New Delhi: Parliamentarians in the Rajya Sabha during the Budget Session of Parliament. (RSTV/PTI)Parliament Highlights: Amid uproar, the Rajya Sabha Wednesday passed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021. The Bill, which has already been passed by the Lok Sabha, seeks to enhance the powers of the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) of Delhi.
Opposition parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party, opposed the Bill saying that the proposed legislation was unconstitutional and demanded that it be referred to a select committee for scrutiny. However, in reply, MoS Home G Kishan Reddy said the amendments were in “no way undemocratic”.
Several parties including the Congress BJD, YSRCP and Samajwadi Party also opposed the Bill and staged a walkout.
Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha cleared the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Bill, 2021 and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. While the healthcare bill aims to establish a statutory body or commission that frames policies and standards, regulate professional conduct and qualifications for allied healthcare professionals, the Juvenile Justice Bill seeks to strengthen the provisions relating to protection and adoption of children.
M Venkaiah Naidu in the Chair. (PTI photo)
Here's what all has happened so far in the Parliament today:
*The Rajya Sabha approved the bill giving primacy to Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor (L-G) over the elected government after high drama in the House that saw uproar by the Opposition and a walkout by MPs of parties like the BJD, SP, Congress and the YSR-Congress.
*The Bill seeks to enhance the powers of the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) of Delhi. It has already been passed by voice vote in the Lok Sabha.
*Opposition opposed the Bill saying that the proposed legislation was unconstitutional and demanded that it be referred to a select committee for scrutiny. However, in reply, MoS Home G Kishan Reddy said the amendments were in “no way undemocratic”.
*Several parties including the Congress BJD, YSRCP and Samajwadi Party also opposed the Bill and staged a walkout.
* The Lok Sabha also cleared the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Bill, 2021 and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. The bill aims to establish a statutory body or commission that frames policies and standards, regulate professional conduct and qualifications for allied healthcare professionals
*The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, was also passed in the Lok Sabha. The Bill seeks to strengthen the provisions relating to the protection and adoption of children.
Soon after the Rajya Sabha passed the NCT Bill, which seeks to enhance the powers of L-G in Delhi, CM Arvind Kejriwal tweeted saying it is "a sad day for Indian democracy".
"We will continue our struggle to restore power back to people. Whatever be the obstacles, we will continue doing good work. Work will neither stop nor slow down," he said in a tweet.
The Upper House has been adjourned till 11 am tomorrow.
The Rajya Sabha Wednesday passed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021. The amendment bill, which has already been passed by the Lok Sabha, seeks to enhance the powers of the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) of Delhi.
Congress party also stages a walkout from Rajya Sabha as the House votes on the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
"I would like to tell the people of Delhi and the whole country that we have full belief in the Constitution. We did not bring this bill to create problems for the Delhi govt...I request every member to support the Bill unequivocally," MoS Reddy said in the Rajya Sabha.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy said the amendments to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act were in no way undemocratic.
The Aam Aadmi Party will move the Supreme Court if the Government of NCT of Delhi (Amendment) Bill is passed by Parliament, the party's Rajya Sabha MP N D Gupta said in a tweet. "If the GNCT Amendment Bill is passed by Rajya Sabha today, we will go to the Supreme Court," Gupta was quoted as saying by AAP in a tweet. The AAP, which is in power in Delhi, is opposing the bill, alleging that it is unconstitutional. (PTI)
Opposing the GNCT Bill, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Naresh Gujral said that the bill undermines federalism in the country. "We can have our difference with the Aam Aadmi Party, but let us not deny the right of governance to Delhi people," he said.
"We want this Bill to be sent to the Select Committee. This is absolutely anti-democracy, anti-Constitution. We oppose this Bill and stage walkout," Samajwadi leader Vishambhar Prasad Nishad in Rajya Sabha.
After BJD, the YSRCP has also decided to walk out.
"The NCT Bill undermines the power of the elected government. It is not going to help cooperative federalism in the country. Hence, we have decided not to be a party in the passing of this bill. We have decided to respectfully walk out," BJD leader Prasanna Acharya said in Rajya Sabha.
The Centre has no plan to introduce four days a week or 40 working hours a week system for central government offices, Parliament was informed on Wednesday.
"Presently, there is no such proposal to introduce four days a week or 40 hours a week for Central Government officials," Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
"It is informed that the working days/ Holiday/ working hours in administrative offices of Central Government of India are recommended by the respective Central Pay Commissions.
"Based on the fourth pay commission recommendation, five days a week and eight and half hours working per day in civil administrative offices of Government of India was introduced," he said. (PTI)
The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Bill, 2021. Read our explainer on what major amendments have been brought by the government to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 in the new bill.
Opposing the bill, AAP MP Sanjay Singh earlier said that the BJP government at the Centre has brought the bill as the party had lost the Delhi assembly elections twice. He said that by opposing the bill he was seeking "justice" for the two crore people of Delhi.
In reply, MoS (Home Affairs) G Kishan Reddy said that the amendments to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act were in no way undemocratic. (PTI)
Speaking on the NCT Bill, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that the amendments in the bill are not about AAP or Congress, but in the actual hit out at the root of federalism.
After brief adjournments due to the opposition's uproar over the NCT Bill, proceedings of Rajya Sabha have resumed now.
Amid heated exchanges between the ruling side and the Opposition over the NCT Bill, the Rajya Sabha has been adjourned for ten minutes.
The Bill seeks to amend the Government of NCT of Delhi (NCTD) Act, 1991, which was enacted to “supplement provisions of the Constitution relating to the Legislative Assembly and a Council of Ministers for the National Capital Territory of Delhi.”
It seeks to amend four Sections of the 1991 law, and defines the term “Government.” — “The expression “Government” referred to in any law to be made by the Legislative Assembly (of Delhi) shall mean the Lieutenant Governor”, it states. Click here to read our explainer.
"We're making amendments to the Act brought in by Congress in 1991. These are not new. We are bringing these amendments to ensure that Delhi Govt functions properly," MoS MHA G Kishan Reddy told the Rajya Sabha Wednesday.
Speaking on the NCT Bill, AAP MP Sanjay Singh said: "I seek justice for the 2 cr people of Delhi, for 130 cr Indians, to seek justice from all members to save Constitution. I tell all members - we'll be here only if the Constitution is there."
Amid sloganeering and uproar, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021 is being discussed in the Rajya Sabha. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said that the Bill should be sent to a select committee.
The Indian Air Force has a shortage of 405 pilots against the authorised strength, the government told Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik said the number of pilots in the Indian Air Force at present is 3,834 as against the sanctioned strength of 4,239.
"There is a shortage of 405 pilots (as on March 1) in the IAF," he said, replying to a question. He also said 260 aircraft are being used for training of pilots in the force. (PTI)
In reply to the Finance Bill debate in Rajya Sabha, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said:
*NPAs have declined to Rs 8.99 lakh cr as of March 2020.
*Handling of the 2008 global financial crisis left the legacy of high inflation and 'taper tantrum'.
*Will never cross the emotional barrier of 6 per cent inflation.
"The Finance Bill, 2021 doesn't envisage any increase in taxation particularly in direct taxes and income tax. It has some amendments towards achieving a reduction in compliance aimed at ease of doing business. Approach similar for customs and indirect taxes," Union Finance Minister Nirmal Sitharaman told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
Asserting that rural masses or the people most vulnerable to corrupt practices are the ones who know the least about their rights under the RTI Act, a parliamentary committee has asked the transparency watchdog CIC to spread awareness about the law in rural areas.
The panel expressed concern over a large number of vacancies in the posts of Information Commissioners in state Information Commissions and asked the Central Information Commission (CIC) to furnish a status note in three months. (PTI)
The Lok Sabha is currently debating the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Bill, 2021. The Bill was introduced by Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani.
Lok Sabha has cleared the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Bill, 2021. Earlier today, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said that the bill aims to establish a statutory body or commission that frames policies and standards, regulate professional conduct and qualifications for allied healthcare professionals besides providing uniformity of service standards across institutions. The bill has already been passed by the Rajya Sabha.
G Kishan Reddy, MoS Home, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha said that as many as 14,279 posts in Delhi Police are lying vacant as of 15th March 2021 against 94,353 sanctioned posts. Delhi Police has already initiated the recruitment process to fill up the vacant posts, Reddy told the Upper House.
A bill which seeks to amend the law governing the airports economic regulator was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2021 proposes to tweak the definition of 'major airport' so as to extend its scope to determine the tariff for a group of airports.
The move, the government believes, will encourage development of smaller airports. The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India has been determining the tariffs of aeronautical charges at major airports in the country. (PTI)
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday said paramedics and allied healthcare workers are a critical part of the medical profession and their contribution is similar to doctors, if not more.
Initiating the debate on the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Bill, 2021, the health minister said the proposed legislation has the potential to bring a paradigm shift in health professionals' situation.
"The paramedics and allied healthcare workers are critical part of the medical profession and their contribution is similar to doctors, if not more. The group of allied professionals is large and the bill is trying to regulate this field, by providing dignity to their roles," he said.
The bill has already been passed by the Rajya Sabha.
Minister of Communications and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Wednesday said the government is working to provide optical fibre connection to 6.5 lakh villages, adding that the country was kept going by the Information Technology mobile infrastructure during the lockdown.
During the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, Prasad said it is the commitment of the prime minister that communication infrastructure of the country must improve.
"This is the communication strategy of the Modi government to provide optical fibre connection to 6.5 lakh villages...The country was kept going by the Information Technology mobile infrastructure during COVID-19 lockdown period," he said.
BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi on Wednesday said it is not possible to bring petrol and diesel under the GST regime for the next eight to 10 years as it would cause an annual revenue loss of Rs 2 lakh crore to all states, reported PTI.
While participating in a discussion on the Finance Bill 2021, Modi told the Rajya Sabha that the Centre and states collectively collect over Rs 5 lakh crore tax on petroleum products.
The statement assumes significance in view of the rise in petrol price for the past over one year which even touched Rs 100 per litre in some states.
A parliamentary committee has asked the Staff Selection Commission to spare no efforts to ensure the integrity of its examination process at all costs, PTI reported.
It said the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), which has made a shift to computer-based examination, may get an independent audit of hardware and software done periodically to ensure that the systems are robust, tamper proof and immune to cyber attacks.
In its report tabled in the Parliament recently, the committee said it is of the view that there is a proportionate relationship between the integrity of the examination process and litigation.
FIR registered against RJD leaders Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav and other unnamed party workers, after protest by the Opposition against the Bihar Special Armed Police Bill 2021 in Bihar Assembly yesterday, news agency ANI reported.
RJD's Tejashwi Yadav said, "Nitish Kumar Ji should know that governments change. MLAs were abused and beaten inside the Assembly yesterday. If Nitish Kumar does not apologise for the incident, we may boycott the Assembly for the remaining tenure. 'Nirlaj Kumar Ji' has lost all shame."
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan Wednesday introduced the National Commission for Allied & Healthcare Professions Bill, 2021 in Lok Sabha.
"It has potential to create paradigm shift in healthcare delivery by recognising specialised skills,contributions of more than 56 types of healthcare workers," he said.
Opoosition parties Wednesday condemned yesterday's attack on MLA's in Bihar Assembly.
"This is an unconstitutional bill that transforms police force into an armed militia to crack down on.. those who dare to speak truth to power," read a joint statement by the Opposition (RJD, SP, Congress & others).
The Congress on Wednesday alleged that democracy has been murdered in Bihar after opposition legislators were allegedly roughed up by the police inside the state assembly, reported PTI.
The Bihar Assembly witnessed unprecedented turmoil on Tuesday and the police was called in to physically evict legislators who had laid siege to the Speakers chamber. Members of the opposition Grand Alliance, comprising RJD, Congress and the Left, were agitated over the Bihar Special Armed Police Bill, 2021.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said those stripping democracy have no right to call themselves a government, adding that the opposition will continue to raise issues in public interest and do not fear anything. "It is clear from the shameful events in Bihar Assembly that the chief minister is firmly under the influence of BJP and RSS. Those stripping democracy have no right to call themselves a government," he said in a tweet in Hindi.
Rajya Sabha MP Derek O' Brien Wednesday said the Government of NCT of Delhi (Amendment) Bill is another knife into the heart of democracy.
"2 days to go for elections in 5 States.Yet Trinamool RS MPs airdash to Delhi to stop bulldozing of #GNCT Bill that disempowers an elected Delhi govt. Another knife into heart of democracy, Constitution #Parliament. Worse still Home Min electioneering not piloting Bill.Cruel irony," he said in a tweet.
Rajya Sabha MPs from RJD, AAP, SP, INC, DMK, TRS, TMC, Shiv Sena Wednesday alleged that MLA's were beaten in the Bihar assembly yesterday when they were protesting the passing of "unconstitutional" Bihar Special Armed Police Bill, 2021. RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha raised the issue in Rajya Sabha as well.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh Wednesday said the Government of NCT of Delhi (Amendment) Bill is unconstitutional and must not be allowed to be presented in House.
"Central govt is liable to bring a Constitutional Amendment Bill in House before making any amendment to constitution. I gave a notice in Rajya Sabha yesterday that this (GNCTD Amendment) Bill is unconstitutional & mustn't be allowed to be presented in House," he said.
Singh further added, "They (BJP) have been losing for 23 years & now want to remove a govt (AAP) that has consistently worked for people of Delhi & has also been winning by majority. All political parties are opposing this Bill because this can happen to anyone tomorrow."
Lok Sabha proceedings began at 11 am on Wednesday
Rajya Sabha was Wednesday adjourned till 11 am, after members paid tribute to AIADMK MP A. Mohammed John, who passed away yesterday.