Live news updates: Demonetisation was the greatest man-made disaster ever, says TMC MP Derek O’Brien

The quota Bill that seeks to provide provide 10 per cent reservation in jobs and educational institutions to the economically weaker sections in the general category was tabled in Rajya Sabha Wednesday. The proceedings in the Upper House were extended by a day amid Centre’s push for both the quota Bill and the Triple Talaq Bill.

Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot introduced The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenth- Four Amendment) Bill 2019 amid slogan shouting by opposition Congress over the citizenship amendment bill.

Union Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot, “This bill will uplift the poor of the nation. This decision has been taken with thorough consideration. ”

The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday and was brought to the Upper House after the sitting of the House was extended by a day.

Congress members wanted Home Minister Rajnath Singh to first come to the House and make a statement on the bill that provides non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan Indian citizenship.

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2pm after uproar over general category quota bill by opposition members.

Rejecting the Gujarat government's plea, the Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered that the final report of the Justice H S Bedi Committee on 24 alleged fake encounter cases from 2002 to 2006 in the state be given to parties of the petition. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said it would deal later on whether to accept or reject the final report of the Justice Bedi committee on encounter cases.

Train services in Eastern Railway zone were disrupted on Wednesday, January 9 after supporters of the two-day nationwide strike resorted to blockades at many places. The two-day nationwide strike, on January 8 and 9, was called by central trade unions to protest against 'anti-people' policies of the Centre.

The budget session of Parliament is likely to be held from January 31 to Feb 13, and an interim budget is expected to be presented on February 1, government sources said Wednesday.

They said the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs deliberated on the dates for the budget session at a meeting.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi arrives at rally venue in Jaipur as crowd welcomes him.

“Thanks to Congress President Rahul Gandhi, the Congress governments in three states waived farm loans after coming to power,” says Sachin Pilot.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, “Rahul Gandhi has been raising issues of farmers, youths, inflation, corruption”

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said, “BJP made false promises, achche din ayenge and BJP govt was formed on that basis.”

“We have delivered on our promises of farm loan waiver in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. We will waive off farmers’ loans all over the country if we come to power in 2019”

Modi govt will have to waive farmers’ loans. Otherwise Congress party will come to power and waive the farmers’ loans. Waiving loans will not solve the problem, but it is the first step. Congress has taken it: Rahul Gandhi

“Congress’s victory in Rajasthan is the victory of the people, farmers, youth, women. People of Rajasthan are the master, Congress will serve them,” says Rahul Gandhi.

“PM Modi promised employment, but he brought demonetisation and GST and destroyed small businesses and farmers. He gave the money to Anil Ambani. How much money did you give to youths and farmers and small businesses,” says Rahul Gandhi

“Recent assembly polls showed power of farmers to PM Modi. Only loan waiver not enough, a new green revolution (harit kranti) needed to address farm distress,”says Rahul Gandhi at Kisan Rally in Jaipur.

“We will start food processing units near farms. Mega food parks will be set up and connect with the world”, says Rahul Gandhi.

“CBI Director Alok Verma was removed at midnight. Now, Supreme Court said he will be reinstated. We want an inquiry in Rafale deal, we want a JPC also. 56 inch ki chhati wale PM Lok Sabha mein 1 minute ke liye bhi nahi aa paye,” Congress President Rahul Gandhi

“Tell us your mann ki baat, we won’t tell you our mann ki baat. We will work with full spirit. We can never forget the love you people have shown us ,” says Rahul Gandhi.

"Poor should get benefits of reservation. Today, they (BJP) are claiming that the previous governments did nothing. You have to leave this mindset behind. You had assured many things 2014. After every high tide, there is a low tide. The country is still waiting for the acche din to come." Congress MP Anand Sharma said.

"Why wasn't the quota bill introduced earlier? What took you 4 years and seven months? The elections are upcoming. You have shown another dream to the people. The question is, how many jobs are available in reality? The quota merely a dream that the prime minister is promoting," said Congress MP Anand Sharma in Rajya Sabha on discussion over Quota Bill.

Widespread protests against the Citizenship Bill continued in Assam on Wednesday with agitators blocking roads and marching with their clothes off in several parts of the state. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 that seeks to provide citizenship to non-Muslims from Bangaldesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan was passed by the Lok Sabha Tuesday. Agitators across the Northeast, including Assam, have been blocking roads and rail tracks, seeking revocation of the Bill.

A selection committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet on Wednesday night to decide on the fate of CBI Director Alok Verma, reinstated by a Supreme Court order after he was sent on forced leave by the government, officials said Wednesday.

The meeting is scheduled to be held at the prime minister's residence at Lok Kalyan Marg, they said. Alok Verma's two-year tenure as CBI director ends on January 31.

“Will this Bill pass Constitutional and judicial scrutiny. Promise of doubling farmers' income by 2022 comes under Cheat India. We have tripled farmers' income in West Bengal. If you look at the history of the last 100 years, demonetisation may be the largest man-made disaster ever ,” TMC MP Derek O’Brien

“This bill is an acknowledgement of guilt, that we haven't created any jobs in last 4 & a half years. It redefines India's poverty line of ₹32 a day, if we look at the number of ₹8 lakhs a year, new poverty line is ₹2100 a day,” said Derek O’Brien.

Trains were stopped by protesters at a few places in Tamil Nadu and banking services in some public sector banks interrupted in Telangana but life largely remained unaffected on Wednesday during the second day of the two-day nationwide stir called by 10 central trade unions. The unions are protesting the "anti-labour" policies of the Centre.

Banking and postal services continued to be affected in Gujarat on the second day of the two-day strike called by central trade unions on Wednesday, January 9.

Unions also staged protest marches and demonstrations in major cities, said Arun Mehta, general secretary of the Gujarat unit of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).

IAS officer from Jammu and Kashmir Shah Faesal, who has been in limelight since topping the civil services exam in 2010, resigned Wednesday, protesting against the "unabated" killings in Kashmir and a "lack of sincere reach out" from the Union government.

The BSE Sensex after a gap-up opening at 36,181.37, advanced further to the day's high of 36,250.54, before ending at 36,212.91, showing a gain of 231.98 points, or 0.64 per cent. The NSE Nifty also gained 53 points, or 0.49 per cent, to settle 10,855.15 after shuttling between 10,870.40 and 10,749.40.

"I remember Ambedkar now. Reservation is a theory made before Independence. When the Constituent Assembly was made, there was reservation there too. Is this House competent to bring such a Bill? It may not stand the scrutiny of the law," Prasanna Acharya, BJD MP said.

"Compromising on parliamentary procedures is very sad. Chandrababu Naidu said that this kind of Bill should have been referred to a select committee," said the TDP MP YS Chowdary

Terming the passing of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 by Lok Sabha on Tuesday as a "Black Day" for Assam and the country, former chief minister Tarun Gogoi accused the BJP government of polarising the country on the basis of religion.

"By passing the bill, the BJP government has polarised citizens as Hindus and Muslims and accepted Jinnah's politics of dividing the country," the senior Congress leader said.

“Timing of this Bill expresses the desperation of BJP to muster support electorally. More than one crore jobs have been lost due to demonetisation,” CPM MP Elamaram Kareem said in Rajya Sabha.

"The government of Kerala, from 1957, made land reforms, developed public education and distribution system, empowered women and strengthened people's participation in administration," Kareem said.

Sporadic incidents of violence in West Bengal and Kerala and rail blockades in certain states were witnessed Wednesday on the second day of Bharat Bandh, which also saw a partial disruption of banking and insurance services across the country.

Other sectors like mining, road transport, power supply too bore the brunt of strike call given by country's 10 major central trade unions, except RSS affiliate Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, to protest against the government's alleged anti-labour policies and unilateral labour reforms.

Manoj Jha, in the Rajya Sabha, said that the reservation does not alleviate poverty like MNREGA. He strongly opposed the Bill saying that it is "anti-Dalit and anti-poor". He said that the Bill is not constitutionally justifiable.

DMK MP Kanimozhi stated that the government is trying to “make right wrong” through this Quota Bill.

Attacking the BJP for bringing the Bill on such short notice she said "The government thinks that they can’t decide everything unilaterally and force it upon people of this country”.

DMK MP Kanimozhi asked the government what it was doing to empower Muslim women?

She also added "In Tamil Nadu, DMK, brought 3.5% reservation for Muslims, why is Centre not doing so?" She stated that the criterion for reservation shouldn’t be economic status. Amid interruptions Kanimozhi said "When you are an OBC, Dalit, you will still face discrimination. You may not be economically weak, but your caste will never leave you.”