Parliament updates: BJP Parliamentary Board to meet at 6 pm today at party headquarters; Smriti Irani gets longest applause in Lok Sabha

Smriti Irani receives the longest applause while taking oath as Lok Sabha member

Union Minister Smriti Irani, who defeated Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, received the longest applause when she took oath as a member of the 17th Lok Sabha on Monday. As soon as she was called for oath taking, ruling BJP members, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, other Union Ministers and MPs were seen enthusiastically thumping the desk for a long time.

After taking oath in Hindi, Irani greeted pro-tem Speaker Virendra Kumar and also Opposition leaders, including UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who reciprocated the greetings with a namaste gesture.

Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 pm

Kodikunnil Suresh takes oath

Kodikunnil Suresh of the Congress was the second to take oath as the 17th Lok Sabha member, after Modi. According to reports, the Kerala MP is one of the frontrunners to lead the Congress in the Lok Sabha. Kerala was the lone silver lining in Congress’ overall defeat in the Lok Sabha. In Kerala, the Congress-led UDF won 19 out of 20 seats.

Narendra Singh Tomar, Ravi Shankar Prasad, other MPs take oath

Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also took oath as Lok Sabha members. Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal was next to be sworn in. She took oath in Punjabi. After Harsimrat, HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank took oath. While Dr. Harsh Vardhan took oath in Sanskrit, Pralhad Joshi took oath in Kannada. Arjun Munda, Giriraj Singh, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Santosh Kumar Gangwar also took oath.

Kamal Nath, son Nakul at Parliament

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath and his son Nakul Nath at the Parliament. Nakul Nath has been elected as MP from Chhindwara.

Delhi: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath & his son Nakul Nath at the Parliament. Nakul Nath has been elected as MP from Chhindwara. pic.twitter.com/bRwMUF9xF4

— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2019

Other lawmakers took oath as MPs

The panel of presiding officers — K Suresh, Brijbhushan Sharan Singh and B Mehtab — took oath as Members after the Prime Minister. Union Ministers Harsh Vardhan, Sripad Naik and Ashwini Chaubey were amongst those who took oath in Sanskrit.

Earlier the new session began with playing of the National Anthem.

MPs chant Bharat Mata ki Jai when Modi took oath

Leader of the House and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah were among those who took oath as Members of the 17th Lok Sabha that commenced here Monday.

As soon as the House met, the Members stood in silence for a few minutes as per the convention after the assembling of the new House.

When Modi’s name was called out by the Secretary General for taking oath, Members from the ruling NDA thumped the desk greeting the Prime Minister with slogans such as ‘Modi Modi’ and “Bharat Mata ki Jai.

Harsh Vardhan takes oath in Sanskrit; Jitendra Singh in Dongri

Delhi: Union Ministers and BJP MPs Dr Harsh Vardhan and Dr Jitendra Singh took oath in Sanskrit and Dogri, respectively, as members of 17th Lok Sabha. pic.twitter.com/Rrx1OpzYq8

— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2019

BJP MP from Bihar’s Madhubani Dr Ashok Kumar Yadav arrives at Parliament wearing a stole and a cap with traditional Madhubani art

Delhi: BJP MP from Bihar's Madhubani, Dr. Ashok Kumar Yadav arrives at the Parliament wearing a stole and a cap with traditional Madhubani art pic.twitter.com/w8oZ4dhg4S

— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2019

I am entering the Parliament with a lot of gratitude for people who elected me: Tejasvi Surya

First-time MP and BJP candidate from Bangalore South, Tejasvi Surya reached Parliament to take oath as MP in 17th Lok Sabha. Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament, Tejasvi said, “It’s a great institution which has shaped the country’s past, present and future. I’m entering it with a lot of gratitude for people who’ve elected me and also with a sense of idealism to ensure Bharat Mata reaches the pinnacle of glory which it’s destined to do.”

Delhi: BJP MPs Sunny Deol, Tejasvi Surya and Ravi Kishan arrive at the Parliament, to take oath as member of th 17th Lok Sabha pic.twitter.com/1HeXigKKbe

— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2019

Congress demands early Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir

At the all-party meeting, the Congress raised issues of unemployment, farmers distress, drought, and press freedom with the government while also calling for early conduct of Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Opposition parties demanded discussion on all such issues in Parliament, with the Congress asserting that it is still a “fight of ideologies”.

Smriti Irani, Harsh Vardhan take oath as MPs in 17th Lok Sabha

Union ministers and newly-elected MPs Smriti Irani, Harsh Vardhan, Harsimrat Kaur, Nitin Gadkari took oath as MPs in 17th Lok Sabha today. Harsh Vardhan took oath in Sanskrit.

BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh's Amethi, Smriti Zubin Irani takes oath as member of the 17th Lok Sabha. pic.twitter.com/144NEa2qz7

— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2019

Delhi: Union Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal MP from Bathinda, Harsimrat Kaur Badal takes oath as member of the 17th Lok Sabha pic.twitter.com/NWjIz4ccim

— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2019

Delhi: Union Minister and BJP MP Nitin Gadkari takes oath as member of the 17th Lok Sabha. pic.twitter.com/hclwDhdc8c

— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2019

Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Sadananda Gowda take oath of duty

17th Lok Sabha: Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes oath of duty pic.twitter.com/xhKWUv41eX

— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2019

Delhi: Congress’ Kerala MP Suresh Kodikunnil takes oath as member of the 17th Lok Sabha. pic.twitter.com/sPtter3DO4

— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2019

Delhi: BJP MP and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh takes oath as member of the 17th Lok Sabha. pic.twitter.com/d9o0aEfBAs

— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2019

Delhi: BJP President and Home Minister Amit Shah takes oath as member of the 17th Lok Sabha. pic.twitter.com/zL5yKYdYCu

— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2019

WATCH: ‘Every word of the Opposition is important, says Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the Parliament for 17th Lok Sabha, says, "Every word of the Opposition is important." pic.twitter.com/TxTVzQkOF2

— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2019

After 30 Lok Sabha sittings and 27 Rajya Sabha sittings, session will end on 26 July

The NDA government will table the Union Budget and introduce a slew of key legislations including a revised triple talaq bill. The Lok Sabha will have a total of 30 sittings and Rajya Sabha 27 sittings, ending 26 July.

Protem Speaker Virender Kumar will administer oath of office to all Lok Sabha MPs on the first two days of the session. The Speaker will be elected on 19 June and on the next day President Ram Nath Kovind will address a joint sitting of both Houses. The Union budget will be presented on 5 July.

Modi takes oath in 17th Lok Sabha 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took oath in 17th Lok Sabha. Earlier today, highlighting the role of an opposition in the democracy, Modi said the opposition need not bother about their numbers and urged them to speak actively and participate in the House proceedings. “In Parliament, we should forget ‘Paksh’, ‘Vipaksh’ and think about issues with ’nishpaksh spirit’, work in larger interest of nation,” PM Modi said in his brief address to reporters ahead of the 17th Lok Sabha.

Virendra Kumar takes oath as the Protem Speaker

BJP MP Virendra Kumar took oath as the Protem Speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Delhi: BJP MP Virendra Kumar takes oath as the Protem Speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha, at Rashtrapati Bhawan. pic.twitter.com/74wzfKf9uw

— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2019

Role of opposition pertinent for democracy: Modi

Speaking ahead of the 17th Lok Sabha’s first session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “We are working to fulfill people’s aspiration. We value the opposition & their role. It’s a sign of a healthy democracy to have a strong opposition. I believe that our session will be more productive as opposed to previous times.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the Parliament for 17th Lok Sabha, says, "The role of an active Opposition is important. Opposition need not bother about their numbers. I hope they will speak actively and participate in house proceedings." pic.twitter.com/OQfvlDxDuD

— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2019

Watch this space for the LIVE webcast of the proceedings of the 17th Lok Sabha

https://t.co/9ngIrUB10T पर सुबह 11 बजे से लोक सभा की कार्यवाही का सीधा प्रसारण

— Lok Sabha TV (@loksabhatv) June 17, 2019

Modi chairs all-party meet ahead of 17th Lok Sabha’s first session

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chairing an all-party meeting on the eve of the first session of the new Lok Sabha, invited heads of all parties to a meeting on 19 June to discuss the “one nation, one election” issue and other important matters.

Noting that there are many new faces in this Lok Sabha, Modi said the first session of the Lower House of Parliament should begin with “fresh zeal and new thinking”.

First session of 17 Lok Sabha to commence today

The first session of the 17th Lok Sabha will commence starting today during which the passage of the Union Budget and other key legislation, such as triple talaq,  will be on top of the agenda for the government.