero Hour were shelved on the next two days. Private Members' Business was not taken up on Friday.

The House will take up the discussion on the general budget for 2021-21 during this week for which 10 hours have been allotted.