India News HIGHLIGHTS | 'Anyone can criticise govt, but not Bharat': Amit Shah on new criminal laws

The Bill introduces a section defining "cruelty" against women by their husbands and relatives, punishable with up to three years of imprisonment.

Section 113 of the revised Bill adopts the definition of terrorism from the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The new definition narrows down vague acts and introduces clarity, ensuring that non-violent expressions are not unjustly categorized as terrorist acts.

Mob lynching has been addressed in the new act... The erstwhile laws were made by foreign rulers to help them maintain their supremacy. The new laws are framed by keeping in mind the core values of our Constitution- Individual freedom, human rights, and equal treatment for all, said the Home Minister. 

This is not the British rule, this is not the Congress rule. This is Narendra Modi's rule. No advocacy to protect terrorism will be allowed, said Shah. 

Lok Sabha has passed all the three criminal bills, including Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita Bill 2023, Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita Bill 2023 and Bharatiya Sakshya Bill 2023.

‘Its time to end British Era laws,’ says Shah.

Sedition no longer in place, says Shah. "We have replaced 'Government' with ‘India.’

Union Home Minister Amit Shah's address on New Criminal Bills. "Indian Civil Defense Code 2023 replacing CrPc will come into force after the approval of this House and the Indian Evidence Bill 2023 will come into force in place of the Indian Evidence Act 1872," says Shah. 
 

Speaking from the Lok Sabha, Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said, “The Indian Penal Code, which was made in 1860, was not intended to provide justice but to punish. In its place, the Indian Judicial Code 2023 will be implemented in the entire country after the approval of this House.”
 

Two more Lok Sabha MPs have been suspended. Both MPs C Thomas and M Arif are from Kerala.

Former Madhya Pradesh minister and BJP legislator Vijay Shah enjoying a “picnic party” in Satpura Tiger Reserve (STR) in Madhya Pradesh has triggered a controversy among the officials.

Activist Ajay Dubey has filed a complaint accusing the former legislator of organising an event in the reserve and cooking food.

An investigation based on the complaint has been initiated by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Aseem Srivastava.

A Supreme Court advocate Vineet Jindal filed a complaint with the Ethics Committees of Rajya Sabha & Lok Sabha against TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee for mimicking Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar. He seeks the expulsion of Kalyan Banerjee, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and other MPs involved in it.

Read here for details. 

In a tragic incident in IIT Knapur a research scholar was found dead by cleaning staff. The 34-year-old was found hanging by the cleaning staff on Thursday from the ceiling fan of her room. 

Read here for details. 

West Bengal Chief Minister on Wednesday said that in the budget session of 2023, Bengal was not allocated a budget. She claimed that Awas Yojna, Rural scheme fund has been stopped.

“100+ teams have visited Bengal still the budget has not been sanctioned,” she further claimed. 

On being asked about her response on TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee mocking Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, West Bengal Mamata Banerjee chose to remain silent. 

The Chief Minister said, “I am not going to reply anything on my parliamentary business.”

She added, “I have no information on the call of Jagdeep Dhankar. Will make no comment on that. Our parliamentary party is taking care of that.”

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee confirms Congress National President Kharge's name INDI Alliance PM face. HIs name was proposed yesterday. 

A day after TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee mocked Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar, former Parliamentarian and TMC leader Mahua Moitra also took a dig at the VP. 

Taking to X, Moitra said, “RS chairman is upset because he thinks that someone made a mockery of his position. The is obviously unacceptable because he thinks that the only pne person is entitled to make a mockery of his position is himself. He does it all time. Credit: Shuddha.”

West Bengal Mamata Banerjee along with a delegation of 11 MPs, will address members of the media at Vijay Chowk at 11.30am after Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

The official X account of the President Droupadi Murmu shared views on yesterday's ruckus in the Rajya Sabha. The post read, “I was dismayed to see the manner in which our respected Vice President was humiliated in the Parliament complex. Elected representatives must be free to express themselves, but their expression should be within the norms of dignity and courtesy. That has been the Parliamentary tradition we are proud of, and the People of India expect them to uphold it.”

Opposition MPs on Wednesday staged protest against the Central govt in front of the Gandhi statue in Parliament premises over suspension of 141 MPs.

After yesterday's incident when TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee was captured mimicking Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar and ruckus by opposiiton in the Upper House, Dhankar on X shared that he received a call from the Prime Minister. 

The post read, “Received a telephone call from the Prime Minister, Shri @narendramodi Ji. He expressed great pain over the abject theatrics of some Honourable MPs and that too in the sacred Parliament complex yesterday. He told me that he has been at the receiving end of such insults for twenty years and counting but the fact that it could happen to a Constitutional office like the Vice President of India and that too in the Parliament was unfortunate. ”

“I told him- Mr. Prime Minister, the antics of a few won’t prevent me from performing my duty and upholding the principles enshrined in our Constitution. I am committed to those values from the bottom of my heart. None of the insults will make me change my path,” it further read.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in its bulletin stated that Kerala reported 292 new active cases of COVID-19 and 3 deaths yesterday. The total number of active cases in the state is 2,041.

The Congress Party held a Congress Parliamentary meeting at Central Hall of Sanvidhan Sadan. Party President Sonia Gandhi said, “Democracy has been strangulated by this government.   Never before have so many Opposition Members of Parliament been suspended from the house, and that too, simply for raising a perfectly reasonable and legitimate demand.”

She added, "What happened on Dec 13th is inexcusable and cannot be justified. It took four days for the PM to address the nation and express his views on the incident, and he did so outside of the Parliament.  By so doing, he clearly indicated his disdain for the dignity of the house and his disregard for the people of our country."

Furthermore, Gandhi also commented on the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and the recent ruckus in Madhya Pradesh Assembly after replacing former Prime Minister Nehru's portrait with BR Ambedkar. She said, "This session has seen the passage of some important Bills relating to Jammu & Kashmir. Those who distort history and twist historical facts just to defame great patriots like Jawaharlal Nehru have been running a relentless campaign. In these efforts, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister have taken the lead themselves, but we will not be intimidated or cowed down. We will persist in telling the truth...." says CPP chairperson Sonia Gandhi in the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting."
 

On Wednesday, a Supreme Court lawyer filed a complaint against Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee for mimicking Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar in presence of other MPs including Rahul Gandhi outside parliament.
 

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Tuesday offered his prayers at the Giriraj Parikrama Marg Shrinathji temple. 

The Chief Minister also offered prayers at Puchri ka Lota Temple in Govardhan. 

This comes as the newly Rajasthan designated CM met with an accident on the same day earlier, as his car veered off the road and got stuck in sewer on the side of the road. 
 

Health ministry will hold a review meeting over rising COVID-10 cases in the country, at 10am. The meeting will take place virtually. 

Health Minister Mansukh Mandawiya along with health secretary and other health ministry officials will discuss on the preparedness and current situation after the new variant was detected in the country.

Today, December 20, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the alleged withholding of central funds to Bengal.

The CM accused the Centre of withholding all funds including the state's GST revenue, the housing initiative and 100 days of labour under the MGNREGA. 

At least 10 people were killed due to rains in southern Tamil Nadu. Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts worst hit. Government has ordered all schools and offices to remain closed.

The India Meteorlogical Department (IMD) has issued red alert in four districts of the state- Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukui and Tenkasi. 

As the flood-like situation pertains in the state, of the 800 passengers stranded in the Srivaikuntam railway station, a special train has been rolled out to rescue the passengers. 

 Catch Chennai rain updates here.

Parliament Winter Session: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is to move the Central Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the Rajya Sabha today for consideration and return further to amend the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017.

The Finance Minister is also expected to move the Provisional Collection of Taxes Bill, 2023 in the Rajya Sabha today for consideration and return to provide for the immediate effect for a limited period of provisions in Bills relating to the imposition or increase of duties of customs or excise. 

The Tamil Nadu's Raj Bhavan in a statement issued on Wednesday announced that the "Celebration of Advent Christmas," scheduled for Thursday, December 21, has been cancelled due to intense rain and catastrophic flooding in the state. 

Read here for details. 

A day after the Centre issued an advisory to all states following a surge in COVID-19 cases, several states have issued fresh directions to curb the virus.

Click to know what are the rules to be followed in your state:
 

Manipur has faced a fresh wave of violence in the past few days and now Section 144 has been imposed with a ban on the internet. Tensions on Sunday flared between the Kiku-Zo community amid the disagreements among the tribes regarding the nomenclature of the mass burial ground in Churchandpur. 

For more details, read here.