Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the Parliament Annexe on Tuesday to attend the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting, where he is set to be honored for the India United States trade agreement. The development follows former US President Donald Trump’s statement that the two countries had finalized a trade deal, under which the United States reduced reciprocal tariffs from 25 percent to 18 percent as a gesture of friendship and respect toward PM Modi. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National President Nitin Nabin, Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Bhupender Yadav, and senior BJP leaders including CR Patil and Giriraj Singh were also present. AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP M Thambi Durai and BJP MP Ashok Chavan attended the meeting as well.

Meanwhile, both Houses of Parliament are continuing discussions on the motion of thanks to the President’s address during the ongoing Budget Session. In the Lok Sabha, the motion was introduced by Sarbananda Sonowal and seconded by Tejasvi Surya. On Monday, proceedings were disrupted by sharp exchanges between NDA and INDIA bloc members following Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s speech, in which he referred to an unpublished memoir by former Army Chief General MM Naravane on India China border tensions. BJP members objected strongly, alleging a violation of parliamentary rules.

In the Rajya Sabha, BJP MP Sadanand Master moved the motion of thanks and delivered an emotional speech, placing his artificial limbs on the bench. The motion follows President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the joint sitting of Parliament on January 28, marking the start of the Budget Session. Lok Sabha proceedings on Monday were repeatedly interrupted and eventually adjourned for the day after a deadlock over Rahul Gandhi’s insistence on raising the 2020 border standoff with China. Speaker Om Birla ruled that references to unpublished material were not permitted and urged the Leader of the Opposition to continue his remarks in line with parliamentary rules.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.