New Delhi, Aug 21: The monsoon session of Parliament is set to conclude on Thursday after running for nearly a month since July 21. The proceedings in both Houses — the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha — will reconvene at 11 a.m. for the final sitting of the session.

Throughout the monsoon session, multiple adjournments disrupted proceedings as the Opposition staged continuous protests.

Their primary demand was for a detailed discussion on the voter list revision in Bihar ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. Opposition parties have accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of “conspiring” to manipulate the voter list in the state.

On Wednesday, despite loud protests from the Opposition, the Lok Sabha passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025.

The legislation seeks to promote and regulate the online gaming industry, encompassing e-sports, educational games, and social gaming. It introduces stricter regulations for gaming platforms, particularly those involving real-money games such as poker.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also introduced significant bills during the session, including one that mandates the removal of elected representatives who face arrest or detention on serious criminal charges.

The legislation, if enacted, will apply to the Prime Minister, Union ministers, Chief Ministers, and ministers of Union Territories.

Shah tabled three key bills — The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill 2025, the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill 2025, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2025.

According to the provisions, any Prime Minister, Union minister, Chief Minister, or minister of a state or Union Territory who is arrested and remains in custody for 30 consecutive days in connection with offences carrying a minimum jail term of five years will be required to resign by the 31st day.

In case of non-compliance, they will be automatically removed from office.

The proposed legislation has been referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), which has been directed to submit its report on the opening day of the next parliamentary session.

Shah assured that the Opposition would be given ample opportunity to raise objections and present its views before the panel.

New Delhi, Aug 20: The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has strongly condemned the Union Government’s recent move to introduce three new bills aimed at disqualifying the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and other ministers after 30 days in judicial custody. In an official statement, the CPI(M) described the move as “anti-democratic” and a clear attempt to bypass due legal processes.

“This move is obnoxious and undermines the checks and balances essential for any functioning democracy,” the statement read.

It added that the proposal would be used as a political weapon against opposition-ruled states and leaders, warning that the reference to criminal conduct was merely a cover to mask the government’s real intentions, as per KNS.

New Delhi, Aug 20: New Delhi on Wednesday dismissed Nepal’s objections to the resumption of border trade between India and China through the Lipulekh Pass, reiterating that Kathmandu’s territorial claims are “neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence.”

The response came after Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs raised concerns over the reopening of trade through the Himalayan pass, which lies on the India–China border but is also claimed by Nepal.

“We have noted the comments of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal related to resumption of border trade between India and China through the Lipulekh Pass,” said Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

“Our position in this regard has been consistent and clear. Border trade between India and China through Lipulekh pass had commenced in 1954 and has been going on for decades. This trade had been disrupted in recent years due to Covid and other developments, and both sides have now agreed to resume it.

As regards territorial claims, our position remains that such claims are neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence. Any unilateral artificial enlargement of territorial claims is untenable. India remains open to constructive interaction with Nepal on resolving agreed outstanding boundary issues through dialogue and diplomacy,” the MEA statement read.

Earlier, in its statement, Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintained, “The Government of Nepal has consistently urged the Government of India not to undertake activities such as road construction, expansion, or border trade in that area. The Government of Nepal has also conveyed to our friendly neighbor, China, that the territory belongs to Nepal.”

Media reported that Kathmandu further stressed its preference for diplomacy, noting that “in keeping with the spirit of close and friendly relations between Nepal and India, the Government of Nepal remains dedicated to resolving the boundary issue between the two countries on the basis of historical treaties, agreements, facts, maps, and evidence—through peaceful and diplomatic means:” reports media. Nepal has long claimed Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura as part of its territory, though the area remain under India.