Left, Right & Centre

They are the oldest allies of the BJP, but Akali Dal MP and Cabinet Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal has resigned, aggrieved at the farmer bills. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has called it a 'gimmick'. On Left, Right and Centre, a faceoff between spokespersons of Akali Dal and the Congress.

With rising unrest among farmers in Punjab, BJP ally Shiromani Akali Dal has issued a whip to its MPs, asking that they vote against the three farm sector bills that will come up in the Monsoon session of parliament.

The Tatas win the contract to build the new parliament building which is likely to be completed in a year and will cost Rs. 861.9 crore. On Left, Right and Centre, we talk to Abhishek Singhvi, Congress Rajya Sabha MP, on why the opposition thinks the government is 'splurging' during COVID-19 times.

Columnist Shobhaa De spoke to NDTV on the Kangana Ranaut vs Shiv Sena issue and said it was "incredible" that Ms Ranaut has taken the Sena head on. "There have been many incidents of Shiv Sena vs Bollywood in the past but no one has done what Kangana has done before," Ms De said.

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale spoke about the drugs issue in Bollywood and said the problem is in many places. "NCB is doing inquiry for the drug case. Drug is not only in film industry. It is at many places. Government has not given an order to divert the attention. Drug case came because of Sushant Singh Rajput case," he said.

TV news is now under scrutiny by the Supreme Court. It has stopped the telecast of the program 'Bindas Bol on Sudarshan TV' with its seven of nine episodes left. Before the court is the hotly debated freedom of speech versus vilification of one community on electronic media. The court said it will pass orders on September 17, appointing a panel of five eminent persons who will suggest standards for the electronic media. This case is likely to set standards for the media coverage of sensational cases.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in a statement in parliament, said India and China have different interpretations of the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh. The Congress walked out protesting against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's absence and not being allowed to speak. Despite the Defence Minister's speech, Rahul Gandhi, in a tweet, challenged the Prime Minister to name China.

As the Bollywood drug discourse reached parliament today, BJP MP and actor Hema Malini spoke exclusively to NDTV's Sanket Upadhyay. She said that Bollywood is a beautiful place to be in, and that she can't stand by and watch the name of this industry get spoiled.

After the death by suicide of three aspiring doctors on the eve of the NEET on Sunday, Tamil actor Suriya Sivakumar said in a statement that, fearing for lives, the courts are dispensing justice via video-conference whereas students were asked to go fearlessly and write exams. He should face contempt action over his comments on Sunday on the Madras High Court, a judge said.

One of the 17 Lok Sabha MPs who tested positive for the coronavirus before parliament's monsoon session began on Monday has shared on Twitter a contradictory test report. Hanuman Beniwal, an MP from Rajasthan, after being ruled out of the session, said a second test in Jaipur turned out a "negative" result. "Which report should be considered accurate?" he tweeted, posting both reports. "I took a COVID-19 test in the Lok Sabha's premises and was declared positive. Then I was tested at Jaipur's SMS medical and the report said I am negative. Which report should be considered accurate?" he tweeted in Hindi along with images of the two medical documents.