Parliament Winter Session 2023 Highlights: Rajya Sabha passes new CEC bill amid Opposition walkout

The Government on Tuesday moved a bill in the Rajya Sabha to regulate the appointment and service terms of Chief Election Commissioner and election commissioners, triggering a reaction from the Congress, which alleged that the proposed legislation "subjugates" the poll authority to the executive and violates the Constitution.

Moving the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 for consideration and passage, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said the legislation has been brought in view of the Supreme Court judgement of March this year while hearing a PIL.

He said the bill was introduced in the Upper House on August 10 to replace the 1991 Act and was pending for consideration and passage. The 1991 Act did not have a clause related to appointment of CEC and other ECs.

The minister said until now, the names of the appointees were decided by the government but now a search and selection committee has also been constituted, and the matter related to salary has also been introduced through an amendment in the bill.

A clause related to protection from initiation of legal proceedings against the CEC and ECs for actions taken while carrying out their duties has also been introduced through the Bill, the Law Minister said.

Reacting to the introduction of the bill, senior Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala said the proposed legislation completely negates and violates the very spirit of the Constitution that is enshrined in Article 14.

"It completely negates and subjugates the Election Commission to the authority of the Executive and it does away willingly, maliciously the judgement of the Supreme Court and that is why this law is per se like a stillborn child," he said.

The Congress member also claimed that the appointment committee has been reduced to an "empty formality" as it comprises the Prime Minister and members nominated by him.

He said the poll body is the sole authority for conducting free and fair elections in the country and thus needs to remain independent.

Alleging that the Centre does not want an "independent" election commission, he said the proposed law was "an ill-conceived attempt" at consolidating undue executive control, total executive control over the electoral body that is the Election Commission.

"An independent appointment mechanism would guarantee eschewing of even the prospect of bias .... this is what this government is afraid of. I'm saying it with a sense of responsibility, for they don't want an independent Election Commission, CEC and EC. They want a pocket borough," Surjewala said.

"The process is arbitrary, the intent is malicious and the result is disastrous. That is what is going to happen," Surjewala said.

While he was about to read a para from the March Supreme Court judgement, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said Parliament is the sole repository of lawmaking.

"... since majorly, you're focused on Supreme Court judgment, as if the reflections therein have to bind us. I would expect the debate to rise to a very high level because this house, this Parliament, to the exclusion of any other entity be it executive or judiciary, is supreme when it comes to lawmaking and you are part of it," the Chairman said.

Surjewala further said there was a time when the word "EC" meant "Electoral Credibility", unfortunately, "you have decided to make it 'Election Compromised'." The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 introduced in the Rajya Sabha in August this year had proposed to bring the status of the CEC and other ECs on par with the Cabinet Secretary.

According to sources, the proposed official amendment says "the CEC and other commissioners shall be paid a salary which is equal to the salary of a judge of the Supreme Court." Another proposed amendment is that a search committee headed by the Union Law Minister comprising two other members not below the rank of secretary to the government of India shall prepare a panel of five persons for the selection committee. (PTI)

A debate over Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 has begun in the Rajya Sabha. 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah introduced the three Amended Bills which will replace the criminal laws in the country in the Lok Sabha today. He told the Speaker that most of the amendments were grammatical corrections, with a few Sections in the laws being amended. The three laws are: Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023; Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita 2023; and Bharatiya Sakshya (Second), 2023.

'Kabhi bhi koi article likh de, uss par Parliament mein debate hogi kya? (Anyone can write an article anytime, will the Parliament discuss it?), Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said today, as Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was about to discuss an article published in the Financial Times. 

Sitharaman said she will follow whatever the Speaker says. 

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today in the Lok Sabha said that the top priority of the government is fiscal prudence, without compromising on social welfare.

A discussion on supplementary demand of grants led to heated discussion in the House, with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla chiding members of the opposition parties. 

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal moved the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 in the Rajya Sabha for consideration and passage to regulate the appointment, conditions of service and term of office of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners, and the procedure for transaction of business by the Election Commission.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi responded to Home Minister Amit Shah's comments on Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, accusing Shah of attempting to divert attention from fundamental matters like the caste survey. Gandhi asserted that he is committed to ensuring that essential issues, including the caste survey, are brought to the forefront in Parliament.

The government is learnt to have decided to retain the status of CEC and other election commissioners on par with judges of the Supreme Court, following protests by opposition parties and former chief election commissioners.

At present, the CECs and ECs enjoy the status of a Supreme Court judge.

The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 introduced in the Rajya Sabha in August this year had proposed to bring the status of the CEC and other ECs on par with the Cabinet Secretary.

The opposition parties and some former CECs had opposed the move, saying it will go against the independence of the institution. (PTI)

Sspeaking on the Silkyra tunnel rescue, Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that the situation in Uttarkashi could have been averted provided the government had taken a little patience with those geologists who had earlier red-flagged that these kinds of tunnels could be disastrous

'Forty-one workers were trapped for 17 days in the tunnel. I would also like to report the recent incidents of collapse in the Himalayas taking place...The reasons that have been cited by the experts are fractured or fragile rock, water seepage, landslide-prone Himalayan rock system, lack of geological and geotechnical studies, improper study of CR zone, and failure to design an escape tunnel. At the last moment, rat hole miners were engaged to rescue those labourers. I feel that this kind of situation which took place in Uttarkashi could have been averted provided the government had taken a little patience with those geologists who had earlier red-flagged that these kinds of tunnels could be disastrous, but the government is still not responding to such incident...' he said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will reintroduce three proposed criminal law bills--the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita--with amended versions, following various recommendations made by a parliamentary panel.

On December 11, Union Home Minister Amit Shah notified Lok Sabha members that the three criminal law bills would be withdrawn and replaced with three new bills that would incorporate the improvements proposed by a parliamentary committee.

These bills seek to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC) 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973, and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, respectively.

While introducing the bills, Home Minister Amit Shah said the soul of these three new laws will be to protect all the rights given by the Constitution to the citizens. (ANI)

Speaking to the media persons ahead of attending the parliament's winter session, NC leader Farooq Abdullah said, "I don't know why they (BJP) have so much venom against (Pandit Jawaharlal) Nehru. Nehru is not the one responsible. When this article (370) was brought, Sardar Patel was here, and Pandit Nehru was in America...We want elections to take place in Kashmir, but the Supreme Court gave them time till September..." 

Hours after the Supreme Court upheld the abrogation of Article 370, Union Home Minister Amit Shah Monday said it (Article) was a catalyst for separatism, that further promoted terrorism in the region.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha after the discussion on the Jammu-Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and Jammu-Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, Shah said, “Article 370 in J-K gave rise to separatism which in turn promoted terrorism.” hah highlighted a shift in the narrative among the people of Kashmir, emphasising that discussions now centre around democracy and development rather than entertaining separatist ideologies

Congress MP Manish Tewari gave an Adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha on Tuesday to discuss the situation of Navy personnel in Qatar and the steps taken to bring them back to India.

Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi arrived at the Parliament for its winter session proceedings on Tuesday.

Members of Parliament from Kerala staged a protest in front of the Gandhi statue on Tuesday demanding justice for the Sabarimala pilgrim. The MPs claim that there is a lack of basic facilities, safety and security for pilgrims at Sabarimala.

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is set to present the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 in the Rajya Sabha. The bill proposes significant changes to the appointment, terms of service, and office tenure for the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other Election Commissioners (ECs). It specifically aims to establish a committee comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and a Cabinet Minister nominated by the PM to select members of the Election Commission. This move seeks to overturn the Supreme Court's March 2 verdict, which stipulated a high-power committee involving the PM, LoP in Lok Sabha, and the Chief Justice of India for appointing the CEC and ECs.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday said, "The Standing Committee has given several recommendations on the three bills (Criminal Bills) given to it by the Home Minister...The new bill will be introduced today."

The Central Government has decided to withdraw the three criminal law reform bills - Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Sakshya Bill and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita- introduced by it in the Lok Sabha to replace the IPC, the Indian Evidence Act and the Code of Criminal Procedure. They will bring in new draft laws, reflecting some of the changes suggested by the Parliamentary panel, including replacing “mental illness” as a defence of the accused with “unsound mind” in the Bhartiya Nyay Samhita (BNS) 2023.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has arrived at the winter session of the Parliament on Tuesday.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday gave an Adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha to discuss the recent train accidents and their effects on the transportation system.

Citing the Balasore train accident, Falaknuma Express fire and the Bihar North East Express Derailment, he said that the Ministry of Railways should submit a report outlining the reasons behind these accidents. 

Gogoi stated that a joint parliamentary committee should also conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the train accidents. 

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is to move the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 in the Rajya Sabha today for consideration and passage to regulate the appointment, conditions of service and term of office of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners, and the procedure for transaction of business by the Election Commission.

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is to move the Repealing and Amending Bill, 2023 in the Rajya Sabha today for consideration and passage to repeal certain enactments and to amend an enactment. The Lok Sabha earlier passed the Bill.

? Rajya Sabha MPs Abdul Wahab and Ashok Kumar Mittal are to lay on the table, a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Twenty-Sixth Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs (Seventeenth Lok Sabha) on ‘India and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – Contours of Cooperation’.

? Rajya Sabha MPs Anil Jain and Radha Mohan Das Agrawal are to lay on the table, a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Twenty-First Report of the Committee on Public Undertakings (Seventeenth Lok Sabha) on ‘Oil India Limited’ in the House today.

? Rajya Sabha MPs Satish Chandra Dubey and Fauzia Khan are to lay on the table, a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Thirty-Fourth Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (2023-2024) on Action Taken by the Government on the Observations/Recommendations contained in the Twenty-Eighth Report of the Committee on “Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)” pertaining to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Department of Food and Public Distribution).

? Rajya Sabha MPs Laxmikant Bajpayee, Vivek Tankha and Jayant Chaudhary are to present the Two Hundred and Fifty-second Report (in English and Hindi) of the Committee on Subordinate Legislation on the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 in the House today. (Inputs by ANI)

? Parliament on Monday passed two bills related to Jammu and Kashmir as Rajya Sabha cleared them with a voice vote, with Home Minister Amit Shah assuring the country that the beginning of a "new and developed Kashmir" that will be free from terrorism has been made under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

?The two bills - JK Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill and JK Reservation (Amendment) Bill - seek to nominate two members from the Kashmiri migrant community and one representing the displaced persons from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to the legislative assembly, besides providing reservation to certain communities in Jammu and Kashmir.
They were passed by Lok Sabha last week.

?The home minister said the two bills related to Jammu and Kashmir brought by the government would give justice to those deprived of their rights for the last 75 years and asserted that reservation to the displaced people would give them a voice in the legislature.

? He also alleged that Jammu and Kashmir suffered due to the "mistakes" of first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and listed decisions like the "untimely" ceasefire and taking the Kashmir issue to the United Nations among them.

? The opposition led by the Congress, however, walked out of the House midway during the Home Minister's reply. (PTI)

Rajya Sabha has been adjourned. Proceedings will resume on Tuesday at 11 am.

Rajya Sabha passes the two Bills — the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 

Opposition walks out of Rajya Sabha during Union Home Minsiter Amit Shah's reply on Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in an address in Rajya Sabha, said that had there not been an untimely ceasefire in Kashmir, the issue of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) might not have arisen. 

The Home Minister asserted that the people of Kashmir reject those who advocate separatism, indicating a growing rejection of such ideologies among the local population.

"We have tried to finish the ecosystem of terror funding," Shah added.

In the Rajya Sabha, Amit Shah lauded Prime Minister Modi for transforming the outlook of Kashmiri youth.

"PM Modi has replaced stones in the hands of Kashmiri youth with laptops," he said.

The minister commended the efforts of PM Modi's government, noting significant improvements in the lives of local residents.

Amit Shah highlighted a shift in the narrative among the people of Kashmir, emphasising that discussions now center around democracy and development rather than entertaining separatist ideologies.

Home Minister Amit Shah, addressing the Rajya Sabha, emphasised that Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir was a catalyst for separatism, contributing to the promotion of terrorism in the region.

"Article 370 in J-K gave rise to separatism which in turn promoted terrorism," he said.

He asserted that the Supreme Court's verdict on Jammu and Kashmir marks a significant defeat for opposition parties, underscoring the legal and constitutional validity of the government's actions in the region.

"Modi government is committed to ensuring justice to displaced Kashmiri people," Shah added.

The Home Minister declared that Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) belongs to India, and emphasised that no external force can snatch it away.

Home Minister Amit Shah, while addressing the Rajya Sabha, said that those who assert the permanence of Article 370 are disrespecting the Constitution and the Constituent Assembly. He underlined that the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution has lost its validity following the Supreme Court's verdict on the abrogation of Article 370.

"Those who say Article 370 is 'permanent' are insulting Constitution and Constituent Assembly," Shah said.

Furthermore, Amit Shah assured that the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, a promise he had previously made, would be fulfilled at the appropriate time. 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the Supreme Court's verdict on the Union government’s 2019 move to amend Article 370 of the Constitution. The abrogation ended the special status conferred to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. The court held the Constitutional order that revoked Article 370 as valid. 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses the Rajya Sabha after the discussion on the Jammu-Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and Jammu-Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023

? Opposition and treasury benches on Monday engaged in a heated verbal duel in Rajya Sabha after a controversial remark by a DMK member during a discussion on Jammu and Kashmir bills, following which Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar expunged it and reminded the MPs of the responsibility that came with the freedom of speech.

? Disapproving of M Mohamed Abdulla's remarks, Dhankhar told the DMK member, who also described the abrogation of Article 370 as an attack on federalism, that the freedom of speech in the Upper House "is not unqualified" in reference to the Supreme Court judgement on the matter. "Can we quote anything in this House? Can we go to the extent of it being seditious, challenging our integrity, going against our Constitution? Going against the judgement of the Supreme Court this day? That will not be acceptable," he said during the proceedings.

? The DMK MP was speaking during a discussion on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

? Opposing the two bills moved by Home Minister Amit Shah for consideration and passage by the House, Abdulla had invoked rationalist and Dravidian movement founder Periyar to support his points and asked the government to take steps to address several issues in Jammu and Kashmir.

? To this, Dhankhar remarked, "Can the House subscribe to this? Can you observe silence on this?" Observing that Abdulla was "abusing the platform", Dhankhar expunged the remarks and said he had gone too far. He also asked the Opposition members why they were silent on such an issue.

? Although Abdulla insisted he was "wrongly understood" by the Chair, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman intervened and asked the Congress party members who are in alliance with the DMK if "they go along with that".
"How could this House be hearing this? Congress should stand up and say," she said.

? Dhankhar said, "In this House, the House of Elders, the Upper House can we countenance someone talking such kind of language? Determination on the basis of race, that goes against the very essence of the Constitution." The Chairman further said, "We all have taken oaths of the Constitution. How can we countenance such kind of misdemeanour by a member? This is not freedom of speech. This goes much beyond that.

? "Every word the member has spoken cannot be accepted. It cannot be countenanced by anyone who believes in the legislation, who believes in our Constitution. I am expunging those parts." Dhankhar said, "We have freedom of speech here. That freedom comes with great responsibility. That message goes to the entire world." As the opposition and treasury benches exchanged heated words, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said if the views of a member were not in consonance with the law of the land and business rules of the House, then the Chairman can expunge those remarks, but asserted that he won't accept it simply because "the treasury benchers shout and say it is unconstitutional".

? Leader of the House Piyush Goyal asked Congress members if they agreed with what Abdulla said.Senior Congress leader K C Venugopal asked the Chairman to go through records and verify in what context Periyar had made the remarks, which was quoted by the DMK member.

In the Rajya Sabha, CPI (M) MP John Brittas questioned the necessity of designating Jammu and Kashmir as a Union Territory, asserting that it disrupts the principles of federalism.

BJP MPs led by party chief J P Nadda on Monday held a protest in the Parliament Complex, alleging the cash seized by the income tax department during raids on a distillery company linked to a Congress Rajya Sabha MP from Jharkhand proved that the opposition party was "neck-deep" in corruption.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg... Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi will have to answer whose money it is and how it was looted,” Nadda said after Rs 351 crore were seized by income tax sleuths during searches against Boudh Distillery Private Limited, owned by the family of Congres MP Dhiraj Prasad Sahu.

Holding placards near Mahatma Gandhi's statue, the protesting MPs also demanded Sahu's arrest.

The cash seizure is the "highest-ever" haul in a single action by any probe agency in the country, official sources had said on Sunday.

“Congress party and corruption are the two sides of the same coin. Congress is known for corruption, commission and criminalisation. Corruption and malpractices are the custom and policies of the Congress,” Nadda alleged. (PTI) 

Lok Sabha has been adjourned. Proceedings will resume on Tuesday at 11 am.

CPI MP Sandosh Kumar criticised the BJP, accusing the party of behaving like a self-imposed constitution in Kashmir.

Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party MP Dr. Fauzia Khan, addressing the Parliament, expressed concern about militancy being a destructive force eroding the beauty of Kashmir, likening it to a cancerous growth.

In Rajya Sabha, Congress MP Rajani Ashokrao Patil voiced concern over the non-restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood, four years after the abrogation of Article 370.

Patil emphasised the significant contributions made by the Congress to the development of Jammu and Kashmir and credited Pandit Nehru for the region being an integral part of India.

Addressing the Union Home Minister, Patil urged the announcement of elections in J&K, asserting that the restoration of statehood is crucial for realising the idea of India.

On a different note, BJP MP Gulam Ali noted a reduction in civilian deaths and stone-pelting incidents in Kashmir.

BJP MP Gulam Ali voiced his support for the J&K Reservation and Reorganisation Amendment Bill, emphasising that the legislation would be advantageous for the people of Kashmir.

Ali remarked that previous rulers had caused harm to Kashmir, and he noted a significant reduction in corruption at present.

Congress MP Syed Nasir Hussain raised objections to  V Vijayasai Reddy's comments, alleging that Reddy lacked an understanding of Nehru and Patel's perspectives on the matter. Hussain insisted that it was due to Nehru that Kashmir became an integral part of India.

? YSRCP MP V Vijayasai Reddy rose in support of both Bills, expressing his party's and Jagan Mohan Reddy's endorsement of the same.

? He emphasised his intention to highlight the Congress government's errors, particularly criticising Nehruvian pseudo-secularism for hindering the resolution of the Kashmir issue. 

? Reddy identified Article 370 and the failure to reclaim Kashmir during the Second War with Pakistan as significant blunders. He suggested that an opportunity was missed during the signing of the Shimla Declaration after the Bangladesh War to rectify the situation.

? Praising the Home Minister for addressing what he deemed as the Congress government's mistakes, Reddy proposed nominating members for the 24 seats in PoK that are not slated for elections.

? Additionally, he requested an increase in cash relief for migrants.

YSRCP MP V Vijayasai Reddy praised the revocation of Article 370, stating that since its abrogation, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed significant progress. He remarked that Jawaharlal Nehru's decisions regarding J&K had led to substantial repercussions, referring to them as 'significant blunders.'

AAP MP Sanjay Arora appealed to Home Minister Amit Shah, urging for equal consideration for the Punjabi people, particularly the Sikhs who faced hardships similar to the Hindu Pandits. Additionally, he requested that elections in Jammu and Kashmir be conducted with the Lok Sabha elections.

DMK MP Tiruchi Shiva expressed the intent to secure state rights within the constitutional framework, emphasising the importance of upholding national integrity and sovereignty. This statement followed a heated debate sparked by DMK MP Mohammed Abdullah invoking Periyar's words in the Rajya Sabha, asserting the right to self-determination for every race.

The Chair deemed Abdullah's statement antithetical to the Constitution. The Chair affirmed his commitment to protecting the motherland and upholding the rule of law.

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh contended that remarks can be expunged if deemed unparliamentary and unconstitutional, but he questioned the rationale behind preventing a member from speaking.

Congres MP Jairam Ramesh clarified that they do not endorse the use of Periyar's quote by DMK members.

DMK MP Mohammed Abdulla invoked Periyar's words in Rajya Sabha, asserting that every race possesses the right to self-determination. This sparked a heated debate in the Rajya Sabha, prompting the Home Minister to seek clarification from Congress members on whether they endorsed Abdullah's statement. In response, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge argued that quoting statements doesn't necessarily indicate agreement with the viewpoint expressed.

Speaker Jagdeep Dhankar expressed concern, stating that Abdullah's quote amounted to an assault on the soul of 'Bharat Mata' (Mother India). Strongly objecting, Dhankar deemed the words unconstitutional and asserted that they could not be tolerated. He emphasised that freedom of speech is not absolute and must be subject to certain limits.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday announced that nine more airports would be constructed in Uttar Pradesh over the next two years.

Replying to supplementaries during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Scindia said Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is giving a huge importance to the civil aviation sector.

He said that only 74 airports were constructed in the first 65 years of independence, while 75 airports have been developed in the last nine years of the Modi government, taking the total number to 149. The total include airports, heliports and waterdromes. (PTI) 

A Congress MP Monday demanded the Ministry of External Affairs put up a strong case against designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun with authorities in the United States, news agency PTI reported.

Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, Ravneet Singh claimed that no action has been taken against him by the US despite the Indian government writing to the American authorities 26 times. Singh said he failed to understand the requirement for "absolute proof" raised by the US authorities against Pannun, who heads the pro-Khalistan banned outfit 'Sikhs for Justice'.

Dubbing Pannun as a "clown", the Congress MP said despite India writing to the Canadian authorities, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police took no action resulting in the downing of Air India 'Kanishka' which led to the death of over 300 people, the report said.

According to the report, he described the bombing of the aircraft as the "biggest mass murder" in Canadian history.

Singh added that Pannun has now threatened to blow up the Parliament building and warned passengers boarding Air India flights.

Pannun has been designated as a terrorist by the Union home ministry under the anti-terror law UAPA. (PTI)

The External Affairs Ministry Monday issued a statement in the Lok Sabha correcting the name of the minister who replied to a Parliament question on the designation of Hamas on December 8, news agency PTI reported.

A political row broke out on December 9 after Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi said she had not approved a question tabled in the Lok Sabha the previous day on declaring Hamas a terrorist organisation, prompting the government to issue a clarification that it was a "procedural error". As opposition parties latched onto Lekhi's remarks and described the incident as a "serious breach and violation of rules", the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement on December 10, saying the unstarred question "needs a technical correction in terms of reflecting Shri V Muraleedharan as the Minister of State replying to the Parliament question".

"This is being suitably undertaken," the ministry had added.

"You have been misinformed as I have not signed any paper with this question and this answer," Lekhi said in response to a post on X on the issue.

On Monday, Muraleedharan laid a statement in the House, which was included in the supplementary agenda, "correcting the reply given on December 8 to unstarred question number 980 by Shri Kumbakudi Sudhakaran, MP, regarding 'declaration of Hamas as terrorist organisation'." Ministers give an oral reply to starred questions. A written reply is given to unstarred questions. (PTI)

MPs from Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Congress, SP, JDU, DMK, RJD, NCP, CPI(M), CPI, Shiv Sena (UBT) and other INDIA parties staged a walkout from Rajya Sabha Monday morning protesting Union government's economic blockade of funds to States run by non-BJP parties, news agency PTI reported (PTI)

The two Bills — the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 — were tabled in the Rajya Sabha today for consideration and passage. The Bills were passed by the Lok Sabha on December 6.

Both the Houses — Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha — resumed their sessions at 2 pm, after being adjourned earlier in the day. 

The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 2 pm. 

The Lok Sabha proceedings have been adjourned at 2 pm.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs on Monday protested near the Gandhi Statue in Parliament over recovery of unaccounted cash from Congress leader Dhiraj Sahu during the raids by Income Tax Department.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president J P Nadda on Monday, during a protest by the BJP MPs against Congress leaders, near the Gandhi Statue in Parliament over recovery of unaccounted cash from Congress leader Dhiraj Sahu during raids by I-T Department, said that corruption and Congress are two sides of the same coin.

"The BJP has always said that corruption and Congress are two sides of the same coin," Nadda told PTI. (PTI)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to table the two Bills — the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 — in the Rajya Sabha today. The two Bills were passed by the Lok Sabha on December 6.

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The panel of Vice-Chairpersons was re-constituted w.e.f. December 11, 2023, Vice President and RS Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar informed the Rajya Sabha. The members include:

Kanta Kardam

Saroj Pandey

Jaya Bachchan

Priyanka Chaturvedi

Dr C M Ramesh

Akhilesh Prasad singh

Tiruchi Shiva

Sushil Kumar Gupta

The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha proceedings began today at 11 am.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs Monday protested in front of the Gandhi statue on Parliament premises against the corruption by Congress leaders.

(PTI Photos)