Rajya Sabha Chair gets up and leaves as protesting MPs storm the well of the House. Parliament Winter Session 2022 News Highlights: The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Third Amendment) Bill, 2022, aimed at inclusion of the Hattee community of Trans Giri area in Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district in the Scheduled Tribes list, was passed by the Lok Sabha on Friday. Replying to the debate on the Bill, Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda said once the Bill is passed, people of the Hattee community will enjoy ST status. The Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 9, 2022, was soon passed by a voice vote. The government’s move to introduce the Bill came after the Himachal Pradesh government requested the Centre to include the Hattee community in the ST list, excluding those communities which are already notified as Scheduled Castes for Himachal Pradesh.
Government departments and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) are taking coordinated steps to check Chinese mobile apps offering easy loans and cheating people, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in Rajya Sabha on Friday, news agency PTI reported. Responding to a zero-hour issue raised by a Trinamool Congress MP, she said action has been taken against apps that are cheating people by offering loans. The minister said she had in the last 6-7 months held several meetings with representatives of the central bank, her ministry officials and Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) on the issue of Chinese loan apps harassing and cheating people. “A lot of apps that have been badly misused have also been brought to the attention of MeiTY,” she said.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday lodged a strong protest over him not being allowed to speak despite Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar’s ruling that he along with two other very distinguished members could speak anytime in the House. When the House met for the day, Kharge said he had wanted to speak on the December 9 Chinese aggression in Arunachal Pradesh but Deputy Chairman Harivansh did not allow him to speak on grounds that he had not served any notice. Opposition MPs, he said, during the last few days have been trying to raise the issue of Chinese aggression in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector and he thought it was his responsibility as the Leader of the Opposition to join them on such “a very serious issue connected with national security”. “On December 14, I intervened but the Deputy Chairman said I cannot raise it as I have not given any notice,” he said.
Parliamentarians, CRPF personnel and others during a tribute ceremony to pay homage to martyrs who lost their lives in the 2001 Parliament attack, at Parliament House complex in New Delhi, December 13, 2022. (PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a tribute ceremony to pay homage to martyrs who lost their lives in the 2001 Parliament attack, at Parliament House complex, December 13, 2022. (PTI)
Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury speaks in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. (PTI)
TMC MP Mahua Moitra at Parliament House complex during ongoing Winter Session. (PTI)
Congress MP Manish Tewari on Friday said Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju's recent statements on the judiciary on matters relating to the Collegium system to bail applications makes one wonder if the government is trying to “orchestrate a confrontation with the judiciary”.
Tewari made the remarks during Zero Hour in Lok Sabha referring to Rijiju's statement, made on Wednesday, that a constitutional body such as Supreme Court should not be hearing “bail applications and frivolous PILs’’ at a time when pendency of cases is so high.
“The Law Minister of the country recently gave a statement saying that the Supreme Court should not hear frivolous PILs and bail applications. He further went on to say that Supreme Court judges take too many vacations, and then questioned the process of appointments to the higher judiciary. It raises a very fundamental question. Does this government believe in liberty? Does this government believe in Article 21? Is this government trying to orchestrate a confrontation with the judiciary?” Tewari said. Read More
Cutting across party lines, Rajya Sabha members on Friday supported a private members' resolution which calls for setting up of an Agarwood Board of India under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The resolution for development of agarwood sector with its headquarters in Agartala, Tripura was moved in the Rajya Sabha by BJP member Biplab Kumar Deb from Tripura.
Deb demanded the government to smoothen the procedure for export of products made from agarwood such as oil, dry roots, chips which he thinks can do business of around Rs 5,000 crore. He drew attention of the House toward illegal trade (export or import) of agarwood products He suggested that the government should formalise its trade which will also help it garner tax revenue.
The resolution urged the government to empower the board to identify the issues, simplify the processes, and encourage different central and state ministries to work in collaboration for the overall development of agarwood sector It also demanded the government to ensure support for promotion of the sector, prescribe policies that make it easier for growers to grow and harvest agarwood, and incentivise its industrial use. It also asked the government to promote scientific efforts for increasing agarwood's production and improving its quality in line with the conditions laid down by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora and the Export-Import Policy of India. The resolution also suggested adequate welfare measures for agarwood cultivators, self help groups, and workers of MSME units engaged in production of agarwood-based products. It also urged the government to provide incentives to young entrepreneurs to undertake new ways of harnessing agarwood and products made with it for making India an export powerhouse. (PTI)
No proposal is under consideration of the government to provide proxy voting facility to NRIs, Lok Sabha was informed on Friday.
"...no such proposal is under consideration," said Law Minister Kiren Rijiju in a written reply while responding to a question on whether the government is considering to provide the facility of proxy voting to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs).
In August, 2018, the previous Lok Sabha had passed a bill to allow proxy voting rights to eligible overseas Indians. But the bill could not be brought in Rajya Sabha. In 2020, the Election Commission had proposed to the Law Ministry to extend the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) facility, so far available only to service voters, to eligible overseas Indian voters as well. It would require changes in the election rules. But the government has so far not taken a call on the issue. (PTI)
Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have been adjourned till 19 December, 11 am.
Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani and Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury indulged in a spat in Lok Sabha on Friday over the use of the word 'gentleman'.
While responding to a supplementary question by Chandra Sekhar Sahu of the BJD on fortified food for children, Irani referred to him as "gentleman" which was objected to by Chowdhury who said that as per parliamentary procedures she should have referred to him as "honourable member".
Irani said Chowdhury was interrupting her reply to impress his "political masters". Chowdhury was supported by another Congress member, K Suresh. Congress leader Sonia Gandhi was also present in the House.
"I would...request the member who stands here trying to ensure that I do not speak to score political brownie points.... For him to presume that the gentleman is not a gentleman is an issue to deal (with) between the gentleman and the so-called member," Irani said. (PTI)
In a written reply in Lok Sabha on Friday, MoS for Health Dr Bharti Pravin Pawar said that the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi has retrieved all the data of the e-Hospital and restored them in new servers after recent cyber attack.
BACK IN August 2014, almost all parties united in both Houses in Parliament – the AIADMK abstained – and more than 50 per cent of states including those led by the Congress and the Left, unanimously ratified laws to bring in the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) to replace the Collegium system of appointment of judges to the higher courts.
However, that rare unanimity is coming unstuck as the Government ratchets up its attack on the higher judiciary for striking down NJAC as unconstitutional.
The Indian Express spoke to several leaders across the political spectrum to find a clear shift in the position of many. (Read more)
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya Friday said more than 1,500 private hospitals have been empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat scheme in the last one year.
The scheme is reviewed every month and out-of-pocket expenditure of patients under the scheme has come down, Mandaviya said, replying to a question in Lok Sabha.
Under the scheme launched in 2018, the government provides health security cover to 10 crore families or 50 crore people of India. Today, 4.5 crore needy people have been empanelled under the scheme, the minister said.
He said seven-eight lakh beneficiary cards are printed daily and the ministry was working to ensure that 50 crore cards are made available in the next four-six months. (PTI)
Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 12 noon on Friday as opposition Congress MPs disrupted proceedings over the demand for a debate on the border situation with China.
Congress MPs sought setting aside of the business of the day to take up a debate on the issue but when the chair did not permit, they shouted slogans and trooped into the well of the House, forcing Deputy Chairman Harivansh to adjourn proceedings. (PTI)
During Question Hour in Lok Sabha on Friday, Minister Sarbananda Sonowal speaks about international cooperation for academic research in AYUSH.
Rajya Sabha proceedings adjourned till 12 pm as Congress MPs troop into the well of the House demanding a debate on the border situation with China. (PTI)
Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman was Friday asked about the numerous money lending apps of Chinese origin that require users to give access to user data like contacts, photos etc, and use this data to harass the victim.
Sitharaman said that in the past few months, she has had personal meetings with the RBI representatives and her secretaries in the ministry and that action has been initiated in this regard. She said that there is a coordinated effort to contain such apps and also against those who are misusing them.
As she is heckled by MPs who want discussion on other matters like the border issue, Sitharaman's speech turns heated and she accuses the Congress party of not being interested in common man's problems.
A brief ruckus took place in Lok Sabha as Ministries of Women and Child Development Smriti Irani, while answering a question, refers to the MP who asked it as "gentleman" instead of by his name.
A few MPs heckle her for her choice of words and to which she replies, ensuing a heated exchange of words. Irani goes on to briefly speak of the steps taken by the Union government to provide sufficient funds to meet the inflation effect and fix accountability under various schemes.
AAP MP Raghav Chadha gives Suspension of Business Notice under Rule 267 in Rajya Sabha to discuss the amendments in laws to ensure stringent punishment to culprits in sacrilege incidents.
Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan gives Suspension of Business Notice under Rule 267 in Rajya Sabha to discuss the unemployment in the country.
Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala gives Suspension of Business Notice under Rule 267 in Rajya Sabha to discuss the border situation with China; also asks the Chairman to ask the Prime Minister and the Government to make a statement on the issue. (ANI)
Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha sessions have begun for the day.
In Lok Sabha, the Question Hour is in progress with Union Minister of Health Mansukh Mandaviya answering the questions. In Rajya Sabha, statement regarding government business is in progress.
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Thursday questioned the central government and asked why it is afraid of China. He said that clashes like Tawang have been going on since BJP came to power. Also, he said that the ruling government does not discuss such issues with the opposition.
In Lok Sabha, these are the bills for consideration and passing.
Private Members' Business
In Rajya Sabha, Private Members' Business (Resolutions).
The Lok Sabha on Thursday witnessed another day of Opposition and ruling party members slamming each other. As the Congress kept up the issue of PLA transgression in Arunachal Pradesh, seeking a discussion on the incident in Tawang sector and asking why the government is reluctant to show its “red eyes” to China, BJP members brought up the hooch deaths in Bihar’s Saran district and sought immediate action against the Nitish Kumar government.
The ruling party members held the Bihar government responsible for the incident, in which 26 deaths were officially confirmed — while one BJP member put the toll at 37, Saran MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy claimed it was up to 52 and may increase further. (Read more)
As questions were asked from his two ministries — Housing and Urban Affairs, and Petroleum and Natural Gases — in Parliament, Union minister Hardeep Puri on Thursday invited MPs to his office for a cup of coffee or tea to get more details.
So, when TDP member Jayadev Galla asked Puri about the ministry’s move to stop work on the masterplan for Amaravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh, Puri said the question was “far removed” from what he had come prepared for but said he would be happy to invite him for a cup of tea or coffee and sit down with him.
As Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury chipped in to ask, “Sir, coffee or high tea?”, pat came Puri’s reply: “Whatever you prefer, and depending on the time of the day. If you like to come a little (late) in the evening, we can organise that, too.”
The response seemed to have cheered the Opposition benches, with members thumping desks in appreciation. (Read more)
The members of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday raised concern over the issue of climate change and asked the central government to coordinate with all ministries, agencies and private sector to take remedial steps to mitigate the effect of global warming.
Senior DMK leader Tiruchi Siva, CPI member P Sandosh Kumar and Congress MP Pramod Tiwari raised a short-duration discussion in the Upper House of Parliament on the serious effects of global warming.
Initiating the discussion, Siva said, “What is looming over our head is very alarming and threatening. I feel it is not just the responsibility of the Union government, but also of the states, private sector, civil society, yourself, myself and everyone in the country. We alone are not the cause, the whole world is the cause for it. But the effect upon us is more. India will be the seventh country to be affected because of this climate change.” (Read more)
Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday told the Rajya Sabha that the issue of vacancies and appointments in the higher judiciary would continue to linger till the time a new system is created for the same.
Rijiju, while responding to queries in the Rajya Sabha during the ongoing Winter Session of the Parliament, said the Centre has limited power over the appointment of judges.
The minister informed the House that in the Supreme Court, 27 judges are working as against the sanctioned strength of 34 judges, as of December 5. Meanwhile, 777 judges are working in the high courts against the sanctioned strength of 1,108, leaving a vacancy of 331 (30 per cent). (Read more)
Elections have become a "big budget affair" and holding simultaneous polls to Lok Sabha and state assemblies would result in huge saving to the exchequer, the government said on Thursday.
Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said the need for simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies has been felt as polls have become "big budget affair and expensive".
In a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha, he said the Law Commission in its report on Reforms in Electoral Laws had suggested simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies for the sake of stability in governance. --PTI
BJP MP Pritam Munde on Thursday demanded that the Union government should take back its recent decision of doing away with certain scholarships for minority communities.
The Maulana Azad Fellowship for minority students pursuing higher education has been scrapped while the government's pre-matric scholarship for them will no longer apply to students from Class 1 to Class 8.
Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, Munde said the decision was taken without any prior intimation and this year also, thousands of students had given applications for it.
"I demand that the government should rethink this decision. Education is free in right to education but this (scholarships) work as an encouragement for these students in schools," she said. --PTI
BJP Lok Sabha members Thursday termed the deaths in Bihar due to the hooch tragedy as "mass murder" and urged the Centre to take immediate action against the government under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, holding it responsible for the incident.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, BJP's Paschim Champaran MP Sanjay Jaiswal claimed that spurious liquor sale has been flourishing in Bihar under the protection of police officers despite a prohibition in place.
But the chief minister does not take any action against any of them, he charged.
BJP's Aurangabad MP Sushil Kumar Singh termed the hooch tragedy deaths as "mass murder" and held the Bihar government responsible for it. --PTI
The dropout rate of girls from schools saw a decline since 2014 while PG seats have almost doubled, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said Thursday. The minister credited the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government for this surge in the education sector.
Interacting with the reporters outside Parliament, Mandaviya said the Modi government is trying to ensure that the country's need for doctors is fulfilled and children aspiring for medical education do not have to go abroad.
"The number of MBBS seats has recorded an increase of 87 per cent. Eight years ago, there were 53,000 seats, which have now grown to 96,000," Mandaviya said. (PTI)
The Lower House has been adjourned till 2.20 pm.
AAP MP Raghav Chadha Thursday asked in Rajya Sabha what action is being taken against channels stirring up emotions.
Six non-BJP ruled states — West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Kerala and Jharkhand— have not reduced the VAT on petroleum products, leading to higher prices of petrol and diesel there, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said Thursday.
Puri said in Lok Sabha that the central government has reduced excise duty on petroleum products and some other states, following cues, and reduced their Value Added Tax (VAT).
Six states — West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Kerala and Jharkhand — have not reduced the VAT, he said amidst vocal protests by the opposition members. The minister said, currently the petrol price in India is one of the lowest.
He said the oil marketing companies together suffered losses of Rs 27,276 crore due to high prices of crude in international markets. “I suggest MPs from the opposition impress upon their state governments to reduce the VAT so that they can also join the celebrations,” he said. (PTI)
Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 2 pm today.
Congress-led Opposition parties in Lok Sabha walked out of the House as they were not satisfied with the reply of Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on the petrol price hike. (ANI)
The serious effects of global warming and the need for remedial steps to tackle it will be discussed in the Rajya Sabha this afternoon.
The issue will be raised by DMK, Congress and CPI MPs Tiruchi Siva, Pramod Tiwari and Sandosh Kumar P, respectively. (ANI)
The Lower House is taking up Matters of Urgent Public Importance like the role of women in the Indian Army and their promotion in comparison to male counterparts, among others.
Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday said the government is concentrating on last-mile connectivity to Tier-III cities to ensure democratisation of civil aviation in the country.
Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, Scindia said India has tremendous connectivity between Tier I-II cities.
"What needs to be strengthened is last-mile connectivity to Tier-III cities. Our government is concentrating on last- mile connectivity to make sure the democratisation of civil aviation does truly take place in the country," Scindia said during Question Hour.
(PTI)
Rajya Sabha proceedings were disrupted on Thursday as opposition members created an uproar after the chair disallowed adjournment notices on several issues including on alleged misuse of probe agencies by the government.
The House witnessed two back-to-back adjournments.
The Upper House has resumed functioning amid heavy sloganeering by the Opposition. MP Bhubaneswar Kalita, who is in the Chair, attempts to continue discussions as the protests become louder and louder.
During the Question Hour in Lok Sabha, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri tacked questions on schemes for the rehabilitation of homeless people.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge took to Twitter to question why the government is not allowing a discussion on China. 'Are we not allowed to speak against China in the Indian Parliament,' he wrote in Hindi.
The Rajya Sabha has again been adjourned, this time till 11.50 am.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore gives an adjournment motion notice in the Lower House to discuss ensuring of legal guarantee for MSP for farmers as per the Swaminathan Committee.
BJP MP Biplab Kumar Deb gave a Zero Hour Notice to discuss the need to reopen the border-haat on the Tripura-Bangladesh border.
CPI MP Sandosh Kumar P gave a Zero Hour Notice to discuss the need to reinstate concession to senior citizens in Railways.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari gave a Suspension of Business Notice under Rule 267 to discuss "misuse of CBI, ED and other govt agencies against political rivals and others." (ANI)
In Lok Sabha, queries are being asked on the issue of compensation for land acquisition for development projects.
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said that the issue is not with lack of money or will, but the issue is with the system. The law needs to be changed to ensure speedy disbursal of funds. The issue is in the Concurrent List, so State and Central governments need to work together to solve this issue, he says, without going into details.
The Upper House has been adjourned till 11.33 am after a ruckus over discussions. While the Chair said that only matters on the list of business will be discussed, the Opposition wants discussion on other issues like price rise, unemployment and border issues with China.
A member raises questions on the RCS-UDAN scheme in Andhra Pradesh.
Two airports and one water dome have been picked for development in the state, says Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia. He says last-mile connectivity is being focused on to ensure that the democratisation of civil aviation is carried out in India.
Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha sessions begin as scheduled.
The Parliamentary panel will take up the issue of congestion at Delhi airport with the CEO of airport operator DIAL amid reports that passengers ate facing long waiting hours at the airport, reported news agency Prasar Bharti.
TMC MP Derek O'Brien on Thursday listed a slew of issues that the opposition parties want to discuss in Parliament and claimed that the government only wants to discuss global warming.
On Wednesday, opposition parties met and strategised on issues they would raise in Parliament.
Over six lakh Indians went abroad for higher education till November this year, compared with 4.44 lakh in 2021, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The numbers corroborate the uptick in visas issued by the US and the UK to Indian students this year.
Responding to a question raised by Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan, Union MoS (education) Subhas Sarkar said 6,46,206 Indians went abroad showing their purpose as “higher education” till November 30, 2022. (Read more)
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday defended the government’s handling of the economy and said inflation has been brought under control, non-performing assets (NPA) have reduced “drastically”, and the rupee is performing “much better” against the US dollar compared to currencies of many emerging market economies.
Responding to the debate on supplementary demand for grants in Lok Sabha, Sitharaman also said the government is likely to place another round of supplementary demand for grants during the next Budget session, which is “absolutely acceptable” in the process of budget-making. (Read more)
A total of 1,472 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, 864 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers and 1,057 Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers posts are vacant, Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
Meanwhile, the sanctioned strength of IAS officers was 6,789, 4,984 of IPS officers and 3,191 for IFS officers as on January 1, 2022. Of these, 5,317 IAS officers, 4,120 IPS officers and 2,134 IFS officers, respectively, were in position, he informed the Lok Sabha. (Read more)
Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha sessions will resume at 11 am today. Both the Houses were adjourned till the said time on Wednesday evening.
Lok Sabha
Bills for Consideration and Passing
Rajya Sabha
Short Duration Discussion: Global Warming
No talking: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla often claims that he is strict about the discipline in the House. An example came on Wednesday, when Birla gave a warning to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi for conversing with her party colleagues.
When Sonia entered the House, she started talking to Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Gaurav Gogoi who were seeking a discussion on a number of issues, including India-China border dispute. “Please do not take meetings here,” Birla told Gandhi, who smiled and tried to say something. “It’s your right to take meetings, but do it outside,” Birla said.
The Congress members eventually walked out in protest against the government’s decision not to have any discussion on the LAC dispute. (Read more)
Against the backdrop of the Bilkis Bano case of the 2002 Gujarat riots, BSP member in Lok Sabha Danish Ali demanded that the Centre bring changes in the law to stop the release of convicts in rape cases under the remission policy of the states.
Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, he claimed the country is witnessing a rise in the number of rape cases and those committing such crimes are getting emboldened by the remission policy of the states. “The reason behind it is that they do not get punishment. If punishment is handed down to someone in a case, the state government releases them under remission policy,” Ali said. (PTI)
Nine Kashmiri Pandits have been killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir since 2020, Rajya Sabha was informed.
Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said four Kashmiri Pandits were killed in 2022 and as many in 2021, while one was killed in 2020. The victims include a person belonging to Kashmiri Rajput community, he said.
India plans to commission 20 nuclear power plants by 2031, adding nearly 15,000 MW in power generating capacity, the government told the Lok Sabha.
The first of these 20 nuclear power plants, a 700 MW unit, is expected to be commissioned in 2023 at Kakrapar in Gujarat, which already has three atomic power generating units operational. (PTI)
Ninety-one candidates selected through the civil services examination in 2021 could not be allocated any government service, the Lok Sabha was informed.
Of the 748 candidates recommended by the UPSC on the basis of the civil services examination-2021 (CSE), 91 candidates could not be allocated to any service till December 7, 2022. This was due to reasons such as limited preference, findings of medical examination, unsuccessful claim of reserved category, candidature withdrawn by candidates in accordance with the provisions of CSE Rules-2021, Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said in a written reply.
A BJP member raised the issue of Bihar hooch tragedy in Lok Sabha demanding immediate suspension of Superintendent of Police of Saran. Janardan Singh Sigriwal claimed that hundreds of people die every day consuming illicit liquor in Bihar.
About a dozen people have lost their lives in today's hooch tragedy in Saran district of Bihar, he said.
There should not be any "gap" in supply of clothing, equipment, ration and provisioning of accommodation for soldiers engaged in safeguarding the country's borders under difficult weather conditions in high-altitude regions, a high-level parliamentary panel said.
In its 55th report tabled in Lok Sabha, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) pointed out inordinate delays in procurement of winter clothing for soldiers in high-altitude areas as well as implementation of the project for improving their housing conditions.
It also recommended urgent revamp of the approach towards procurement of high-altitude clothing, equipment, ration and housing facilities for the troops deployed in those regions. (PTI)
Leaders of several opposition parties met in Parliament House complex and decided to take on the government unitedly on the India-China border issue and are likely to issue a joint statement.
Several opposition parties are seeking answers from the government on the Chinese transgressions along the border and moved adjournment notices in both houses of Parliament, demanding an urgent discussion on the issue.
Leaders of 17 opposition parties -- the Congress, RJD, DMK, CPI, CPI-M, AAP, Samajwadi Party, JDU, NCP, Shiv Sena, Kerala Congress, National Conference, AIUDF, RLD, MDMK, VCK and KCM -- met in the chamber of Mallikarjun Kharge, the leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha, and decided to corner the government on the border issue. The TMC was, however, not present at the meeting.