Opposition raises pitch on essentials, questions govt on GST, Rupee fall
The debate on the contentious issue of price rise finally began in Rajya Sabha Tuesday after a stormy fortnight that saw multiple MPs being suspended while demanding a debate on the topic.
As the Opposition sought accountability over the issue of price rise in essential commodities, the government cited global crises of Covid and the Russia-Ukraine conflict disrupting supply chains, and said every country has inflation problems.
The short-duration discussion began with BJP member Prakash Javadekar’s address in which he said price rise hurts everyone and the Modi government is constantly working to check it.
Tax, prices of many essentials were higher before GST: Nirmala Sitharaman
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said prices of many essential items were higher before the introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST) under the Narendra Modi government, which is “not in denial about price-rise”.
But compared to the years under the Congress-led UPA’s second term, prices of perishable commodities such as vegetables are lower due to joint efforts of the government and the Reserve Bank of India, Sitharaman said while replying to a discussion on price-rise in Rajya Sabha.
A parliamentary standing committee has recommended that the government should reconsider spending on advertisements under the 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' scheme and focus on planned expenditure allocation for sectoral interventions in education and health.
The panel noted that out of a total of Rs. 446.72 crore released during 2016-2019 for the government's flagship scheme, 78.91 per cent was spent only on media advocacy.
monthly limit of free stories.
with an Express account.
The Sixth Report of the Committee on Empowerment of Women (2021-22) on the action taken on the subject "Empowerment of Women through Education with Special Reference to 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' Scheme", was presented in Lok Sabha on Thursday. The panel said over the last six years, through focused advocacy BBBP has been able to capture the attention of political leadership and national consciousness towards valuing the girl child. (PTI)
A total of 130 cases of "hate news" were reported to social media platforms between the 2019 Lok Sabha election and the latest round of Assembly polls in five states held earlier this year, the government informed Parliament on Thursday.
In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju also said the Election Commission has informed that no complaints were received from the political parties regarding data leaks during elections in the last five years.
"Total number of 'hate news' cases reported to social media platforms (since Lok Sabha elections 2019) is 130...," he said. During the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, 58 such cases were reported. During the Maharashtra and Haryana Assembly polls in 2019, only one such case was reported, Rijiju said. (PTI)
Forty-five elephants were killed in train accidents in the period 2019-2021, Union Railways, Communications and Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishaw informed this in a written reply to Lok Sabha MP S Ramalingam.
Vaishaw in his written reply earlier on Wednesday provided the statistics of the deaths of elephants under different railway zones in the country. Ten elephants, including two within the East Coast Railway zone, were killed in 2019.
The Northern and Southern railways recorded two deaths each and the Northeast Frontier Railway registered four deaths. (Read more)
The Congress Thursday said Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge's summoning by Enforcement Directorate during the working hours of Parliament was an 'insult' to the legislature and alleged that 'Modishahi' is reaching a new low.
The opposition party also said its MPs will march to the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Friday at 11 am to meet President Droupadi Murmu and raise the issue of the prevailing economic situation in the country. The Congress has planned a mass protest against price rise, unemployment and the GST hike on essential items on August 5, wherein it will take out a march to the Rashtrapati Bhavan and 'gherao' the prime minister's residence.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh raised the issue of summoning of Kharge by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), saying he was called by the probe agency when Parliament is in session and he left around 12:20 pm and presented himself. 'This is Modishahi reaching new lows,' Ramesh tweeted. (PTI)
The country has more than 21 crore two-wheelers and over 7 crore four-wheelers and above category of vehicles registered, Parliament was informed on Thursday.
In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Road Transport and Highways minister Nitin Gadkari said out of the total vehicles, 5,44,643 are electric two-wheelers while 54,252 are electric four-wheelers and above, as per the centralised data base -- VAHAN -- as on August 3, 2022. Data further revealed that there were 2,95,245 two-wheelers and 18,47,539 four-wheeler and above category of vehicles with fuel types of CNG, ethanol, fuel cell hydrogen, LNG, LPG, solar, methanol etc.
Replying to a separate question, he said the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is primarily responsible for development and maintenance of National Highways. National Highways are generally maintained in traffic-worthy condition. (PTI)
AAP MP Raghav Chadha met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday and sought a rollback of the 12 per cent GST on inns near the Golden Temple in Punjab's Amritsar, saying it is a reminder of the Mughal era "Jizyah" tax.
In a memorandum submitted to Sitharaman, the Rajya Sabha MP of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) from Punjab said the imposition of 12 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on "sarais" (inns) will increase the cost of visiting the Golden Temple for people. Chadha said the Golden Temple often witnesses more than one lakh devotees visiting the shrine from around the world in a day.
Inns like Guru Gobind Singh NRI Niwas, Baba Deep Singh Niwas and Mata Bhag Kaur Niwas run by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) provide a shelter to the devotees and are operated for "seva of sangat (community service)", not as profit-making ventures, he added. (PTI)
Congress MP Digvijaya Singh on Thursday said that all Congress MPs will march to Rashtrapati Bhawan tomorrow to raise the issues of price rise and inflation.
As many as 14 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers from 12 state cadres are currently on deputation in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.
Two officers each are from Gujarat and Bihar cadres and one each from Uttarakhand, Telangana, Sikkim, Manipur, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories) cadre, according to a written reply given by Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh.
To a question seeking number of officers appointed through lateral entry in the PMO, he said lateral recruitment provides for appointment of persons for specific assignments in the government of India, keeping in view their specialised knowledge and expertise in the domain area. (PTI)
An unusual interaction between Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Kerala assembly speaker, MB Rajesh was seen in the Central Hall of Parliament on Thursday.
Parliament on Thursday passed a bill granting statutory cover to family courts set up in Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland and retrospectively validating all actions taken by them. The Upper House was adjourned after passing the bill.
Rajya Sabha passed the Family Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2022 by a voice vote amid sloganeering by the Opposition, led by Congress members who alleged misuse of the Enforcement Directorate by the government. Lok Sabha had passed the bill last week.
The Family Courts (Amendment) Bill seeks to insert a provision in sub-section 3 of section 1 to provide for the establishment of family courts in Himachal Pradesh with effect from February 15, 2019 and in Nagaland with effect from September 12, 2008. The bill also seeks to insert a new section 3A to retrospectively validate all actions under the act taken by the governments of Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland and the family courts of these states. (PTI)
As Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge accused the government of 'demoralising' the Opposition with the use of central agencies, Union Minister Piyush Goyal in the Rajya Sabha said, “The Centre does not interfere in the workings of law agencies in the country. Maybe during their (Congress) rule, they might’ve interfered, but not us. The accusation by the Opposition is baseless. If they have done a mistake, the law enforcement agencies will do their duty and find out.”
While contributing to a debate in the Rajya Sabha over raising points of order, TMC MP Derek O Brien said that subject to the Constitution and the rules of the Parliament, every member has the freedom of expression. "This gives me my right (to raise points of order)," O Brien asserted.
This came after the Deputy Chairman did not allow Congress MP Jairam Ramesh to raise a point of order.
BJP MP and Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav stated, "The members have freedom of speech. The Constitution doesn't give freedom of hungama (chaos)".
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, who wanted to raise a point of order in the Rajya Sabha but was denied by the Deputy Chariman, stated that the government was raising points of "disorder" outside Parliament. The Opposition has been demanding a discussion over the "misuse" of central agencies by the government, in light of the ED's searches of the National Herald offices.
A debate ensued in the House over the appropriateness of raising points of order.
As the Opposition demanded a discussion over the 'misuse' of central agencies, Union Minister Kiren Rijuju moved the Family Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2022, for discussion in the Upper House.
As the Opposition continued to uproar over the "misuse" of central agencies by the government and other issues, the Lower House was adjourned for the day.
Earlier, Opposition Congress MPs on Thursday raised placards with slogans against price rise, shouted slogans and trooped into the well of the House. Read more
As proceedings resumed in Parliament, the Opposition raised slogans against the central agency and demanded a discussion over the misuse of central agencies.
Opposition leaders are likely to march towards Vijay Chowk and hold a press conference there at 3.30 pm, news agency ANI reported.
The Opposition members have been protesting against the Union government in the House, alleging a "misuse" of central agencies.
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm as the Opposition continued sloganeering against the central government and the "misuse" of central agencies like ED.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge said, "Is it suitable for the ED to summon me while the Parliament session is ongoing?"
Stating that this weakens democracy, Kharge asserted that this was being done to demolarise the Opposition.
As proceedings resumed in the Rajya Sabha at 12 noon on Thursday, the Opposition continued sloganeering against the government.
The Opposition members raised slogans like "Tanashaahi nahi chalegi (dictatorship won't be tolerated)" and "ED-shaahi nahi chalegi (dictatorship of ED won't be tolerated)".
MP Vijayasai Reddy, who was in the Chair, stated that they would be allowed to speak only if they allow the proceedings to function normally.
During the Question Hour in Lok Sabha, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said, "As of now, two airbags are compulsory (in cars). There are no airbags for rear passengers. Our department is trying to have airbags for rear passengers too so that their lives can be saved. A proposal is under consideration, and the government will try to make a decision soon."
Shortly after Parliamentary proceedings began in the Rajya Sabha, the House was adjourned till 12 noon on Thursday amid Opposition uproar over the “misuse” of central agencies.
As Parliamentary proceedings began in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, Opposition members raised slogans against the central government and demanded a discussion over the “misuse” of central agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate. The opposition raised slogans like “Modi sarkar down down” and “tanashahi nahi chalegi (dictatorship won’t be tolerated)”.
Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has given a short duration discussion notice in the Rajya Sabha over "the broad and undefined scope of discretion of central investigation agencies such as ED, CBI, I-T etc. being misused to encroach upon civil liberties of political opponents," ANI reported.
Ahead of the Parliamentary proceedings on Thursday, Congress MP Manickam Tagore submitted an adjournment of business notice in the Lok Sabha to demand a discussion over unemployment in the country.
Meanwhile, Congress MP K Suresh asked for a discussion over the sealing of the Young Indian office by the ED in connection with the National Herald case.
Sports in India is stymied by federations that do not come under government control, BJP member Nishikant Dubey said in Lok Sabha on Wednesday during a discussion on promotion of sports in India.
The discussion has been continuing since the last session of Parliament.
“The problem with the sports ecosystem in India is that federations are outside of the government’s control. Rich states can spend money and do that, but what do poor states such as Jharkhand do? If the federation does not support sportspersons, what is going to be done,” Dubey said. Read more
The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday functioned for the full sitting free of any disruptions, which marked the previous 12 sittings of the current monsoon session.
The Congress members, however, staged a walkout during the end of the sitting raising an issue not connected with the business in progress, when Sports Minister Anurag Thakur was replying to the marathon debate on the National Anti-Doping Bill.
For the first time, Zero Hour was taken up with 17 members raising issues of public importance, officials said. (PTI)
Lok Sabha witnessed noisy scenes and abrupt adjournments amid protests by opposition members over the raid at National Herald newspaper premises in connection with a money laundering probe. In a rare gesture of protest, Congress president Sonia Gandhi also came to the well of the House briefly to join her party MPs who were protesting against the “misuse of central investigative agencies” against opposition leaders.
While members belonging to the Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) stood in the well of the House, raising slogans like “ED, Modi down down” and “Narendra Modi jawab do”, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) members and a few from Trinamool Congress (TMC) stood near their seats in solidarity.
Two Congress MPs, Kodikkunnil Suresh and Manickam Tagore, gave notices of adjournment motion to discuss the issue. Tagore's notice said the party wanted the House to discuss immediately the “attitude of the Central government misusing the Enforcement Directorate to suppress the Opposition party and its leaders, especially the activities of the ED to defame the values of the National Herald newspaper, and to direct the government to refrain from such activities”. Suresh said he wanted to discuss the “raids at the National Herald office in Delhi by the Enforcement Directorate” as it is “yet another instance of the vengeful politicisation of Central agencies by the BJP-led NDA government in its attempt to throttle dissent and opposition voices by acting upon fake and trumped-up charges”. Read More
Former cricketer and AAP Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh Wednesday raised the issue of attacks on gurudwaras and Sikhs in Afghanistan, and expressed concerns over a "sharp decline" in Sikh population there.
While raising this issue during the Zero Hour, Singh wondered why the attack was happening on Sikhs only. "I have stood up to speak on the attacks on Sikhs and Gurudwaras in Afghanistan. This is not only a matter which has hurt sentiments of Sikhs living across the world, it is also an attack on identity of being a Sikh...why such attacks on us only.
"...why are we being targeted," he said, mentioning incidents of attacks on gurudwaras and killing of Sikhs in Afghanistan. (PTI)
Lok Sabha proceedings on Wednesday were adjourned till 4 pm amid protests by opposition members over various issues, including raids at the premises of the National Herald newspaper in connection with a money laundering probe.
As the House discussed the Central University (Amendment) Bill, 2022, opposition MPs kept shouting slogans against the government.
Trinamool Congress' Sougata Ray raised the issue of a team of West Bengal police allegedly not being allowed to conduct a search operation at a property of a man associated with one of the three Jharkhand MLAs arrested in a cash seizure case despite having a court warrant. (PTI)
The Lok Sabha witnessed noisy protests on Wednesday as Congress MPs led by party president Sonia Gandhi came to the Well of the House, protesting the “misuse of central investigative agencies” against Opposition leaders.
While members belonging to Congress and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) stood in the well of the House, raising slogans like “ED, Modi down down” and “Narendra Modi jawab do”, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MPs and a few Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs stood near their seats to join the protests.
Amidst the ruckus, DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran was seen persuading senior Congress leaders like Shashi Tharoor and Karti P Chidambaram to come to the well of the House. At this, Sonia Gandhi stood up and joined the protesters in the well of the House and asked Chidambaram also to move to the front. Read more
The Congress and the Shiv Sena on Wednesday tried to raise the issue of alleged misuse of central investigating agencies by the government in the Rajya Sabha but Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu disallowed them from doing so.
Leader of the Opposition and senior Congress leader M Mallikarjun Kharge and his colleague Deepender Singh Hooda, Shiv Sena's Priyanka Chaturvedi and AAP's Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha gave notices under rule 267 but they were not admitted.
"You know my position. These are all notices not worth to be taken up under 267," Naidu said.
Rule 267 provides for setting aside the business of the day to take up discussion on the issue being raised in such notice. (PTI)
During a discussion over Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA ) in the Rajya Sabha, RLD's Jayant Chaudhary stated that in Uttar Pradesh during the period 2018-20, as many as 1,338 cases were registered under UAPA, according to the government's data. However, only 83 saw a conviction -- which accounts for a 6% conviction rate.
"This proves that the application of the law is somewhat wrong. How will you sensitise the UP police towards the law?" Chaudhary asked MoS Home Nityanand Rai.
Shortly before the adjournment, the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022, was introduced in the Lower House.
As the Opposition continued sloganeering against the government over the “misuse’ of central agencies and other issues, the Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm on Wednesday.
During the Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha, AAP MP and former cricketer Harbhajan Singh raised the issue of that attack on a gurudwara in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Stating that the Sikh community has helped the public even amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, Singh lamented the attack on the community.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned till 12 noon shortly after proceedings began on Wednesday morning as Opposition MPs raised slogans against the “misuse” of central agencies by the government.
Earlier, Congress MPs Manickam Tagore and K Suresh submitted adjournment notices in the Lok Sabha, demanding a discussion over the recent searches at the offices of National Herald by the Enforcement Directorate.
In light of the ED raids at the National Herald office, Congress MP Manickam Tagore submitted an adjournment notice in the Lok Sabha to demand a discussion over the "misuse" of central agencies by the government to "suppress" the Opposition parties.
Congress MP K Suresh from Kerala gave a suspension of business notice in the Lok Sabha to discuss the 'weaponisation of central agencies by the government.
'The raids conducted in the National Herald office in Delhi by Enforcement Directorate is yet another instance of the vengeful politicization of Central agencies by the BJP- led NDA government in its attempt to throttle dissent and opposition voices by acting upon fake and trumped up charges,' the MP wrote.
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Modi has given a zero-hour notice to discuss "curbing the pactise of freebies by political parties in the country."
Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu flagged off the ‘Tiranga bike rally’ from the Red Fort for the MPs of all parties on Wednesday morning.
Members of Parliament participated in a Tiranga bike rally from the Red Fort to Vijay Chowk on Wednesday. Union Minister Smriti Irani was also seen taking off on a bike in a video shared by news agency ANI.
The Culture Ministry has organised a ‘Tiranga bike rally’ from the Red Fort to Parliament for the MPs of all parties on Wednesday.
Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu is expected to flag off the rally shortly.
Submitting a suspension of business notice in the Rajya Sabha, AAP MP Raghav Chadha has demanded a discussion over the government's implementation of 12 per cent GST on 'sarais' near the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
'Sarais' are small hotel rooms meant for the accommodation of devotees. Read more
The debate on the contentious issue of price rise finally began in Rajya Sabha Tuesday after a stormy fortnight that saw multiple MPs being suspended while demanding a debate on the topic.
“Inflation is ruling at 7 per cent now and not yet reached the double-digit level like in the previous UPA regime,” BJP member Prakash Javadekar said. He mentioned that due to Covid-19 and Russia-Ukraine crisis, the supply chain was hit, pushing up fuel and food prices globally.
“This is beyond the control of any country. Not only India, prices have risen in other countries too,” he said.
In response to the government’s claims, TMC MP Derek O’Brien said rising prices of essential commodities coupled with the imposition of GST on pre-packed food items, which was not agreed upon by the Opposition at the GST Council, and unemployment are affecting the poor badly. Read more
Union Minister Anurag Thakur will move that the National Anti-Doping Bill, 2021, which seeks to create a statutory framework for the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and was earlier passed by the Lower House, be approved by the Rajya Sabha.
Union Minister Kiren Rijuju is expected to move that the Bill further to amend the Family Courts Act, 1984, as approved by Lok Sabha, be taken into consideration and be passed by the Upper House.
Union Minister R K Singh is expected to introduce a Bill to amend the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will move that the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2022 be passed.
The Lower House is also expected to take up a discussion over issues raised by Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on sports in India and what the government is doing to promote them.
Good morning and welcome to our live blog!
The Culture Ministry has organised a ‘Tiranga bike rally’ from the Red Fort to Parliament for the MPs of all parties on Wednesday
Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates.