A day before the monsoon session of Parliament began, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought the cooperation of all parties for a “productive monsoon session." Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, Tuesday said the Opposition would flag issues “agitating” the people including lynchings by cow vigilantes, unemployment, failure of the Centre’s foreign policy, safety of women, misrule in J&K, dilution of the Atrocities Act by the Supreme Court and the dilution of reservations in autonomous institutions like IITs. The BJP, meanwhile, is likely to raise Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's reported statement that his party is a "Muslim party".
Opposition leaders also wrote a letter to Lok Sabha MP Sumitra Mahajan expressing their displeasure at the government not only "bulldozing the House" to get the Budget 2018-19 "passed in din without any debate and discussion" but also "sneaking in most retrogressive and anti-democratic measures" into the Finance Bill. The letter also added that if the Parliament continues to function like the last session, it might prove lethal to the constitutional democracy.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said in the Rajya Sabha during Question Hour that no institution or individual can take away rights of the marginalised given under the Constitution. He clarified saying that there is no dilution of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Singh further said that the government has already taken steps for ensuring rights of SC/STs by amending the relevant law. “I want to assure the House the protection given under the Constitution to SC/ST persons cannot be taken away by any institution or any individual,” Singh said in a quote to PTI.
The CPI(M)demanded the enactment of a comprehensive law in the current Monsoon session of Parliament against lynching to meet the Supreme Court direction. Condemning the "brutal" attack on Swami Agnivesh in Pakur, Jharkhand, yesterday, the Left party expressed its apprehensions that though the guilty had been "identified" as BJP Yuva Morcha supporters, as per norms, the BJP state government was expected to treat them with great leniency.
The party demanded proper and adequate medical attention be provided to Agnivesh and the culprits be punished immediately. It alleged that the very fact that the culprits, even when identified, go unpunished, spoke volumes of the "patronisation provided by the RSS/BJP".
TMC leader Dinesh Trivedi had requested to change the date for No confidence motion as, on July 21, they observe martyrs day for 14 youth TMC workers who were killed. "July 21 is a very important day for TMC. We observe it as a martyrs day for 14 youth TMC workers who were killed. All 34 MPs of TMC are therefore busy," he said.
"No confidence motion is a very important aspect of Parliament. We had requested the speaker and govt to change the date. We protested but couldn't convince them. So, all MPs have been asked to come to Delhi. Whip also will be issued," he added.
TMC leader requested Sumitra Mahajan to postpone the discussion on no-confidence motion on Monday as most of the party leaders will be away in West Bengal. "At least 35 leaders will be missing from the discussion," the party leader said. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge also requested Mahajan to postpone the discussion to Wednesday. Adding that since Friday is the last day of the week, some MPs would be unavailable for the voting event due to other commitments, Kharge requested Speaker to shift the date. Reacting to the development, Ananth Kumar, Parliamentary Affairs Minister said, "No-confidence motion is an important discussion. All members should give this prominence rather than other party activities."
A no-confidence motion can be moved by any member of the House. It can be moved only in the Lok Sabha and not Rajya Sabha. Rule 198 of the Rules of Procedure and conduct of Lok Sabha specifies the procedure for moving a no-confidence motion. The member has to give a written notice of the motion before 10 am which will be read out by the Speaker in the house. A minimum of 50 members have to accept the motion and accordingly, the Speaker will announce the date for discussion for the motion. The allotted date has to be within 10 days from the day the motion is accepted. Otherwise, the motion fails and the member who moved the motion will be informed about it.If the government is not able to prove its majority in the House, then the government of the day has to resign. Read more
Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha resumed. Earlier in the morning, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu agreed to take up TDP members demand of a debate for a special package for Andhra Pradesh in the next few days. The matter is expected to be taken up on Monday.
Discussions on the no-confidence motion against the government are likely to be taken up on Friday in Lok Sabha and on Monday in Rajya Sabha. While TDP has moved a no-trust vote over special status to Andhra Pradesh, Congress and other Opposition parties have tried to corner the government over issues like mob lynching, atrocities against Dalit etc
Both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha have been adjourned till 2 pm. The Houses will resume after lunch.
(Express photo by Praveen Jain)
Dr M Thambi Durai, Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha condemned the attack on Shashi Tharoor's office and urged Parliament Minister Ananth Kumar to ensure security to Parliamentarians.
Shashi Tharoor raises the attack on his constituency office in Kerala saying that the vandalism was not against a party member but against the idea of India and its democracy. He also demanded action against those who indulge in such kind of vandalism
Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan accepted the no-confidence motions raised against the government. She added that the date and time for motion will be decided later. Over 50 members from different parties had extended their support to the no-trust vote. Since TDP was the first to move a no-confidence motion, their motion was accepted. Kharge had urged the Speaker to take up all the motions together, Mahajan rejected the idea.
Rajya Sabha, meanwhile, reconvened after brief adjournment.
(Express photo by Praveen Jain)
Sumitra Mahajan raises no Confidence motions against the government moved by the Congress and other opposition members such as Mallikarjun Kharge, K. C. Venugopal, Tariq Anwar. TDP leaders have also moved a no-trust vote. She later accepted the motion but added that it will not be taken up today. The date will be revealed after discussions, she added
Amid the ruckus, Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan congratulated Hima Das on bringing India its first-ever gold in 400 metres in women’s final at IAAF World Under-20 Athletics Championships.
Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia launched an attack against Modi government over farmer suicide and women safety. "The government which led farmers to commit suicide, under whose regime women are being raped everyday...we move no-confidence motion against you," he said in Lok Sabha. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party and Telugu Desam Party MPs protest in the well of the House in Lok Sabha over different issues including mob lynching, special status.
Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 12 pm after TDP leaders protested, demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh
Express photo by Renuka Puri
As Speaker Sumitra Mahajan began taking questions during the Question Hour, few MPs from the Opposition created ruckus by raising slogans over mob lynching, Dalit atrocities etc. Meanwhile, classical dancer Sonal Mansingh, author Rakesh Sinha and sculptor Raghunath Mohapatra took their oath today as nominated members of Rajya Sabha.
TDP leaders and Congress MP K v P Ramachandra Rap protest outside the Parliament demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh. YRRC leaders also protested outside the Parliament. (Express photos by Anil Sharma)
Addressing the media outside Parliament, PM Modi remained hopeful of a smooth Monsoon Session. "Whatever issues any party has, it can raise on the floor of the house. Govt is ready for discussion on all issues. Many important decisions in nation's interest will be taken up in the session. We hope for good suggestions and discussions from all experienced members." (Express photo by Praveen Jain)
Express photo by Prem Nath Pandey
Express photos by Praveen Jain
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Twitter wrote he hoped that the BJP and it alliances allowed the Parliament to function smoothly. 'It would be a disgrace if we saw a repeat of proxy disruption so the Govt can push its bills through in the din,' he added
Trinamool Congress has given a Zero hour notice in Rajya Sabha over the mob lynching incidents in the country. RJD MP J P Yadav has also given an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha over the same case. Joining them is CPI MP D Raja, who has given adjournment motion notice in Rajya Sabha over lynching and attack on Swami Agnivesh.
Welcome to the live blog. Parliament Monsoon Session, scheduled to begin on Wednesday is likely to start on a stormy note as the Opposition has announced no-trust vote against the government. Follow this space to track all the latest developments