Droupadi Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday attended the opening of the gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan for the general public. 'Amrit Udyan' will remain open for visitors from January 31 to March 26 (except on Mondays which are maintenance days and on March 8 on account of Holi) between 10.00 a.m. to 1600 a.m.

In a series of tweets, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi said: Budget Session, 2023 of Parliament will commence from 31 January and continue till 6 April with 27 sittings spread over 66 days with usual recess.

Noting that tribal people, especially from the Koya community, gather to offer prayers to Sammakka Saralamma, the President said that such festivals and gatherings strengthen social harmony. With these activities, our traditions continue to grow from generation to generation, she said.

"We should quickly move ahead from the phase of empowering women to the stage of women-led development. It is already happening in many fields. It must happen in a much bigger way," she said in her address to the probationers of the 74th batch of the Indian Police Service at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Hyderabad.

The President offered flowers on the religious scripture Gita as she performed the yagna near Lord Shri Krishna's chariot idol located at Purushottampura Bagh. Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatraya and Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar were also present on the occasion. President Murmu inaugurated the Gita Shilp Udyan, built in Purushottam Bagh, dedicated to the ongoing celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

The speaker observed that since the case is sub-judice, there is no scope for discussion on the floor of the Assembly. However, the leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari argued that the main contention of the adjournment motion was on why a minister should continue in the chair even after making such derogatory comments about the constitutional head of the country. 

Arun Goel will join Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey in the apex poll body. The third post of Election Commissioner in the country's top poll body has been vacant for nearly six months. After Chief EC Sushil Chandra had retired in May this year giving charge to Rajiv Kumar, the poll panel has been a two-member body only. However, after Goel assumes the charge, the top poll body will have three members - one Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners.

Akhil Giri, MoS in-charge of Correctional Services Department, had triggered a massive row last week when he said at a rally in Nandigram, "We don't judge anyone by their appearance... We respect the office of the President. But how does our President look?"

"The President is an extremely nice lady. I strongly condemn what Akhil Giri had said. Akhil was wrong. I personally apologise on behalf of the legislator. I am sorry over the entire issue," Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told media persons at the state Secretariat, Nabanna.

The internal grievance has been reflected over the comments by Trinamool Congress legislator and West Bengal minister of state for food department, Jyotsna Mandi, who herself hails from a tribal background.