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LIVE | Winter Session Day 3: Centre tells LS 'no snooping' via Sanchar Saathi app; RS debates Raj Bhavan renaming

Parliament proceedings began without disruptions on Wednesday, the third day of the Winter Session, after two days of protests and ruckus. The calm followed the resolution of the logjam over the Oppositions demand for a discussion on SIR a day earlier. On Tuesday, floor leaders agreed that the Lok Sabha will take up the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram on December 8, and hold discussions on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and on electoral reforms on December 9. The schedule was finalised at an all-party meeting that resolved the Oppositions demand for a discussion on SIR. Meanwhile, top leadership of the Congress party, including party President Mallikarjun Kharge, Legislative Party leader Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and MP Priyanka Gandhi attended the INDIA bloc protest on Wednesday against the labour codes at Parliament premises. As the Parliament session enters day 3, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to move the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025, for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha, as per the list of business. The Bill aims to raise excise duties and cess on tobacco products, with an amendment to the Central Excise Act, 1944. PM Modi likely to meet BJP MPs from West Bengal in Parliament: Sources Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to meet all BJP MPs from West Bengal in the Parliament premises on Wednesday, party sources told ANI . This meeting comes ahead of the Parliamentary discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in 12 States and Union Territories, including West Bengal, on December 9. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) has been a staunch opponent of the SIR exercise in West Bengal. PM Modi's meeting with the MPs is also crucial as the state is set to undergo the Legislative Assembly elections in 2026. West Bengal also came into discussion in the Parliament when a question regarding funds allocated under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and Animal Husbandry Development Fund (AHIDF) in the state was raised in the Question Hour in Lok Sabha. While answering the question, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh of the JD(U) gave an overview of the funds. If we want to make a Viksit Bharat, then every state needs to have development. Until we develop every state, it cannot happen. Keeping that in mind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started the PMMSY to revolutionise the fishing industry across the country. But the sad thing is that West Bengal did not support this, Singh told the House. Rajya Sabha witnesses war of words over renaming of Raj Bhavans, expunging of remarks The Rajya Sabha witnessed a heated exchange on Wednesday after AITC member Dola Sen raised the issue of the Ministry of Home Affairs' November 25 directive to rename all Raj Bhavans in the country as Lok Bhavans during Zero Hour. But first of all, we would like to say that neither the Parliament, Assembly, nor the Cabinet is aware of this... They are not even discussing it with you, sir, Sen said. However, the discussion took a contentious turn when Sen raised additional issues, including MGNREGA, prompting the Chair to intervene and state that the deviated remarks would not go on record. Leader of the House JP Nadda objected to the deviation, saying, You permitted her to speak during Zero Hour about the change of name from Raj Bhavan to Lok Bhavan. She spoke about MGNREGA and other issues. I would like to be very clear that because it does not relate to the subject, it should be deleted and it should not be brought on record and only issues related to Lok Bhavan should be admitted. Chairman CP Radhakrishnan concurred, reiterating that anything deviated from the subject will not go on record. Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge came to Sen's defence, arguing, She has not spoken any unparliamentary word. Everything is connected with the subject. And that subject was examined in your office, after that she spoke. Accusing the government of stifling debate, Kharge said, The Leader of the House cannot interfere and say whatever is said is unparliamentary and delete it. The Leader (of the House) is bulldozing. You don't want to run according to parliamentary democracy. The Chair maintained that proceedings were being conducted properly and urged members to stick to listed subjects during Zero Hour. Nadda defended his intervention, stating, I never bulldozed, and clarified that he was only requesting that matters related to the subject remain on record. Snooping will never happen with Sanchar Saathi app: Scindia in LS Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday said snooping is neither possible nor will it happen with the Sanchar Saathi safety app, amid a row over his ministry's order asking smartphone makers to preload the state-run cybersecurity app on all new devices. In Lok Sabha, Scindia said the app is for the protection of the people. Sanchar Saathi app se a snooping sambhav hai, na snooping hoga, the minister said during Question Hour. In the context of the discussions about the app, the minister also said the government want to give power in the hands of the people to help them protect themselves. The ministry's order dated November 28, mandates all mobile phone manufacturers to pre-install Sanchar Saathi app in all handsets to be sold in India as well as in existing devices through software update. It mandates mobile phone companies to ensure that the pre-installed Sanchar Saathi application is readily visible and accessible to the end users at the time of first use or device setup and that its functionalities are not disabled or restricted. On Tuesday, Scindia said users are free to delete the app if they don't want to use it. Lok Sabh functions smoothly; Takes up Question Hour Lok Sabha on Wednesday took up the Question Hour without disruptions for the first time in the ongoing Winter session, a day after the logjam over the opposition's demand for a discussion on SIR was resolved. During a meeting chaired by Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday evening, it was decided to hold a discussion in Lok Sabha on the 150th anniversary of national song 'Vande Mataram' on next Monday and on election reforms on next Tuesday. As soon as the House assembled for the day, obituaries were paid to former members who had passed away recently. The House then took up the Question Hour. Since the session began on Monday, proceedings were disrupted by opposition members demanding a debate on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise ongoing in nine states and three Union territories. Rahul, Sonia Gandhi join INDIA bloc protest against labour codes Top leadership of the Congress party, including party President Mallikarjun Kharge, Legislative Party leader Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and MP Priyanka Gandhi attended the INDIA bloc protest on Wednesday against the four labour codes at Parliament premises. Claiming that the four labour codes propagate corporate jungle raj, the INDIA bloc MPs held up various banners, and a bigger banner reading No to Corporate Jungle raj- Yes to labour justice Earlier today, INDIA bloc floor leaders held a meeting ahead of the third day of the Winter Session of the Parliament, to chalk out the strategy after the Centre accepted the Opposition's demand to hold a debate on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll. VIDEO | Parliament winter session: Opposition leaders, including Congress MPs Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, stage a protest outside parliament on the Labour Code. (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7 ) pic.twitter.com/RLiHckGP8Y Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 3, 2025