Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman speaks in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament, in New Delhi. (PTI)Parliament monsoon session Highlights: Replying to a debate on inflation in Rajya Sabha, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Tuesday said that the government is not in “denial” about the price rise, and is instead having a “targeted approach, based on ground inputs to tackle inflation.” Sitharaman also highlighted that the Indian economy is doing much better than some of the developed economies and that the country’s macro-economic fundamentals are strong.
Earlier in the day, the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022, was passed in Rajya Sabha on Monday amid sloganeering by Opposition MPs to protest the arrest of Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut. The Bill, introduced by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, seeks to ban funding of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and gives the Centre the power to freeze, seize or attach financial assets of persons involved in such activities.
Members of Congress and DMK on Monday walked out of Lok Sabha, expressing dissatisfaction over the reply of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to a debate on price rise. In the middle of Sitharaman’s reply, Congress members walked out of the House. After a few minutes, DMK members also walked out as a mark of protest.
Congress MP P. Chidambaram with opposition MPs Dola Sen, Shanta Chhetri, Sanjay Singh and others protesting against the Union Government, near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Parliament House complex during ongoing Monsoon Session, in New Delhi. (PTI)
Four labourers died after a mishap at an under construction building in Gurgaon's Sector-77 on Tuesday. As per preliminary information, an iron beam collapsed from 17th floor.
TMC MPs staged a walkout of Rajya Sabha on Tuesday after the Chair disallowed their leader to raise a point of order during Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman 's reply to price rise debate in the house.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned on Tuesday, and will reconvene on Wednesday morning.
The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Tuesday said that the Indian economy is doing much better than some of the developed economies and that the country's macro-economic fundamentals are strong.
Replying to a debate on inflation in Rajya Sabha, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Tuesday said that the Centre is having a "targeted approach, based on ground inputs to tackle inflation."
Replying to a debate on inflation in Rajya Sabha, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Tuesday said that the government is not in "denial" about the price rise and the ongoing inflation in the country.
BJP MP Dinesh Lal Yadav 'Nirahua' Tuesday made a strong pitch in the Lok Sabha for the inclusion of Bhojpuri in the list of official languages mentioned in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
In his maiden speech in the Lok Sabha, Yadav said Bhojpuri was spoken in 16 countries and the 'Geet Gawai' tradition has been recognised by the UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage at the request of Mauritius. Yadav, who won the Lok Sabha bypoll from Azamgarh in June, slammed the previous UPA government for making "false" assurances on including Bhojpuri in the Eighth Schedule.
The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021 was taken up for consideration in Lok Sabha on Tuesday with the ruling BJP asserting that it would put India at the forefront of the battle to save the ecosystems of the world and the Opposition pushing for incorporating the suggestions of a parliamentary panel.
Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav moved the bill for consideration and passage when the House reassembled at 2 pm. Moving the bill for passage, Yadav said a special chapter has been added to conform to the international treaty Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
Eight cases of monkeypox have been reported so far in India and a national task force has been set up to monitor the development of diagnostics and vaccines, Health Minister Mansukh Madaviya said on Tuesday. Replying to queries in Rajya Sabha during Question Hour, he informed the members about the various steps being taken to prevent the spread of the disease, and to develop testing kits and vaccines.
Asked whether the Centre may permit the state government to conduct the census, Union Minister of State Nityanand Rai said that there were no such plans.
During the Question Hour in Lok Sabha, MoS Home Ajay Kumar Mishra shared data on the number of acid attack cases reported in India in recent years. "As per data published by National Crime Records Bureau, a total of 131, 150 & 105 cases were registered in 2018, 2019 & 2020 respectively for acid attack on women. A total of 28, 16 & 18 persons were convicted in the year 2018, 2019 & 2020 respectively," he said.
"In terms of the Poisons Act, 1919, States/UTs regulate the possession & sale of acids & corrosive chemicals, including wholesale & retail sales, through their Poison Rules. Data is not maintained centrally on sale of acids and corrosive chemicals," he added.
Twenty heritage sites, including two ancient mounds at Haryana's Rakhigarhi and the age-old Anangtal in Delhi, have been identified for the national importance tag, the government has said.
Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy shared the details in a written response to a question in Lok Sabha on whether the central government has identified new historical and religious places in the country that can be declared as monuments/sites of national importance during the last three years.
The other sites include rock painting at Chintakunta, Andhra Pradesh; rock art site Murgi at Rdanag, Leh; Kaleshwar Mahadev Temple, Kalesar (Manyala Panchayat), Himachal Pradesh, as per the informaton shared. Seven mounds (RGR 1-RGR 7) scattered around two villages (Rakhi Khas and Rakhi Shahpur) in Hisar district of Haryana are part of the Harappan-era Rakhigarhi archaeological site. RGR 7 is a cemetery site when this was a well-organised city, ASI had said in May.
The Rakhigarhi site is one of the "five iconic sites" declared by the Central government in the Union budget 2020-21. Asked whether the government proposes to establish the memorial of King Vikramaditya in the Parliamentary constituency of Panipat in co-ordination with the state government, the minister said, "there is no such plan as on date". (PTI)
Rajya Sabha proceedings have commenced. During the question hour, Opposition MPs asked whether the Centre was doing enough to curb the fall of the rupee.
Rajya Sabha proceedings on Tuesday were adjourned for almost an hour as Shiv Sena MPs protested against the alleged misuse of probe agencies while citing the arrest of their leader Sanjay Raut.
The Sena MPs also sought a discussion on the arrest of Raut by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case. Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said he has rejected notices given under Rule 267 seeking setting aside of the business of the day to discuss the issue. But Shiv Sena MPs and some other opposition members tried to raise the issue, forcing Naidu to adjourn the proceedings till 12 noon.
Shiv Sena MPs were up on their feet as soon as BJP's Krishan Lal Panwar and independent candidate Kartikeya Sharma had taken oath as members of the Upper House and official papers laid on the table of the House. Naidu said he has received notices under Rule 267 from some MPs including K C Venugopal of the Congress, Shiv Sena's Priyanka Chaturvedi and Anil Desai, Binoy Viswam of the CPI and AAP's Raghav Chadha. (PTI)
Minutes after proceedings commenced, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned till noon.
According to the latest list of business for the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju is set to move that the bill to amend the Family Court's Act, 1984, as passed by Lok Sabha, be taken into consideration.
Meanwhile in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister S Jaishankar is set to move that the Bill to make special provisions for repression of piracy on high seas and to provide for punishment for the offence of piracy and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto be taken into consideration.
Good morning and welcome to our Parliament live blog. Proceedings are set to commence in both houses at 11 am. Follow this space for the latest.
Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu Monday expunged a few references made by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to Sonia Gandhi in the House on July 28. Sitharaman had demanded an apology from Gandhi for the “rashtrapatni” remark by Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.
There is not GST on crematorium, funerals, burial, or mortuary services, says Nirmala Sitharaman.
"On Saturday, Raghuram Rajan said that 'RBI has done a good job in increasing foreign exchange reserve in India, insulating India from problems being faced by neighbouring countries such as Pakistan & Sri Lanka'," FM Nirmala Sitharama said in Lok Sabha
Congress members walkout from Lok Sabha during Nirmala Sitharaman's speech on price rise.
Prices of edible oils have been corrected sharply following the steps taken by government, says FM Sitharaman
Gross NPAs of banks at six-year low of 5.9 per cent; India's debt to GDP ratio at 56.21 per cent in financial year 2022, much lower than many nations.
Sitharaman also stated that the department has collected second highest amount of GST this July. The amount of GST collected in last five months is Rs 1.4 lakh crore, she said.
Despite Covid blow, we have maintained inflation rate at 7% or below, says Niramala Sitharaman, adding that Indian economy has recovered admirably.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while replying to Lok Sabha members during a debate on price rise, said there is zero probability of India slipping into stagflation or recession. “Replying to Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s query, I would like to say there is no question of India getting into stagflation or, what it is called in USA, technical recession. There is absolutely zero probablity of India slipping into recession,” she said.
"Without undermining some of the points that many members have said, I find that it was more a discussion on political angles of price rise rather than actually data-driven concerns about price. So, I too will try to reply a little politically," FM Nirmala Sitharaman says in Lok Sabha.
After weeks of protests from Opposition leaders over price rise, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to address the Lok Sabha on the issue at 7 pm today.
Parliament on Monday passed a bill which seeks to ban funding of weapons of mass destruction and also empowers the Centre to freeze, seize or attach financial assets and economic resources of people engaged in such activities. The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022, piloted by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, was passed by the Rajya Sabha with a voice vote even as opposition parties continued their protest over various issues, including the arrest of Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut in a money laundering case. The bill was approved by the Lok Sabha in April. Replying to a debate on the bill, Jaishankar said all members who spoke on the proposed legislation recognised that terrorism is a serious threat and so are weapons of mass destruction (WMD). He said that the current law only covers trading and does not cover financing of weapons of mass destruction. --PTI
TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar hits out at govt over LPG price rise in Lok Sabha. '"Is the government encouraging people to acquirea habit of eating uncooked food?" she says.
"If we see Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Singapore, everywhere inflation is rising and jobs are getting lost. Amid such a situation if the poor are getting two-time meal free of cost then shouldn't we thank the PM," BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said.
Parliament on Monday passed a bill which seeks to ban funding of weapons of mass destruction and also empower the Centre to freeze, seize or attach financial assets and economic resources of people engaged in such activities.
The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022, piloted by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, was passed with a voice vote even as opposition parties continued their protest on various issues, including against arrest of Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut.
The bill was approved by the Lok Sabha in April. (PTI)
As proceedings resumed in Parliament after both Houses were adjourned till 2 pm, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla revoked the suspension of four Congress MPs on Monday.
Noting that GST rates were increased for items like pencils and sharpeners, Congress MP Manish Tewari stated that the government has not even left children alone.
Tewari added that the government might have corrected its Budget but it has ruined the budget of households across the country.
With the suspension of four Congress MPs withdrawn, Congress MP Manish Tewari began the discussion over price rise in Lok Sabha.
Tewari alleged that the economy today is the result of eight years of economic mismanagement. "The government kept filling its coffers and lessening the pockets of the public," Tewari said.
As proceedings resumed in Parliament after both Houses were adjourned till 2 pm, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla revoked the suspension of Congress MPs on Monday. The proposal was moved by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi. Before withdrawing the suspension, Birla took assurance from the Opposition members that they won’t bring placards into the House.
As the Opposition continued sloganeering over price rise and other issues, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm, shortly after it resumed at 12 noon
As proceedings resumed in the Rajya Sabha at 12 noon, the Opposition continued sloganeering against price rise, 'misuse' of ED, and the Agnipath scheme.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge demanded a discussion over price rise. To this, Bhubaneswar Kalita, presiding in the Chair, responded that the matter will be taken up tomorrow.
Just minutes after the proceedings resumed in Parliament on Monday, the Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm amid protests from the Opposition.
The Opposition parties have demanded the suspension of four Congress MPs be revoked.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, speaking to news agency ANI outside Parliament, said, "We want a detailed discussion on price rise in Lok Sabha. We are demanding that the suspension of our four MPs from the Monsoon session should be revoked."
Just minutes after the proceedings began in Parliament on Monday, both the Houses were adjourned till 12 noon amid protests from the Opposition.
In the Rajya Sabha, Shiv Sena MPs protested against the arrest of Sanjay Raut by the ED. TMC MPs also joined their protest.
In the Lok Sabha, Opposition MPs protested against the suspension of four Congress members.
West Bengal MPs of the BJP party protested in front of the Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the alleged involvement of Partha Chatterjee in the Bengal school jobs scam.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge told reporters on Monday that the party will raise the issue of inflation, the Gujarat hooch tragedy and 'Operation Keechad' by the BJP in Jharkhand. 'Operation Keechad' refers to the allegations that BJP is trying to destabilise the coalition government in the state.
He added that the ruling party wanted an "Opposition-mukt" Parliament and questioned the ED's arrest of Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut.
The Trinamool Congress has sought a debate in both Houses of Parliament on Monday on the issue of crimes against women, as it targeted the government after a BJP MLA in Gujarat was accused of rape.
TMC Lok Sabha members Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Dola Sen and Rajya Sabha MP Mausam Noor had submitted notices for a discussion on the "need for prevention of crimes against women" in light of "latest reported incidents".
The sources said the TMC MPs moved the notices after Gujarat Rural Development Minister and BJP MLA Arjunsinh Chauhan was accused of raping and illegally confining a woman. (PTI)
Congress MP Suresh Kodikunnil has given an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha to demand a discussion over the alleged attempts by the BJP to "topple" the coalition government in Jharkhand, ANI reported.
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari has given a zero-hour notice in the Rajya Sabha on the 'Agnipath' recruitment scheme for entry into Armed Forces, news agency ANI reported.
Congress Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi on Monday gave an adjournment motion notice to discuss the floods in Assam.
Suspended Rajya Sabha MPs Sushmita Dev (TMC), Kanimozhi NVN Somu (DMK) and AA Rahim (CPM) on the Opposition’s trust deficit with the government, putting up a united front and why it has failed to counter the narrative set by the BJP.
During the exchange, Sushmita Dev said, "This government uses bulldozers on the ground and bulldozes us inside Parliament. We asked them to start the debate as a matter of urgency and as and when Nirmala Sitharaman returns, she can reply. You can call it a trust deficit but I think the deficit lies in what we think is a parliamentary democracy and how they define parliamentary democracy."
Read more
The Union government has listed inflation for discussion in Lok Sabha on Monday, meeting a key demand of Opposition parties that had been stalling Parliament over the matter.
But the big question is whether normalcy will return to Parliament for the discussion to take place. Some parties are now keen to attack the government over other political issues that cropped up over the weekend — the use of central agencies and alleged attempts to “topple” the Jharkhand government. Read more
Meeting a key demand by the Opposition, the Union government has listed inflation for discussion in Lok Sabha on Monday.
Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates!