Parliament Winter Session 2023 Highlights: Lok Sabha passes 3 amended criminal law Bills; Amit Shah says will ensure victim-centric justice

"Rahul Gandhi was making a video about it (TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee mimicking Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar). He doesn't have an idea about the consequences of making that video. If he had any idea about the consequences, then Congress wouldn't be in such a dire situation," RLP leader Hanuman Beniwal told media in response to mimicry row.

VIDEO | "Rahul Gandhi was making a video about it (TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee mimicking Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar). He doesn't have an idea about the consequences of making that video. If he had any idea about the consequences, then Congress wouldn't be in such a dire… pic.twitter.com/2o1pkHRvXU

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 20, 2023

Parliament witnessed a slew of suspension of MPs in a similar way in 1989. The 63 MPs were suspended when Rajiv Gandhi was Prime Minister. With more than 400 MPs, the Congress government then enjoyed a brute majority, much like the BJP now.

On March 15, 1989, the Lok Sabha witnessed an uproar over the tabling of the Justice Thakkar Commission of Inquiry into the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi [a commission of inquiry under Justice MP Thakkar, set up in 1984].  This led to the suspension of 63 MPs in one go, the highest ever. According to a PRS Legislative Research report, after the suspension, “An Opposition member belonging to the Janata Group (Syed Shahabuddin) who had not been suspended, submitted that he also be treated as suspended and walked out of the House. Three other members (GM Banatwalla, MS Gill and Shaminder Singh) also walked out in protest.”

However, the key difference is that these MPs had been suspended for the remainder of the week, which was three days, while this time, the lawmakers have been barred for the remainder of the House session. Also, the 1989 suspension was revoked a day later, after the members apologised to the Speaker.

In 2015, when Congress was protesting the suspending of its members, then Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu had reminded the party of the 1989 incident. “If Congress claims that suspension of 25 of its MPs is a black day for democracy, who set the record and the benchmark?” Naidu had asked. Read more

There is an old tradition, irrespective of which party or alliance is in opposition, of MPs causing a ruckus inside Parliament. “Over the years, four broad reasons have been identified for disorder in legislatures,” Chakshu Roy, head of outreach at PRS Legislative Research, wrote for The Indian Express in 2022.

These are i) the lack of time available to MPs for raising important matters, ii) the unresponsive attitude of the government and retaliatory posture by Treasury benches, iii) deliberate disruption by parties for political or publicity purposes, and iv) the absence of prompt action against MPs disrupting Parliamentary proceedings.

Over the decades, the say the Opposition has in deciding the Parliamentary calendar has been reducing. Not only does the Government set the agenda in Parliament and decide how much time will be dedicated to any issue, Parliamentary procedure also prioritises government business over other matters.

So, who can suspend the MPs? How?

The Presiding Officer — the Speaker of LS and Chairman of RS — plays the major role in meting out suspensions. In Lok Sabha, the Speaker acts in accordance with Rules 373, 374, and 374A of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business. In Rajya Sabha, the Chairman acts as per Rules 255 and 256 of the Rules. The procedure in both Houses is largely similar.

First, the presiding officers can direct an MP to withdraw from the House for any disorderly conduct (Rule 373 in LS, 255 in RS). If that does not work and the said MP continues to disrupt the House proceedings, the presiding officer can “name” the legislator (Rule 374 in LS, 256 in RS). After that, the House can move a motion to suspend the MP until the end of the session. Read more

On the anniversary of the 2001 terror attack on the Parliament of India, the security of the new Parliament building was breached. The government sought first to downplay the incident, probably because the breach was explicitly facilitated by the office of one of the MPs of the BJP. The disquiet among the Opposition members grew because Home Minister Amit Shah, who seems to have an opinion on virtually every subject under the sun, did not deem it important to appraise Parliament about the security breach and the measures taken by his ministry in response. In his shocking refusal to make a statement on the floor, the home minister has displayed what can only be called a willful dereliction of national duty.

Astoundingly, a large number of MPs who were expressing their concern and pressurising the government to give up indifference on a matter of national security have been suspended. The suspensions this week follow an already strong trend of excluding and targeting MPs whose voices have helped focus the nation’s attention on matters of grave socio-legal and economic concerns — discipline and propriety seem a cover. While safeguarding the dignity of the House and maintaining discipline is an important prerequisite of democratic parliamentary functioning, we must ask ourselves what this requirement is aimed at.

Is the claim of being the mother of democracy just a jumla — a flippant and hollow phrase? Discipline without deliberation and care is just abuse. (Read more)

Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee, whose mocking mimicry of Rajya Sabha Chairperson and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar has caused a stir, has a long history of using pejorative language to target Dhankar during the latter’s tenure as West Bengal Governor between 2019 and 2022.

Dhankhar’s stint in West Bengal was marked by bitter exchanges with the TMC, the state government, and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and Kalyan would often be at the forefront of the attack on the then Governor. 

Kalyan’s actions, though, are not exactly new.

On May 7, 2021, Dhankhar had sanctioned the prosecution of TMC ministers based on a request by the CBI, which was probing allegations of politicians accepting bribes. (Click here to know more)

Parliament passed the Central Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023 to raise the age cap of president and members of the GST Appellate Tribunals to 70 years and 67 years, respectively.

?Replying to a short discussion on the bill in the Upper House, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the amendment has been brought as suggested by the Chief Justice of India.

? She said the finance ministry was "rightly alerted" and also advised by the Supreme Court of India's Registrar on the suggestions of the Chief Justice of India that amendments to the legislation will have to be in alignment with regulations for other tribunals.

? "Since it was a valid suggestion and pointed out by the Supreme Court, we quickly thought it was important for us to respond and we responded in time. Therefore, we have come up with these two amendments," Sitharaman said.

? The minister also replied to queries and suggestions made by Rajya Sabha members during the discussion. She said that before GST, people used to pay very high prices for daily-use commodities. But after the introduction of GST, prices of daily items like toothpaste, brush, and hair oil, have come down, the minister said.

? Some members had suggested that petroleum products should be brought under the ambit of GST. In response, the minister said, "I wish the state governments see the point and eventually customers will pay less tax if the GST is brought in, the overlapping, the doubling of tax will not be there".

? The finance minister also sought to assure the House that the central government was responding speedily to the situation arising out of floods in four districts of Tamil Nadu. "I assure the people of Tamil Nadu that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be there whenever you need," she said. The minister also added that because of the speedy response of the home minister, the state got rescue helicopters, boats, medicines, and other assistance in time.

Opposing the three criminal Bills, AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi said in Lok Sabha Wednesday: “These three criminal Bills are themselves felonious. Instead of preventing crimes they are an attempt to give legal cover to the government’s crimes. The irony is that the people who are facing charges of terrorism are also defining terrorism.”

Had Bhagat Singh and Mahatma Gandhi been alive today, they would have called these three laws the Rowlatt Act, Owaisi said. “The reality is that there is no greater punishment for the poor, the Dalit and Muslims in this country than their very lives. If we wanted to reform the laws, then we should have removed those provisions which allow the government and the police to act as they will. The maximum number of undertrials in the country today are Muslims, Dalits and tribals,” he said. He also spoke about extended police custody and stringent bail conditions in the Bills apart from the offence of sedition being reframed.

"The role of opposition is to make the government aware, give them the message (of people) and ask questions. The video of (TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee mimicking) Vice President is a different issue. Meanwhile, the Parliament security breach incident is related to the security of the entire nation. Why can't the Union Home minister (Amit Shah) issue a statement over it?" RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha told media on mimicry row and Lok Sabha security breach incident.

VIDEO | "The role of opposition is to make the government aware, give them the message (of people) and ask questions. The video of (TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee mimicking) Vice President is a different issue. Meanwhile, the Parliament security breach incident is related to the security… pic.twitter.com/cvfwl6PVUT

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 20, 2023

Parliament on Wednesday passed the Provisional Collection of Taxes Bill, 2023, paving the way for provisionally effect changes in customs and excise duties announced in the Budget from midnight.

?The bill comes with a provision to refund taxes collected that have not been incorporated in the Finance Bill.

? It repeals The Provisional Collection of Taxes Act, 1931. While moving the bill for passage on Tuesday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the bill sought to obtain the authority from Parliament to provisionally levy and collect the newly imposed or increased duties of customs and excise for 75 days.

? While the changes in rates of income and corporate taxes, incorporated in the Budget announced on February 1, are effective from April 1 or a notified date, most of the changes in customs and excise duty rates become effective from midnight. 

PTI 

Union Minister for Home Affairs, Amit Shah during his reply to questions on the three criminal bills took a veiled dig at the Congress and Sonia Gandhi. He emphasised on Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita being close to Indian context and said, 'The three bills reflect the spirit of the Constitution...but those with an Italian mindset will never understand it."

Rajya Sabha passed the Central Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023 Wednesday.

? The bill will raise the cap on age limit for president and member of GST Appellate Tribunals. Union Minister for Finance Nirmala Sitharaman moved the bill and a majority of MPs voted in favour of the bill via voice vote.

The bill seeks to raise to cap on age for president and members of the GST Appellate Tribunals (GSTAT) to 70 years and 67 years, respectively. As of now, the age limit for the president is 67 years and for members is 65 years.

? The bill also seeks to align the provisions of the Central GST Act in line with the Tribunal Reforms Act, 2021.

? As per the latest amendment, an advocate with 10 years of 'substantial experience' in litigation in matters relating to indirect taxes in an appellate tribunal, would be eligible to be appointed as a judicial member of the GSTAT.

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 11 am tomorrow

Senior BJP leader and Union Minister for Defence Rajnath Singh on Wednesday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee for "insulting" the Rajya Sabha chairperson in a shameful manner and condemned their actions as a blot on India's democratic traditions.

In a strongly worded post on X, the defence minister wrote in roughly translated Hindi, "The shameful manner in which the Vice President of India and Honorable Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar ji has been insulted by Trinamool Congress leader Kalyan Banerjee and Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi is a black stain on Indian democratic traditions. The tradition of respecting persons holding the highest constitutional positions is the life force of democracy. But the low level at which parliamentary dignity is being devalued by turning partisan opposition into animosity is a matter of concern for the entire political class. I strongly condemn such indecent behavior towards persons holding constitutional posts."

???? ?? ???????????? ?? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ?? ??? ??????? ?????? ?? ?????? ???????? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ???????? ?? ???? ???? ????? ????? ?? ????? ???? ??, ?? ?????? ??????????? ???????? ?? ?? ???? ????? ???

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— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) December 20, 2023

Lok Sabha adjourned till 11 am tomorrow

Rajya Sabha takes up the Provisional Collection of Taxes Bill 2023 for discussion and passing.

"Because of GST, people have trust in garments. Eventually, GST will bring down tax, overlapping of taxes will be cut down," Union Minister for Finance Nirmala Sitharaman said on Central Goods and Services Tax Bill 2023.

Parliament passes Central GST (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023 to raise age limit of president and members of appellate tribunals

Union Minister for Finance, Nirmala Sitharaman, speaks on the Central Goods and Services (Second Amendment) Bill 2023 in Rajya Sabha "GST is still evolving. We have overcome many difficulties even in the drafting stage of the law," she says.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee backed her party colleague TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee and the Congress on mimicry row and slammed what she termed the government's "desperate attempt" to divert attention from the unprecedented suspension of over 140 MPs by raising the matter. TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee said he did not intend to hurt anyone with his act in the Parliament complex. On Tuesday, Banerjee mimicked Dhankhar during the opposition's protest on the stairs of Parliament against the suspension of the MPs. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was seen making a video of the act.

(With PTI inputs)

"What didn't happen in this country in the last 75 years is happening now. The Modi government is bulldozing the Constitution and crushing the Parliamentary traditions, and efforts are being made to silence the opposition," Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala said on suspension of MPs from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

VIDEO | "What didn't happen in this country in the last 75 years is happening now. The Modi government is bulldozing the Constitution and crushing the Parliamentary traditions, and efforts are being made to silence the opposition," says Congress MP @rssurjewala on suspension of… pic.twitter.com/ZaVcGIIXvC

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 20, 2023

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita seeks to replace the Indian Penal Code-1860, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita will replace the CrPC of 1973 and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill will replace the Indian Evidence Act of 1872.

? Replying to a debate on the bills, Shah said the three proposed laws also have a clear definition of terrorism, scrap sedition as a crime and introduce a new section titled "offenses against the state".

? He said the three bills were drafted after comprehensive consultations and that he had gone through every comma and full stop of the draft legislations before bringing them before the House for approval.

? He said the existing criminal laws – Indian Penal Code (IPC), Indian Evidence Act and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) - were reflective of the colonial mindset with the intention to punish and not impart justice.

? "The three news bills seek to establish a justice system based on Indian thinking... Three proposed criminal laws will free people from colonial mindset and its symbols," Shah said.

? "For the first time, the criminal justice system will have the human touch. Till we repeal these old laws, we are still following laws made by the UK government. We still use English words like Her Majesty, British Kingdom, the crown, barrister, ruler after 75 years of independence," Shah said.

? The home minister said the colonial-era laws prioritised acts of "looting the treasury", "uprooting rail tracks" and "insult to the Crown" over crimes against women and children, human rights, border security, and the army.

? The old laws had listed rape under Section 375-376, the new bill has the crime listed under Section 63, murder was listed under Section 302 now it is Section 101, kidnapping was under Section 359 and now it is Section 136, Shah said.

? Listing the features of the bills, he said, "This bill punishes mob lynching with death penalty. (Congress leader P) Chidambaram kept asking me what about mob lynching. He does not understand BJP and our mentality. Why did you not penalise mob lynching during your rule? If one's mind is Indian, you will understand the laws. If it is Italian, you won't."

?The three bills reflect the spirit of the Constitution...but those with an Italian mindset will never understand it," he said in an apparent dig at the opposition Congress.

? Shah asserted that the three laws were based on justice, transparency and fairness."This is the first government which has fulfilled the promises it has mentioned in its manifesto. We have revoked Article 370, removed AFSPA in 70 per cent areas in the northeastern states, banned triple talaq and gave 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament," he said. (PTI)

The Telecommunications Bill, 2023 has been taken up for consideration and passing in LokSabha

Lok Sabha passes the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023 bill

Home Minister Amit Shah elucidates on the features of the redrafted criminal bill."Now the accused will get seven days to file a plea for acquittal...The judge has to hold the hearing in those seven days and in a maximum time of 120 days, the case would come to trial. There was no time limit for plea bargaining earlier. Now if one accepts their crime within 30 days of the crime then the punishment would be less...There was no provision to present documents during trials. We have made it compulsory to produce all documents within 30 days. No delays will be made in that"

#WATCH | Delhi: Home Minister Amit Shah in Lok Sabha says, "Now the accused will get seven days to file a plea for acquittal...The judge has to hold the hearing in those seven days and in a maximum time of 120 days, the case would come to trial. There was no time limit for plea… pic.twitter.com/7KzlLwnbPl

— ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2023

"We said that in Ayodhya we will make Ram Mandir as soon as possible and on January 22 Lord Ram's idol will be installed there. This is PM Modi's government which delivers what they say. We said that we would give 33% reservation to women in the Parliament and assemblies. Congress came to power many times and kept giving dates but we delivered it and with a majority of votes to empower women..." Amit Shah said in Lok Sabha.

#WATCH | Delhi: Home Minister Amit Shah in Lok Sabha says, "We said that in Ayodhya we will make Ram Mandir as soon as possible and on January 22 Lord Ram's idol will be installed there. This is PM Modi's government which delivers what they say. We said that we would give 33%… pic.twitter.com/kNYxFgUGF5

— ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2023

Commenting on the mimicry row, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi was quoted as saying by news agency ANI, "...MPs were sitting there, I shot their video. My video is on my phone. Media is showing it...Nobody has said anything...150 of our MPs have been thrown out (of the House) but there is no discussion on that in the media. There is no discussion on Adani, no discussion on Rafale, no discussion on unemployment. Our MPs are disheartened and sitting outside. But you are discussing that (mimicry)..."

#WATCH | Mimicry row | Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, "...MPs were sitting there, I shot their video. My video is on my phone. Media is showing it...Nobody has said anything...150 of our MPs have been thrown out (of the House) but there is no discussion on that in the media.… pic.twitter.com/JivmXmWrcc

— ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2023

The Central Goods and Services Tax Bill 2023 is in consideration for passing in Rajya Sabha.

Home Minister Amit Shah continues to speak on the three Bills."The three laws were made during the time of English. Some people are not able to identify the key goals of these Bills...In our system, punishment is given so that the victim gets justice and to warn such crimes are not repeated...In our system, punishment is given so that the victim gets justice and as a warning...Till the laws are not repealed, the UK laws will continue in the country... Her Majesty, London Gazette, British Crown and barrister terms continue in India because of the laws,' Shah adds.

VIDEO | 'The motive of Indian Penal Code was to give punishment, not justice; in place of that Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023 will come into effect in the country after the passage from the House,' says Union Home Minister Amit Shah. pic.twitter.com/WXNFyX1yyv

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 20, 2023

Union Minister for Home Affairs, Amit Shah speaks in Lok Sabha,. "It is a matter of pride and seriousness that I am here with three Bills.Instead of Indian Penal Code, which was intended to punish, not deliver justice, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita will come into effect. Instead of CrPC 988, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita will come into effect," Shah says.

No discussion in media about MPs being thrown out of Parliament, Adani issue, unemployment; our MPs' sit-in is being discussed: Rahul Gandhi was quoted as saying by PTI in a tweet.

The Bill "Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023" is in consideration and passing. BJP MP Hema Malini says, "The new law specifies about the penalty, especially about crimes against women. Those guilty in gang rape will be imprisoned for 20 years or for life and death sentence if the victim is a minor...People will get justice in a timely manner."

Two MPs from Kerala namely – Thomas Chazhikadan and AM Arif were suspended from the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, taking the total number of suspensions in both houses to 143. 

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday played down the issue of Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar's mimicry by her party's MP, saying it was not meant to be disrespectful.

In the eye of the storm over the mimicry row, Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee also said that he never had any intention to hurt or disrespect Dhankhar.

Asked about the mimicry row, Mamata Banerjee said, "We respect everyone. It was not disrespectful. It was just politically, casually... You would not even have known it if Rahul ji had not recorded it." The West Bengal chief minister was in the Parliament complex on Wednesday to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi over pending central funds for the state. (PTI)

Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury says " Mimicry is an art...No one said this mimicry was on Dhankhar ji...Does it suit a person on such a high post to talk about caste?”

#WATCH | Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury says " Mimicry is an art...No one said this mimicry was on Dhankhar ji...Does it suit a person on such a high post to talk about caste?" pic.twitter.com/6IYpml2FTw

— ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2023

The Congress on Wednesday said the "entire Modi ecosystem" is now being galvanised on the "so-called mimicry non-issue" while it remains silent on how a BJP MP "facilitated entry of two intruders" into the Lok Sabha and on the suspension of over 140 MPs.

The opposition party hit back at the BJP for its criticism of a TMC leader's mimicry of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, saying a "desperate attempt" is being made to divert attention from the unprecedented suspension of MPs by raising this issue.

In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "The entire Modi ecosystem now being galvanised on the so-called mimicry non-issue, while it remains silent on the real issue of why and how a BJP MP from Mysuru facilitated entry of two intruders into Lok Sabha on December 13th '?who are now charged under the anti-terror law UAPA." "The entire ecosystem is also silent on the summary suspension of 142 MPs for making a perfectly legitimate demand," he said.

In another post earlier on X, Ramesh alleged that a desperate attempt is being made to divert attention away from the unprecedented suspension of MPs by raising the issue of 'mimicry'. 

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday said caste should not be dragged into every issue and wondered if he should rake up his Dalit origins every time he is not allowed to speak in Rajya Sabha, amid a row over the mimicry of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Dhankhar, who is also Rajya Sabha Chairperson, has flayed the mimicry, calling it as an insult to his background as a farmer and 'Jat' (his caste). The ruling BJP has echoed a similar view.

Speaking to reporters, Kharge said the Chairperson's job is to give protection to other members but he himself is making such a statement.

"I am not allowed to speak in Rajya Sabha often. Should I say it is because I am a Dalit," he added. They should not incite people outside in the name of caste by talking about it inside, he said. (PTI)

Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee, who is at the centre of a row over a video from Parliament complex showing him ostensibly mimicking the Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, said that his intention was never to hurt anyone.

“I have no intention to hurt anyone. However, I have a question. Does he (Jagdeep Dhankhar) really behave like this in Rajya Sabha? Mimicry was done by the PM in Lok Sabha between 2014 and 2019,” Kalyan Banerjee added. (Read More)

 

A day after a video from the Parliament complex showing Trinamool Congress leader Kalyan Banerjee ostensibly mimicking the Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday criticised the incident and expressed their pain at the way things unfolded.

NDA MPs in Rajya Sabha stood up and took part in the House proceeding on Wednesday to express their support to Chairman and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar after TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee mimicked him yesterday. 

#WATCH | NDA MPs in Rajya Sabha stand and take part in House proceeding to express their respects to Chairman and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar after TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee mimics him

The President and the PM have extended support to VP Dhankhar pic.twitter.com/6UX18xtUgO

— ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2023

"If he has taken this on his shoulder I am completely helpless. Does he really behave like this in Rajya Sabha? That’s my question. I have never had any intention to hurt anyone. Mimicry has been done also by the honourable PM in Lok Sabha between 2014-2019. But no one has taken it seriously,” TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee said today.

A VIDEO from Parliament complex showing Trinamool Congress leader Kalyan Banerjee ostensibly mimicking Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi recording it, earned Dhankhar’s ire on Tuesday, as he called the act “shameful, ridiculous and unacceptable”.

#WATCH On mimicry row, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee says, "I have never had any intention to hurt anyone...Does he really behave like this in Rajya Sabha? Mimicry was done by the PM in Lok Sabha between 2014-2019..." pic.twitter.com/rc6c5X8Lku

— ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2023

Rajya Sabha proceedings adjourned again for about 15 minutes amid opposition ruckus; to meet again at 11:45 am.

Lok Sabha adjourned till noon after Speaker Om Birla warns some opposition members against bringing placards in House.

In today's Parliament Winter Session, the BJP government is set to propel three pivotal criminal law amendment Bills and the CEC Bill through the Lok Sabha today. These Bills aim to replace the Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, and Indian Evidence Act with the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, Bharatiya Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to address the House, urging the passage of these Bills. Meanwhile, a circular from the Lok Sabha Secretariat has barred suspended MPs from entering the Parliament chamber, lobby, and galleries, emphasizing the disciplinary measures taken against them during the period of suspension. 

"There is no example of any parliamentary democratic system in the world that has ever suspended so many people at once. It is a disgrace and a blot on our democracy and i am ashamed that those in power in our country would allow this to happen. When a Parliament security breach occurs, it is the responsibility of the Union Home Minister to come and address the Parliament. Various things he was saying to the outside media could have been said inside the Parliament," Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said on Wednesday. 

"This government acts as if they don't have any responsibility to make the PArliament work, they have no responsibility to accomodate the Opposition. They just want "It's my way or the highway" he said. 

#WATCH | On suspension of 141 opposition MPs, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, "This is a disgrace and a blot on our democracy..." pic.twitter.com/6iF4QYgjNG

— ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2023

A meeting of Floor leaders of the INDIA alliance's parties is underway at LoP in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge's office in Parliament House to chalk out the strategy for the Floor of the House.

#WATCH | A meeting of Floor leaders of the INDIA alliance's parties is underway at LoP in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge's office in Parliament House to chalk out the strategy for the Floor of the House. pic.twitter.com/zwLl6TTQuf

— ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2023

Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 11:30 am on Wednesday amid protests by opposition members over the Parliament security breach issue. As the House met again at 11:15 am, the protests by opposition members continued.

Earlier when the House met, some opposition members had raised the issue of security breach and demanded a statement from the home minister on the matter.

Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar asked the protesting members to maintain order in the House. As the protests continued, he adjourned the proceedings. (inputs from PTI)

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met Vice President and Chairman of Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankar on Wednesday and conveyed his deep concerns and anguish about serious misdemeanours by MPs in the Parliament complex demeaning and denigrating the constitutional office of Vice President. 

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met Vice President and Chairman, Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankar and conveyed his deep concerns and anguish about serious misdemeanor by MPs in Parliament complex demeaning and denigrating the constitutional office of Vice President: Lok Sabha Speaker's… pic.twitter.com/tZLAANIVHu

— ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday called Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar expressing great pain over the “abject theatrics” of some MPs in Parliament complex yesterday. “Received a telephone call from the Prime Minister, Shri @narendramodi Ji. He expressed great pain over the abject theatrics of some Honourable MPs and that too in the sacred Parliament complex yesterday,” the Vice President’s Secretariat said.

"He told me that he has been at the receiving end of such insults for twenty years and counting but the fact that it could happen to a Constitutional office like the Vice President and that too in Parliament was unfortunate,” Dhankhar was quoted as saying on X. Dhankhar told the prime minister that such incidents will not deter him from doing his duty.

A video from Parliament complex showing Trinamool Congress leader Kalyan Banerjee ostensibly mimicking the Vice President and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi recording it.

Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 11:15 am on Wednesday after a few members of the Opposition carrying placard entered the Well of the house demanding a statement from the Union Home Minister on the security breach issue. 

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 1115 hours after a few members of the Opposition carrying placard entered the Well of the house demanding a statement from Union Home Minister on the security breach issue pic.twitter.com/LQT3tIMEIL

— ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2023

The Opposition MPs continued their protest against the Central government in front of the Gandhi statue in Parliament premises. A total of 141 Opposition MPs have been suspended for the winter session this month. 

The Opposition parties condemned the action, with the Congress calling it “a complete purge” and “‘Namocracy’ in all its tyranny”. With this, a total of 141 MPs have now been suspended in this Winter session of the Parliament – 95 from Lok Sabha and 46 from Rajya Sabha.

#WATCH | Opposition MPs protest against the Central government in front of the Gandhi statue in Parliament premises

141 Opposition MPs have been suspended for winter session pic.twitter.com/BvvuwGHCFR

— ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2023

Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and party President Mallikarjun Kharge joined the protest against the suspension of 141 Opposition MPs on Tuesday.

#WATCH Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and party President Mallikarjun Kharge join the protest against the suspension of 141 Opposition MPs pic.twitter.com/euYUo0SM2i

— ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2023

After 141 Opposition MPs were suspended from the Parliament this winter session, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the ruling party had snatched away the democratic rights of the MPs. "The PM wanted to establish a “Single party rule” in the country," he further alleged. 

"141 MPs have been suspended because they wanted a statement from the Home Minister on the grave security breach. 6 intruders have been booked under anti-terror, UAPA law. The BJP MP who facilitated the entry of the intruders, remains scot-free and has not yet been questioned. What sort of investigation is this? " he wrote on X. 

More than Rs 55,000 crore in foreign contributions were received by over 13,500 FCRA registered NGOs in the country in three financial years (2019-22), Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said in order to accept foreign contributions, all associations or NGOs have to obtain registration or prior permission under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (FCRA, 2010).

The general body meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party will be held today, in the Central Hall of Sanvidhan Sadan, Parliament House.

The Lok Sabha Secretariat on Tuesday issued a circular which stated that the suspended MPs were barred from entering the Parliament chamber, lobby and galleries. 

“They stand suspended from sittings of Parliamentary Committees of which they may be a member and no notice tabled by them is acceptable during the period of their suspension,” the order stated. They would also not be entitled to the daily allowance as long as their suspension continues.

Lok Sabha Secretariat issues circular for the suspended MPs barring them from entering the Parliament chamber, lobby and galleries. pic.twitter.com/R8nPO8AWVV

— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2023

? Various reports of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committees on Industries; Defence; External Affairs; as well as Labour Textiles and Skill Development are to be laid on the table of Rajya Sabha today.

? Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is to move a motion in the Rajya Sabha today for election to the court of the University of Delhi so that the  House proceed to elect, in such a manner as directed by the Chairman, one member from amongst the members of the House to be a member of the Court of the University of Delhi.

? Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is to move the Central Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the Rajya Sabha today for consideration and return further to amend the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017. The Bill was earlier passed by the Lok Sabha.

? Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is to move the Provisional Collection of Taxes Bill, 2023 in the Rajya Sabha today for consideration and return to provide for the immediate effect for a limited period of provisions in Bills relating to the imposition or increase of duties of customs or excise. The Bill was earlier passed by the Lok Sabha.