Feb 12 News Live: BJP MP Dubey moves substantive motion against Rahul Gandhi

SIT starts fresh sample collection in gold loss probe at Sabarimala

The SIT probing the alleged loss of gold from artefacts at the Sabarimala temple started sample collection for scientific analysis in Pathanamthitta on Thursday, PTI reported, citing police sources.

The team, led by SP S Sasidharan, reached Pampa, the base camp of Sabarimala, in the morning and later proceeded to Sannidhanam by afternoon, officials said.

Officials said the SIT, assisted by personnel from the Legal Metrology Department, the forensic laboratory, and skilled artisans, began removing the gold-plated covering from artefacts in the Sreekovil and its pillars in the evening.

According to police sources, the sample collection procedure started after the Sabarimala temple opened for the monthly pooja at 5 pm on Thursday.

Even though the hill shrine will close on February 17 at 10 pm, SIT is expected to complete the procedure on Friday.

Mandaviya says IR Code amendment ensures legal clarity

Replying to the debate on the Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Rajya Sabha, Union Labour and Employment Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said the amendment was introduced to bring legal clarity.

He said while the government already has the power to repeal laws, the legislation removes ambiguity. The minister asserted that the Narendra Modi government aims to protect labour interests while also safeguarding industries, calling for a balance between the two.

Mandaviya claimed trade unions and workers support the reforms and accused political opponents of misleading the House. He added that the labour codes ensure equal wages and rights for men and women.

The amendment was passed following his reply.

Mandaviya tells RS Bharat Bandh failed to dent reforms

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha after Opposition members criticised the labour law amendments and backed the Bharat Bandh call by trade unions, Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said the shutdown had failed to make an impact.

He argued that the limited response showed public support for the government’s position on the Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

“How you will oppose this politically, you saw the impact of the ‘Bandh’ today. Toil as much as you can; the country stands with Narendra Modi, not you. The country will stand with the truth. Had you been speaking the truth, the country would have taken to the streets. But it is us who are truthful, so the country is standing with Narendra Modi. Such political opposition will not work,” he said.

Parties divided as RS debates IR Code Amendment Bill

The Rajya Sabha witnessed sharp exchanges during the debate on the Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026, with regional parties expressing varied positions.

AIADMK MP Dr M. Thambidurai said his party stands for labour welfare but would support the Bill in view of the Supreme Court’s verdict necessitating the amendment. He added that both the BJP and AIADMK are committed to protecting labour interests.

YSRCP MP Ayodhya Rami Reddy Alla described the amendment as a narrow but important drafting correction to prevent executive overreach in repealing primary legislation and backed the clarificatory move.

Opposition parties strongly objected. Trinamool Congress MP Dola Sen said the original labour codes were passed without proper debate and termed them “corporate codes.” DMK MP R. Girirajan and BJD MP Niranjan Bishi alleged that the amendments dilute workers’ rights and undermine principles of natural justice.

Jairam Ramesh says IR Code amendment enables ease of firing

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Thursday criticised the Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026, calling it a reflection of the government’s failure in drafting labour reforms. He said the original 2020 Code was passed “in the din” by voice vote and is now being amended retrospectively, which he termed a “bizarre proposition,” though prompted by a Supreme Court ruling.

Ramesh argued that the amendment promotes “ease of firing” without ensuring ease of hiring, weakens collective bargaining and was introduced without discussion at the Indian Labour Conference. He added that even the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh had objected to the Code.

Rajya Sabha takes up Industrial Relations Code Bill

The Rajya Sabha on Thursday took up the Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026 for consideration, with Labour Minister Dr Mansukh Mandviya moving the motion.

Chairperson C.P. Radhakrishnan said the Business Advisory Committee has allotted 30 minutes for the discussion, 10 minutes to the BJP, three minutes to the Congress and one minute each to other parties, based on their numerical strength.

Sitharaman highlights subsidy, education spend in RS reply

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the total outgo on major subsidies — food, fertiliser and petroleum — stands at Rs 4.1 lakh crore.

She added that expenditure on education has increased from Rs 41,000 crore in 2014 to Rs 93,000 crore at present.

With these remarks, she concluded her reply to the discussion on the Union Budget in the Rajya Sabha.

T20 WC: India sent into bat by Namibia; Sanju, Bumrah return

Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus won the toss and asked India to bat first in their T20 World Cup game in Delhi. India made two changes with Sanju Samson and Jasprit Bumrah returning in place of Abhishek Sharma and Mohammed Siraj. Abhishek has not fully recovered from a stomach infection, for which he was hospitalised.

Ben Shikongo and Malan Kruger are playing in place of Dylan Leicher and Willem Myburgh, respectively, for Namibia.

Playing XIs

India: Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.

Namibia: Louren Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus (captain), JJ Smit, Zane Green (wicketkeeper), Ruben Trumpelmann, Malan Kruger, Bernard Scholtz, Ben Shikongo, Max Heingo.

Sitharaman says INDIA-ruled states must answer on farmers’ distress

Responding to a member’s comment that farmers are happy in Texas, Kentucky and Wisconsin but not in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka or West Bengal, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the remark was an admission in itself.

“I am sorry to say… he is basically admitting it. I am glad he brought up Tamil Nadu… because farmers in INDIA alliance-ruled states are not happy. They have to take care of it. All three states are ruled by their alliance. They have to talk among themselves and work on it,” she said.

Nirmala Sitharaman also alleged that some state governments, including West Bengal, have failed to implement welfare schemes funded by the Centre.

“There are governments like West Bengal which do not implement welfare schemes for people. WB doesn't implement just because it is financed by the Centre. How can we be held responsible?” she said.

Citing the Pradhan Mantri Cha Shramik Protsahan Yojana, introduced in 2021-22 for the welfare of tea estate workers, especially women and children, she said the scheme aimed to improve education, health, housing and infrastructure, but the West Bengal government refused to implement it.

“If the farmers are unhappy, is it our blame?” she asked.

Sitharaman says unemployment at historic low amid reforms

Responding to criticism on unemployment, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said India is undergoing a structural transformation and that joblessness is at a historic low.

She said the unemployment rate has fallen from 5.27 per cent in 2017 to 3.2 per cent in 2023-24. According to her, 56.2 crore people were employed in the latest quarter, with 8.7 lakh new jobs created during the period.