Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya during the discussion in Rajya Sabha. (Video screenshot)Parliament Monsoon Session Highlights: Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya Tuesday said that the Centre never asked any state to record fewer deaths or cases.
“Centre compiles and publishes the data sent in by state governments. Our work is to publish that data and nothing else. We haven’t told anyone to show fewer numbers (of deaths) or less positive cases. There’s no reason for that,” Mandaviya said during a discussion in Rajya Sabha. He also said that the resolution of people along with PM Modi’s guidance can save us from a third wave.
Earlier today, the leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said that the government, just like demonetisation, didn’t prepare for a covid-19 lockdown, and it should be held accountable for this. Kharge also said that during state elections, it was the central leadership that broke its own rules by flouting covid-19 norms.
Meanwhile, the Pegasus snooping controversy rocked the Lok Sabha proceedings on Tuesday, leading to continued disruptions and repeated adjournments of the House.
Soon after the House assembled at 3 pm, the opposition members again started raising slogans on the Pegasus snooping issue, forcing the chair to adjourn the House for the day. Several members carried placards and sought the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. The House will now meet on July 22.
Parliamentarians in the Rajya Sabha, on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. (RSTV)
No deaths due to lack of oxygen were specifically reported by states and UTs during the second COVID-19 wave, the government informed Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
According to PTI, while responding to a question on whether a large number of Covid-19 patients died on roads and hospitals due to acute shortage of oxygen in the second wave, Minister of State for Health Bharati Praveen Pawar noted that health is a state subject and states and UTs regularly report the number of cases and deaths to the Centre.
"Detailed guidelines for reporting of deaths have been issued by the Union Health Ministry to all states and UTs."
"Accordingly, all states and UTs report cases and deaths to the Union Health Ministry on a regular basis. However, no deaths due to lack of oxygen have been specifically reported by states and UTs," Pawar said in a written reply.
Rajya Sabha proceedings adjourned till 11 AM on July 22.
On allegations regarding Covid death data, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya Tuesday said that the Centre never asked any state to record fewer deaths or cases. Mandaviya made the remarks during a discussion Covid-19 crisis in the Rajya Sabha.
"When there's need to work together and implementation has to be done by the states, at that time we never said that this state failed or that state didn't do this. I don't want to do politics but many states have 10-15 lakh doses of vaccines with them, I have data," Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said in Rajya Sabha.
Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya Tuesday said that all state governments and the common people should make a collective decision that we won't let the third wave hit our country. "Our resolution and PM Modi's guidance can save us from a third wave," Mandaviya said.
Normalcy returned to the Rajya Sabha on the second day of the monsoon session and it held a discussion on the Covid-19 situation in the country after Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu met the floor leaders of various parties, news agency PTI reported.
This came after the proceedings of a day and a half were washed out due to disruptions.
Citing sources, PTI reported that after the House was adjourned for the second time for the day at 12 noon, Naidu called Leader of the House Piyush Goyal, opposition leaders Anand Sharma, Jairam Ramesh, Derek O'Brien, Tiruchi Siva and some others, and decided to resume normal functioning with a discussion on Covid management.
"Uninformed comment is bad enough but when an attempt is made to deliberately produce a false narrative, it's an even more serious matter. Even one death of any Indian citizen on account of any cause, whether Covid or non-Covid related, is a matter of regret," Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said in Rajya Sabha.
"Our question is to the government-- why are you hiding the data? Tell us, how many people have lost their lives (due to COVID). Reports say more (deaths) than govt's official figures," Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said in Rajya Sabha.
The government on Tuesday said it will remain open to discussions with protesting farmers' unions to resolve issues over three new agriculture laws passed by Parliament in September last year.
In written replies to Lok Sabha on several questions related to farmers' protest, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the government had so far held 11 rounds of negotiations talks with agitating farmers' unions to resolve the issues, news agency PTI reported.
"The government has been engaged in serious, sensitive and active discussions with the farmers' unions to resolve the issues. During various rounds of discussions, the government continuously requested the farmers' unions to discuss the provisions of the farm laws, so that if there is an objection to any provision, the advancement can be made towards a resolution of those," the minister said.
Four Covid-19 vaccine candidates are at different stages of human trials while one, developed by Genique Life Sciences, is in the advanced pre-clinical stage, Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh said on Tuesday.
In a written response to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Singh said Cadila Healthcare Ltd's DNA-based vaccine candidate is in phase three clinical trial. It has also submitted the interim data for emergency use authorisation. (PTI)
Members of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) Tuesday staged a protest over the Pegasus project near Parliament House during the monsoon session in New Delhi.
Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav urged the government to raise the Budget of the Health Minister and build infrastructure for future challenges. "Before the Budget, I told Nirmala Ji to raise the health Budget. The current health Budget is fake, the actual Budget is only Rs 72,000 crores. You've added other depts' Budget in health," Yadav said in Rajya Sabha.
After being deferred twice, Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 11 AM on July 22 as opposition members continued to protest over the Pegasus snooping controversy and other issues.
All India Trinamool Congress will address a press conference at 3 pm on Tuesday.Parliamentary Party Leader, Derek O'Brien and Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra will be addressing the presser. The issue of Pegasus snooping is likely on the agenda.
Lok Sabha proceedings adjourned for second time on Tuesday till 3 pm amid continued opposition protest.
BJP’s Swapan Dasgupta on Tuesday said that the lack of coordination between different authorities handling the pandemic, cannot be continued in order to fight it. “A global pandemic cannot be handled by the state government, it needs proper coordination with the centre, this has not been achieved till now,” he said.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday said that the government, just like demonetisation, didn't prepare for a covid-19 lockdown, and it should be held accountable for this. Kharge also said that during state elections, it was the central leadership that broke their own rules by flouting covid-1 norms.
The Rajya Sabha resumed its proceedings on Tuesday after multiple adjournments. A discussion on India's handling of covid-19 crisis, and management is underway.
The Congress on Tuesday stepped up its attack on the government over the Pegasus snooping controversy and demanded a probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee. The opposition party along with other parties also stalled proceedings of both houses of Parliament while raising the issue. Opposition members raised uproar in both houses and demanded a thorough probe into the charges of snooping on journalists, politicians, ministers, judges and others using Israeli Pegasus spyware.
Leaders of various political parties also met before the start of proceedings in both houses of Parliament to decide their strategy on the issue. Several of them had also given adjournment notices in both houses demanding a discussion on the issue. Congress spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil said the government should clearly tell whether it has purchased the Pegasus spyware or not and hold a joint parliamentary probe.
Rajya Sabha has been adjourned, for the third time today, till 4 pm, as sloganeering disturbed proceedings of the house.
Shiv Sena MPs Vinayak Raut, Gajanan Kirtikar, Arvind Sawant, Sadashiv Lokhande, Krupal Tumane, Dhairyasheel Mane and Balu Dhanorkar submitted a memorandum to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, seeking a probe in 'Pegasus Project' media report by a Joint Parliamentary Committee.
Shiromani Akali Dal’s Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Tuesday said that Opposition parties like Congress and AAP do not care about farmers and were “double-faced.” The parties raised all issues in Parliament, except farmers’ issues, Badal said. She said that SAD is the only party talking about the farm bills.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed great concern over the Opposition's stand on India’s covid-19 handling. Defending the Centre, Joshi praised the work done to provide ration and other things amid the pandemic. The prime minister is particularly concerned about Congress who instead of raising peoples issues, is thinking about power, Joshi added.
Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the second time on Tuesday, with a session beginning from 1 pm as all leaders met with the chairman to discuss the covid-19 situation. Chairman has given consent, and a discussion will be held at 1 pm, Harivansh Narayan SinghDeputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha said.
Taking a strong exception to the Opposition’s attack in Parliament over the government’s Covid-19 response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday is learned to have asked his party colleagues to counter their charges citing the availability of the vaccine.
The PM said there has been a deliberate attempt to mislead people that there’s a shortage of Covid-19 vaccines in the country. He said the Congress is in a “coma” and it has not been able to digest the BjP coming to power, sources said.
Addressing the BJP MPs at its parliamentary party meeting, the PM reportedly said the party leaders should be prepared to face the anticipated third wave of the coronavirus pandemic. (With Liz Mathew)
In the lower house on Tuesday, some opposition members stooped to the well raising placards and shouting slogans like “snooping” government. Some of the placards sought to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. (With Liz Mathew)
Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 pm after Opposition MPs disrupt proceedings over Pegasus snooping controversy.
Rajya Sabha has been adjourned soon after it began till 12 noon amid uproar by the Opposition.
A day after his suspension notice to discuss the Pegasus espionage case was rejected, AAP MP Sanjay Singh Tuesday wrote to the Rajya Sabha chairman, seeking permission to raise the issue during the zero hour.
In his application to the secretary general of the Rajya Sabha, Singh termed as “grave issues arising out of the Pegasus project findings, and went on to describe it as “violation of the fundamental right to privacy”.
"The right to privacy is being violated in our country. The government is tapping the phones of reputed journalists and various other well known names. An act like this only reflects the dictatorial streak of the government. India grants its citizens the right to privacy. Indeed, it as a fundamental right. (With Sourav Roy Barman)
BJP on Tuesday held an all-MP meeting at the Parliament, ahead of Day 2 of the Monsoon Session. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, among others were present at the meet.
Congress MP Hibi Eden on Tuesday moved Adjournment notice to discuss the issue of Pegasus snooping in Lok Sabha and requested the Centre to investigate into the allegations of Pegasus spying. “There are eyes and ears snooping on us everywhere. Even those holding high offices of the government, several senior Opposition leaders, constitutional authorities, reporters and activists are being spied on and their personal conversations being watched, monitored and transferred to unknown locations and people. This poses a grave to Unity and Integrity of India and is a high concern for national security,” Eden said.
“This grave crisis of snooping into our citizens' private life goes against the basic ethos of our constitution whereby the fundamental right to privacy is being violated. I request the Government to constitute an inquiry into the allegations of Pegasus spying into citizens of our country,” he added.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore has given Adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha on 'Pegasus Project' media report issue.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has moved a motion of Adjournment of the business of the Lok Sabha to discuss over Pegasus issue.
Congress MP KC Venugopal on Tuesday gave a notice under Rule 267 in Rajya Sabha to suspend the business and discuss the alleged usage of Pegasus spyware by the Government.
Trinamool Congress MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray has given a notice in the Rajya Sabha under Rule 267 to discuss the Pegasus 'snooping' issue, the party said on Monday. Opposition parties on Monday hit out at the government over the alleged phone-tapping of prominent personalities in the country using Israeli spyware, Pegasus, and demanded an independent judicial or parliamentary committee probe. "Trinamool's Sukhendu Sekhar Ray has given a (Rule) 267 notice for Pegasus," the party said.